Kim Loose (Courtesy Davenport West High School)

Kim Loose (Courtesy Davenport West High School)

Kimberly Renea “Kim” Loose

Three separate fatal injuries

Kimberly Renea Loose
16 YOA
Home Residence: Blue Grass, Iowa
Crime Scene: Mobile Home Parking Lot
Walcott, Iowa
Scott County (Investigating Agency)
Case Number: 86-45205
September 26, 1986

 

Case Summary compiled by Jody Ewing

 
Kimberly R. “Kim” Loose, 16, died Friday, September 26, 1986, in rural Walcott, Iowa, in Scott County after leaving her best friend’s 16th birthday party in Blue Grass, Iowa, with 20-year-old Jeffery Curtis Daily, also of Blue Grass.

Blue Grass in Scott County

Blue Grass in Scott County

The teen — one of 10 siblings, with nine still living at home at 304 Salem St. in Blue Grass — had hoped to pursue a career as a psychologist after graduation, but the Davenport West High junior wouldn’t live long enough to graduate from high school.

The teen normally wasn’t allowed to go to parties, and spent much of her free time at home helping to care for two of her young brothers who suffered from autism. Her parents, Larry and Rose Loose, had brought five daughters into the world, quickly followed by five sons. Kim loved taking care of her younger siblings, and her two autistic brothers had fueled her decision to pursue a career in psychology once she finished high school.

“Tell my mom I’ll be right back”

Kim had turned 16 years old just two months earlier in July, and looked forward to helping her best friend, Kelli Kress, celebrate her own sweet sixteenth birthday.

Lorrie-Julie-Tammie-Terrie-Kim-Loose
Courtesy photo Julie Loose
The five Loose sisters as children. In back, Lorrie and Julie; in front, Tammie, Terrie, and Kimmie.

After arriving at Kelli’s home, the friends went briefly to a local bar owned by Kelli’s father. It is unknown whether or not they consumed any alcohol while there, but Kim met, for the first time, a 20-year-old named Jeff Daily.

Shortly after the girls returned to Kelli’s home to resume the birthday party, Daily showed up outside the house in a yellow Camaro he’d borrowed from a friend. He then tried talking Kim into leaving with him to attend another party in Walcott, Iowa.

Kim said no. She’d only just met him, didn’t know anything about him, and wasn’t used to socializing with older boys.

Witness statements give conflicting accounts as to whether or not Daily went inside the Kress home.

Finally, Daily asked Kim if she’d at least ride with him to go pick up [Kelli Kress’s friend] Joyce Barton and bring her back to the party. Barton lived on the same block where the Loose family lived. Kim again said no, but the girls were tired of him pestering them and, after all, Kelli thought it would be nice to include Barton in the birthday celebration. Kim then agreed to ride with Daily to get Barton.

blue-grass-to-walcott-ia-loose-petersen“Make sure you bring her right back because she’s spending the night here for my birthday party!” Kelli called out as Kim and Daily climbed into the Camaro.

As the Camaro pulled away from the curb, Kim yelled out to Kelli, “Tell my mom I’ll be right back!”

Three men and a girl

Instead of going to pick up Barton, Daily drove north out of town and headed toward Walcott.

A short time later, Kim found herself at the Walcott Mobile Home Park, entering a trailer house allegedly belonging to Rob Kaufman. There, they joined up with Daily’s best friend, 20-year-old Craig Allen Petersen, and Craig’s brother, Kevin Petersen, 22, who was home from college for the weekend. Daily and Craig Petersen both resided in the 500 block of N. Moselle Street in Blue Grass. They’d grown up together and been best friends for years.

By 10:10 p.m. Friday, Kim’s lifeless body, her eyes still open, lay on the pavement near the mobile home parking lot’s front entrance. She sustained three separate fatal injuries including blunt force trauma and hemorrhaging in her chest, a broken neck, and traumatic brain injury. 

