Iowa Homicide and Missing Persons Cold Case Unit Announced

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced the launch of a new cold case unit charged with investigating more than 400 unsolved crimes.

The statewide cold case unit aims to bring justice to victims and their families. The unit will investigate unsolved homicide cases or people reported missing under mysterious circumstances.

The context

Bird took office in January of last year and is the first Republican to serve as Iowa attorney general since 1979.

Her tenure has been marked by a strong focus on conservative principles and active litigation against federal policies she views as excessive.

Bird has joined lawsuits against federal mandates, including challenging the Biden administration's mandate on highway emissions and a climate-related SEC rule. Bird has also taken important steps in consumer protection and public safety, such as obtaining refunds for Iowans targeted by deceptive mailers and leading multi-state coalitions in legal challenges against federal policies.

Bird supported former President Donald Trump in October 2023 and attended the Trump Hush Money trial in New York in May. She called the charges against him “political prosecutions,” according to Radio Iowa.

The cold case unit initiative reflects Bird's commitment to victims and their families, a priority she highlighted during her 2022 campaign.

What we know

The cold case unit will consist of three full-time investigators and a prosecutor. Steve Ponsetto, a retired Division of Criminal Investigation agent and state trooper, will lead the unit.

“Justice for the victims, answers for the families, accountability for the perpetrator – those are the goals of this cold case initiative,” he said Tuesday during a news conference at the county sheriff’s office by Polk.

At the same event, Bird expressed her dedication to solving these cases, saying, “I became a prosecutor to fight for victims and their families.”

She continued, “My promise to the families of Iowa's cold case victims is: We will never give up, we will never stop looking, and we will never give up hope. If even one case is solved, it will “It's worth it. No one should get away with murder.”

The family of Leota Camp, 25, who was killed in Des Moines in 1967, was present at the news conference. Fifty years later, they continue to hope that his killer will be found.

In a statement given to WHO 13, Brenda Conklin, Camp's mother, said: “After so many years, you kind of lose hope that the problem will ever be solved. But I wish it would could be… that would give us the answers.

Bird stressed the importance of support from the legislature to provide the necessary budget for the unit, thanking them for making the initiative possible.

News week contacted Bird's office via email for additional comment.

Polk County Sheriff Kevin Schneider and Jody Ewing, founder of IowaColdCases.org, also spoke at the press conference, where they emphasized the importance of community involvement and encouraged residents of the Iowa to provide any information they may have regarding unsolved cases.

And after

Iowa hasn't had a statewide cold case unit in years. The unit will officially begin operations on July 1 and will focus on homicides, missing persons and cases involving unidentified human remains where local law enforcement has exhausted all leads.

Iowans are encouraged to submit any information they have about cold cases by contacting the Attorney General's Office by email at [email protected] or by calling 1-800-242-5100 ​​.

Do you have a story we should cover? Do you know of any unresolved cases that should be reopened? Contact [email protected]