Mark Snopek

Mark Lee Snopek

Hit-and-run homicide

Mark Lee Snopek
53 YOA
County Road R18 (also known as L Avenue)
Rural Boone
Boone County, Iowa
August 8, 2007

Case summary by Jody Ewing

Boone County in Iowa

Shortly before 9 p.m. on August 8, 2007, Mark Snopek, 53, was killed by a hit-and-run driver as he rode his bicycle along a rural road near his home in Boone, Iowa. Snopek was heading north on R18 when struck from behind by a dark colored vehicle that fled the scene and continued northbound.

Boone County Sheriff Ron Fehr said witnesses were in a vehicle from behind, and one was approaching when the accident took place. The witnesses alerted authorities via cell phone.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Office, along with the county ambulance, the Woodward Fire and Police Departments and the Iowa State Patrol responded to the scene, where Snopek — who worked as a wetland ecologist for the Iowa Department of Transportation — was pronounced dead.

Since then, investigators have followed up on several leads but have not found the car that hit Snopek.

Snopek’s wife of 28 years, Kay (Milinovich) Snopek, said her husband always wore a reflective vest, had a flashing light on the back of his bike and headlamp in the front, and always wore a helmet.

Family members and friends have raised a sizeable reward for information leading to an arrest in the case. By publicizing what happened as well as collecting pledges toward a reward, Snopek’s family hopes to generate information leading to the arrest and conviction of the driver responsible for Mark’s death.

To make a pledge, family friend and spokesman Kevin M. Griggs asks that people contact him by e-mail at Kevin@griggs-strategies.com and indicate their name, address, telephone number and amount they wish to pledge. Griggs said all information will be kept confidential, although Kay Snopek plans to send personalized thank you notes to each person pledging.

In addition to his wife, Snopek is survived by parents, Lee and Irene Snopek of Minocqua, formerly of Cudahy; a sister, Jill Kotke; nieces, Lindsey Lang and Alyssa Kotke; nephews, Grant Lang and Taylor Kotke; a special pet cat, Spot; and a host of family and friends.

Information Needed

Anyone with information regarding the death of Mark Snopek should contact the Boone County Sheriff’s Office at 515-433-0524.

Sources and References:

• 3 years on, still no answers in hit and run near Woodward, Dallas County News, Aug. 26, 2010
• “From the Sheriff’s Desk,” Boone News Republican, June 9, 2009
• “Trail is a worthwhile project,” The Ames Tribune, Dec. 11, 2008
• “One year later and still no answers in hit-and-run death of Mark Snopek,” Boone News Republican, Aug. 8, 2008
• “Beautifying Boone County one project at a time,” Boone News Republican, May 14, 2008
• “Protecting bicyclists,” The Ames Tribune, Jan. 20, 2008
• “Reward in cyclist’s death at $15,000,” The Ames Tribune, Nov. 6, 2007
• “Bringing Mark’s killer to justice: Reward now at $15,000,” Boone News Republican, Nov. 5, 2007
• “Reward offered for information in deadly hit-and-run,” The Ames Tribune, Oct. 9, 2007
• “BREAKING NEWS: REWARD TOPS $10,000 in Snopek hit-and-run,” Boone News Republican, Oct. 8, 2007
• “Family Of Hit-And-Run Victim Raise Reward Fund,” KCCI Channel 8 Des Moines – October 3, 2007
• “Interest in outdoors took man far, near – Snopek, wife met in Cudahy; he died in Iowa hit-and-run,”Milwaukee Journal Sentinel – August 20, 2007
• “Bicyclist killed near Woodward,” The Ames Tribune, Aug. 16, 2007
• “Mark Lee Snopek Obituary,” The Ames Tribune, Aug. 15, 2007
• “No new leads in death of Boone County man,” The Ames Tribune, Aug. 15, 2007
• “Mark Lee Snopek,” Obituary, The Ames Tribune, Aug. 14, 2007
• “Snopek funeral Monday night in Ames,” Boone News Republican, Aug. 13, 2007
• “Mark Lee Snopek” Obituary, The Ames Tribune, Aug. 11, 2007
• “August 10 record,” The Ames Tribune, Aug. 10, 2007
• “BREAKING NEWS: Snopek killed in hit-and-run,” Boone News Republican, Aug. 9, 2007
• “Adopt a Roadway – In memory of Mark Snopek,” Boone County, Iowa, website (pdf file)
• “Cyclists Who Have Been Injured or Killed,” BikeIowa.com
• “Class of 1972 – Mark L. Snopek,” Cudahy High School Alumni Website