Officials told her family about only one injury — that Kim had died from a broken neck.

One of the three young men with Kim Friday night died under mysterious circumstances the following night.

By Saturday’s late night hours, Craig Petersen also would be dead, though his body wouldn’t be discovered until Wednesday morning. On October 1, a boater found the younger Petersen’s body floating in the Mississippi River about 100 yards offshore in Montpelier in Muscatine County.

The two Petersen brothers had last been seen together arguing on the I-280 bridge.

Brothers at War

The morning after Kim’s death — the autopsy hadn’t yet been conducted and no one knew the full extent of the three fatal injuries — trouble had clearly begun brewing between the Petersen brothers.

Numerous witnesses (names and statements on file; information has been shared with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and FBI), said the two were antagonistic and fought and argued all throughout the day. The older brother, Kevin — home from college for the weekend — appeared to instigate many of the fights, at other times almost pleading with Craig.

Craig Petersen obituary photo, courtesy Quad-City times, Oct. 2, 1986

Craig Petersen obituary photo, Courtesy Quad-City Times, Oct. 2, 1986

Craig stood his ground and was seen shaking his head “no” in refusing to do or agree with whatever his older brother wanted. Craig remained visibly disturbed by something other than his brother tailing him everywhere he went, and people talked; after all, the brothers and Jeff Daily had been with Kim Loose the previous night and knew what happened to her. 

The riff escalated throughout the day, and by Saturday evening, Craig appeared to have had enough. He stormed off, witnesses said, but his brother waited only a short time before speeding off after him in a pickup truck.

Two eyewitnesses, who suspected the brothers’ feud was about to come to an explosive end, followed Kevin Petersen in separate vehicles so as not to miss out on how things were going to go down. They followed Kevin to the edge of the Interstate 280 bridge south of Davenport, where Kevin had abruptly stopped the pickup, gotten out, and immediately resumed the volatile argument with Craig on the bridge.  

One witness stated that within minutes, Kevin Petersen turned away from his brother to angrily confront those who’d begun to gather at the bridge’s edge. “[Kevin] said that everything was under control and that [we all] needed to leave. He ordered us to get the [expletive] out of there,” said the witness, who asked to not be identified by name. 

Intimidated by Kevin’s rage, the witnesses drove away, watching in the rear-view mirror as the brothers faced off on the bridge.

It was the last time anyone saw Craig Petersen alive.

Family members reported him missing early the next morning.

Local officials told the press Craig Petersen had disappeared sometime Sunday morning while walking across the Interstate 280 bridge.

A tangled web of deceit

In correspondence sent to Iowa Cold Cases in August 2014, one of Kim’s four sisters, Julie Loose, said her family was initially told that Kim’s death was a freak accident — that a vehicle’s passenger door had fallen open while allegedly traveling 10 to 20 mph over a speed bump in a parking lot — and that Kim had “fallen from the vehicle, broken her neck, and died in a ‘freak accident.'”

Walcott in Scott County

Walcott in Scott County

A Quad-City Times article published two days after Kim’s death cited the Scott County Sheriff’s Department as saying Loose was killed in a one-car accident about 10:30 p.m. Friday, and that the car’s driver, Jeffery Daily, was charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

The Camaro belonged to Webster Scott, who was not questioned.

Daily, it said, was not injured in the incident.

Authorities said Loose was thrown from the passenger seat of the car near the entrance of the Walcott Motor Home Park off Highway 6.

One witness, allegedly the first to arrive at the scene after Kim’s fatal injuries, said she found only Daily in the parking lot, standing over a young woman. No mention was made of the Petersen brothers, though both were also present at the crime scene and captured in a number of photos.

In a 12:38 a.m. interview with Capt. Dennis J. Conard of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Jeff Daily stated he picked up Kim in Blue Grass between 9 and 10:30 p.m. and they were going to go for a drive to Walcott.

