Kimberly M. Ratliff

Pottawattamie County

Council Bluffs

Homicide:

22 YOA
1414 West Broadway
Council Bluffs, Iowa
January 12, 1999

Case summary by Jody Ewing

On January 12, 1999, Kimberly Ratliff, 22, was found in a car left in the parking lot of People's Natural Gas at 1414 West Broadway in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Her throat had been slashed. An employee clearing snow from the sidewalk found Ratliff inside her white 1988 Plymouth Sundance at about 10:40 a.m.

The employee peered inside the vehicle and saw Ratliff sprawled across the front seat, her throat slashed. Authorities believe the vehicle had been parked in the lot over the weekend.

Ratliff, who worked at Airlite Plastics Co. in Omaha, Neb., was last seen alive when she got off work about 11:30 p.m. on Jan. 8, 1999. She lived in Council Bluffs with her mother and stepfather, Joyce and Leslie Kennedy.

To this day, no witnesses have come forward and police have not been able to gather enough evidence to charge anyone with the crime.

For several years, Leslie Kennedy had a picture of Ratliff and a plea for information on a signboard outside his tire repair shop. The sign is gone, but the family hasn't given up hope that someday, somehow, justice will be served.

Police believe Ratliff was killed elsewhere because little blood was found inside her car, and there were indications someone else had dressed her.

Police do not believe this was a random crime.

Anyone with information is asked to call (712) 328-4765 or (712) 328-7876.


Kimberly's 1988 Plymouth Sundance

Sources and References:

Council Bluffs Police Department
Omaha World Herald: Unsolved Slaying Haunts Retired Bluffs Officer
Action 3 News: Kimberly Ratliff Cold Case: The Trail of a Killer

Page last updated June 13, 2010