Scott County Medical Examiner Rollin M. Perkins, M.D., ordered the autopsy, conducted by Raj Sekharan, M.D. in the autopsy room of St. Luke’s Hospital at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 1986.

It wasn’t until 2011 when Julie Loose had her own public brush with a near-death — a car fire where she’d managed to safely escape — that people began messaging her through Facebook, suggesting she ask the sheriff’s office for reports on file in her sister’s 1986 ‘accidental death.’

“I did,” Julie told Iowa Cold Cases, “and was given copies of reports and statements as well as a CD containing pictures from the scene where Kim died.”

The CD also contained autopsy photographs.

Everything the family thought they knew about Kim’s death — as well as Craig Petersen’s death — was about to change.

Discrepancies in Death

Once the family began poring through Kim’s case file documents and photos from the trailer park’s parking lot, they made a shocking discovery: the sheriff’s office records and statements witnesses had provided to deputies didn’t match up with the explanation officials had provided the family 25 years earlier.

“Autopsy reports showed several injuries we were never told about, including several triangle-shaped injuries” confined to Kim’s upper body area, Julie said. Additionally, Kim had been wearing a mini skirt that night, though neither leg had a scratch; she had a tiny bruise to each kneecap, but no pavement scrape marks on her legs.

Kim’s family also had been told Kim fell from the yellow Camaro’s right side passenger door, though case file reports and autopsy photos show the victim sustained the primary injuries to her left side. One report cited a broken car door on the Camaro’s driver’s side — not the passenger side — and in a statement made to sheriff’s deputies, Daily, too, had acknowledged the driver-side broken door.

jeff-craig-kevin-at-scene-kim-loose
Courtesy photo Walcott Fire Department and Julie Loose
Walcott Fire Department personnel try to revive victim Kim Loose while Craig Petersen (far right, leaning on car’s hood), his brother Kevin (behind Craig) and Jeff Daily (in front of vehicle) look on. Craig Petersen died under mysterious circumstances the following night.

Also in his statement, Daily reported he’d been driving about 20 mph in a parking lot with a 10 mph speed limit.

Julie Loose said she spoke to Scott County Sheriff Dennis Conard in 2011 about the case file evidence and asked for an explanation of what really happened to her sister.

“He, at that time, stated he could not figure it out. Said it was a suspicious death … that they would reopen the cold case,” Julie told Iowa Cold Cases.

Conard had served as a captain with the sheriff’s department at the time of Kim’s death.

Numerous documents indicated that Kim — an underage minor — had been at someone’s trailer where she’d been provided alcohol, but nowhere did any document state who last saw Kim alive.

Several photos taken at the scene showed both Petersen brothers present, along with another vehicle and another well-known drag racer who still resided in Walcott.

Accessing the damage, 25 years after crime

The Loose family obtained a copy of Kim’s autopsy report, along with reports from the local fire department and other emergency first responder agencies, in May 2011, nearly 25 years after Kim’s death. 

Kim Loose familyCourtesy photo Julie Loose
The Loose family in earlier years.

What local officials had referred to as “road rash” on Kim’s body was actually (per the autopsy report) a cherry-red discoloration due to “Cardiac Tamponade” — caused by blunt trauma to the chest where blood begins pooling in the pericardium (the sac surrounding the heart) — followed by Hemorrhage Pericardial Trauma.

In layman’s terms, her left thorax — the body cavity area that holds the heart and lungs — had already filled with blood and was starting to fill the right thorax when Kim died. (Each side of the thorax can hold 30 to 40% of a person’s blood volume.)

In addition to the broken neck and blunt trauma to the chest cited on Kim’s ‘Certificate of Death,’ the autopsy report also included another injury that in and of itself would have resulted in her death.

“Fracture Dislocation of upper cervical spine with medullary concussion,” often referred to as Traumatic Brain Injury or “TBI,” is very similar to “shaken baby syndrome” and caused by the “rapid displacement of the head, in either acceleration or deceleration, which causes a swirling of the cerebrum within the cranium.” When the head and neck are constantly being thrown back and forth, the brain stem “torques” or “twists” quite easily, in turn fracturing and dislocating the upper cervical spine. In the minutes following this injury, blood and spinal fluid begin building up in the spinal canal below the brain.

Death isn’t usually far behind, and Kim’s autopsy report confirmed the presence of a “considerable amount” of spinal fluid.

When the medical examiner received Kim’s body, they were told by a deputy sheriff (as noted in autopsy report) that Kim was Jeff’s girlfriend (untrue — they’d barely met), and that they’d gotten into an argument and Kim had “jumped from a moving vehicle,” also untrue.

Kim Loose and sisters, Christmas card

Courtesy Julie Loose

“The sheriff’s office said they were sorry we were not told the truth but the case would be reopened to give the family closure or answers,” Julie Loose said of her 2011 discussion with Sheriff Conard after the family read through the contradictory autopsy report.

One witness told the Loose family that shortly before Kim’s death that night, she’d seen Kim injured but still alive and talking. Sheriff’s department and medical examiner reports, however, indicate the victim may have died before the witness arrived.

According to the witness, Daily had attempted to move Kim’s body and had lifted her partway before letting go and dropping Kim, hard, on her head, though Kim did not suffer a skull fracture.

Even as the teen lay motionless on the pavement — apparently dead — Jeff Daily made no attempts to contact law enforcement officials or medical personnel. Finally, someone called an individual who was friends with Ron Morrison of the Walcott Fire Department.

The call came into the Walcott Fire Department at 10:15 p.m., and they left the station at 10:17 p.m. The first unit arrived on scene at 10:21 p.m. and noted the following about the victim’s condition:

  • BP: 0/0
  • Pulse: 0
  • GLASGOW COMA SCALE
    • EYES OPEN: No Response
    • VERBAL RESPONSE: No Response
    • MOTOR RESPONSE: No Response
  • SKIN MOISTURE: DRY
  • SKIN TEMPERATURE: COLD
  • SKIN COLOR: CYANOTIC
  • PRESENT HISTORY: No pulse, no respirations, pupils fixed and dilated.

Attempts to revive the 16-year-old proved unsuccessful. Kim was pronounced DOA upon her arrival at Mercy Hospital.

The teen’s ‘Certificate of Death’ lists exact time of death — 10:10 p.m. — suggesting death occurred before efforts were made to contact the Walcott Fire Department.

The Scott County Sheriff’s Department had provided the “Abstract of Clinical History” to the State Medical Examiner’s Office prior to the autopsy, and Officer Everett Howard of the Scott County Sheriff’s Department witnessed the autopsy.

Pathologist Raj Sekharan had begun and performed the autopsy based on a faulty clinical history for the victim, including:

  • That the victim was a passenger in a car driven by her boyfriend. (Daily was not Loose’s boyfriend; she’d barely known him.)
  • That, according to same information received, the couple had an argument, during the course of which the victim wanted out of the car, and that she presumably jumped out of the moving vehicle. (During interviews with law enforcement officials later that same night, Daily indicated the two had “not” been arguing and that Loose had “not” tried to jump from the moving vehicle.)
  • The M.E.’s office was told the incident happened at about 10:30 p.m. (Kimberly Loose’s ‘Certificate of Death’ lists time of death as 10:10 p.m.)
Cases Closed, or Connected?

Armed with copies of reports from the Scott County Sheriff’s Office and fire department, along with eyewitness testimony from those who previously feared getting involved, the Loose family reached out to their local Crime Stoppers chapter and provided them with copies of all known documentation in the mysterious deaths of both Kim Loose and Craig Petersen.

Kim Loose and girl scoutsCourtesy Julie Loose
A campout with the Girl Scouts

Julie Loose also reached out to Craig Petersen’s mother, thinking she’d be eager to finally learn the truth about what happened to her son. Mrs. Petersen, however, questioned Julie as to why she’d want to pursue either death after so many years.

Julie and her family continued to move forward in search of answers for both Kim and Craig.

Just as more local individuals began placing hesitant calls to the Loose family to share what they knew or had heard about Kim’s and Craig’s deaths, the Loose family received a call from Scott County Sheriff Conard, who said [Kim’s] death was “ruled an accident and the case was closed.”

Stunned family members wondered what had transpired from the time he’d told them it was a suspicious death and would reopen the cold case.

Petersen’s death was not mentioned in the call.

“They never connected Craig’s death to Kim’s as he was missing and then washed up in Muscatine County,” Julie Loose said.

According to a Cedar Rapids Gazette article published Thursday, Oct. 2, 1986, Petersen went missing in the very early morning hours on Sunday, Sept. 28, 1986, barely a day after Kim’s death.

Courtesy The Gazette, Oct. 2, 1986

Courtesy The Gazette, Oct. 2, 1986

Muscatine County officials recovered his body from the Mississippi River just hours before Kim Loose’s funeral was scheduled to begin.

According to the Gazette, the body was taken by Buffalo Ambulance to Muscatine General Hospital. Once positively identified as that of Craig Petersen, officials transported the body to Des Moines for an autopsy.

According to the October 2 story:

The Muscatine County Sheriff’s Department said John Kelsey of rural Buffalo was bailing out his boat near Blue Bill Ridge, two miles west of Montpelier, about 9:40 a.m. Wednesday when he spotted the body floating about 100 yards off shore. He finished bailing out the boat and then went to retrieve the body, which was taken by Buffalo Ambulance to Muscatine General Hospital.

Dr. Marc Sink, who performed Petersen’s autopsy, noted in his official report that the cause of death was “Drowning” and that Petersen’s death had occurred within “Minutes.”

Sink could not definitively specify manner of death, and in “Findings Considered In Determining Cause of Death” (Section 19b), Sink wrote “Undetermined.” In Section 20a — which asked to specify ACCIDENT, SUICIDE, HOMICIDE, OR UNDETERMINED — Sink noted “Prob. suicide.”

Sink estimated Petersen’s time of death as 3 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 28, 1986.

Terry and Ann (Barnett) Petersen of 531 Moselle St., Blue Grass, buried their son in Davenport’s Memorial Park Cemetery three days after Kim Loose’s parents buried their child in the same cemetery.

Loose Ends

Petersen’s mysterious death had occurred barely over one day after Kim Loose died of three separate but equally fatal injuries. No conclusive evidence ever proved whether Craig Petersen had jumped (voluntarily or by coercion), fallen, or been pushed from the I-280 bridge into the Mississippi River, but witnesses did place Kevin Petersen — and not Jeff Daily — at the location where Craig Petersen was last seen alive.

Bill Davis (Times file photo)Courtesy photo Quad-City Times
Scott County Attorney Bill Davis was disbarred by the Iowa Supreme Court in April 2008.

Were the two deaths and the victims’ connections to Kevin Petersen and Jeff Daily sheer coincidence? Were both deaths accidental?

The Looses don’t think so, and former Scott County Attorney Bill Davis — reportedly a good friend of the Daily family — did not file criminal charges in either death. He was disbarred two decades later.

The Iowa Supreme Court revoked Davis’ law license effective April 17, 2008, for failing to comply with an Iowa Supreme Court Commission order to turn over trust account records from his private practice.

Davis had served as Scott County Attorney for 29 years and prosecuted many of the county’s most notorious cases.

“[We] don’t know what happened, but know Kim got no justice,” Julie Loose said.

In May 2016, Julie’s daughter, Samantha Loose, 22, graduated with her master’s degree in criminal justice from St. Ambrose University, Davenport.

The family still wants answers.

They have copies of reports, but nothing from Scott County officials that explains how they went from a suspicious-death-to-an-accident conclusion in Kim’s case, particularly after the family realized the full extent of Kim’s numerous injuries . . . injuries that defied any previous logic or explanations of Kim simply having fallen from a slow-moving vehicle.

The medical examiner, however, dutifully noted and fully described all three fatal injuries, even though the decedent’s actions in the immediate hours preceding her death didn’t fit the history report provided by county sheriff deputies. The M.E.’s office didn’t know Jeff Daily wasn’t the victim’s boyfriend. They didn’t know about the parking lot, and in fact were led to believe Kim had jumped from a vehicle traveling along a road or highway at a normal or fast rate of speed.

A Personal Note from ICC Founder Jody Ewing

The eyewitness reports in this case are indeed some fascinating reads, especially when those who went in for a second or third interview gave a second or third version of what happened. (That’s not counting all the contradictory statements made from one individual to another.)

These documents were made available to Julie Loose, who kindly provided me with a copy of all of them.

I also have a copy of the crime scene photos in this case (including pre-autopsy and autopsy photos taken by the medical examiner). 

Kim has marks on her left hand (she was left handed), which suggests she put up a fight for her life. The autopsy report confirms the injuries were beyond the scope of falling from a slow moving vehicle, and the report clearly and accurately describes the extent of Kim’s fatal injuries. Under cause of death, they wrote the only thing they’d ever been told about the death (the result of a motor vehicle accident) but they still described in detail the extent of three separate but fatal injuries.

I applaud those who have come forward with information about what they witnessed. 

Law enforcement officials are extremely busy, and it’s not necessarily uncommon for those at the federal or state level (particularly if they were never called in to help investigate the crime) to believe the city or county’s “it-was-an-accident-Case-Closed” statement. End of conversation. This is to be expected because relationships from the county to state to federal level are based on trust and the assumption that one investigating agency is being truthful with a higher-ranking organization.

Photos and autopsy reports help tell these truths.

Photos and documented reports quietly concealed for 25 years makes a crime no less valuable than one committed only yesterday.

Information Needed

The Loose family has indicated they are open to sharing case file documents and photos with those who wish to look further into Kim’s death, but ask that requests be made through Iowa Cold Cases.

Kim Loose and familyCourtesy Julie Loose
The Loose family in happier and challenging child-rearing days. Kim is on right holding one of her brothers. Early on Christmas Day 2017, Kim’s parents and two autistic brothers were killed in a mysterious house fire where deadbolt locks placed high at the top of doors prevented any of the four victims from escaping the burning home. The fire’s point of origin was never determined and the case quickly closed.

Iowa Cold Cases is also asking for any information about events occurring the night Kim died, such as her presence at one or more local bars, her presence that evening at a trailer in the Walcott Mobile Home Park, her ride with Jeff Daily and/or other individual(s), and any other details you feel may be relevant or connected to her death.

If you have any details or knowledge you think might help solve this case, we urge you to contact Iowa DCI Special Agent in Charge Mike Motsinger at (515) 725-6010.

About Kim Loose

Kimberly R. Loose was born July 17, 1970, the daughter of Larry and Rose Loose. She resided in Blue Grass, Iowa, with her parents and eight siblings.

She died Friday, September 26, 1986, in Walcott, Iowa, from a broken neck and other injuries sustained at the Walcott Motor Home Park along Highway 6.

Kim was a junior at Davenport West High School, and would have graduated in 1988. She’d hoped to further her education and become a psychologist.

kim-loose-gravestoneCourtesy photo TheMirrorBlue, findagrave.com
Kim Loose is buried in Davenport’s Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial services were held at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 1986, at Runge Mortuary.

Visitation was from 3 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, and 9 a.m. to service time on Wednesday.

Kim was laid to rest in Davenport’s Memorial Park Cemetery.

Survivors included her parents, Larry and Rose Loose of Blue Grass; sisters, Lorrie, Julie, Tammie and Terrie; and brothers, Larry III, Steven, Michael and Todd, all at home; and grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Haskell, Milton, Iowa; and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Stoudt, Davenport.

She was preceded in death by one brother, Larry Jr., who died as an infant.

Note: More information to follow in reference to the Dec. 25, 2017 deaths of Kim’s parents, Larry and Rose Loose, and her two autistic brothers, Steven and Michael. The four died in a house fire at their Blue Grass home in the early morning hours before Christmas Day began, and, as with Kim’s case, numerous agencies were involved in the investigation. 

The state fire marshal’s office was not able to determine the fire’s point of origin. Some witnesses contradicted their own statements multiple times. The conflicting accounts of what happened that night are evidenced in each of the respective agency’s final report. The Blue Grass Police Department and Office of the State Fire Marshal consider the case closed.

Sources:
  • Phone conversation with Rose Loose (victim’s mother), and subsequent communications, July 6, 2015 to November 9, 2017
  • Correspondence to Iowa Cold Cases from Kimberly Loose family, August–November, 2014 — present
  • Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
  • Kim Loose and Craig Petersen perish in related unsolved deaths — Gone Cold: Exploring Iowa’s Unsolved Murders,” The Estherville News, October 11, 2015
  • Gone Cold: Kimberly “Kim” Loose,” The Carroll Daily Times Herald, September 28, 2015
  • Gone Cold: Craig Allen Petersen,” The Carroll Daily Times Herald, September 28, 2015
  • Tell My Mom I’ll Be Right Back: To my beautiful sister (inside and out) on this September 26, 2015,” Iowa Cold Cases “Guest Blog” post by Julie Loose, published September 27, 2015
  • GONE COLD: Exploring Iowa’s Unsolved Murders,” The Daily Iowegian, Sunday, September 20, 2015
  • Gone Cold: Kimberly Loose and Craig Petersen, killed in 1986,” Special to the Register, Part of the GONE COLD: EXPLORING IOWA’S UNSOLVED MURDERS series, The Des Moines Register, Sunday, September 20, 2015
  • 1986 deaths of eastern Iowa teens 1 day apart raises suspicions,” Iowa Newspaper Association / Mason City Globe Gazette, September 19, 2015
  • Former Scott County Attorney Bill Davis disbarred,” by Ann McClynn, The Quad-City Times, April 25, 2008
  • Davenport West High School, In Memoriam
  • AUTOPSY REPORT — KIMBERLY R. LOOSE, by Dr. Rollin M. Perkins, Scott County Medical Examiner and Dr. Raj Sekharan, Pathologist, Nov. 26, 1986
  • CERTIFICATE OF DEATH for Craig Allen Petersen, DOB May 26, 1966, DOD Sept. 28, 1986, State of Iowa Department of Health, filed Oct. 2, 1986
  • Obituaries: Craig Petersen, 20,” The Quad-City Times, Thursday, Oct. 2, 1986
  • Body found in Mississippi River,” The Cedar Rapids Gazette, Thursday, Oct. 2, 1986
  • Kimberly R. Loose (1970 – 1986) — Find a Grave Memorial
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, Michael Spratt interview, report by Capt. Dennis J. Conard, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Oct. 1, 1986
  • REPORT OF INVESTIGATION BY MEDICAL EXAMINER: Kimberly Renea Loose, Office of the Iowa State Medical Examiner, Iowa State Department of Health, Oct. 1, 1986
  • CERTIFICATE OF DEATH for Kimberly R. Loose, DOB July 17, 1970, DOD Sept. 26, 1986, State of Iowa Department of Health, filed Sept. 30, 1986
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, Kelli June Kress interview, report by Sgt. Mel Puck, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 29, 1986
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, Wood Junior High School, Joann and Jason Heppe interview, by Sgt. R. Potter, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 29, 1985
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, Items removed from yellow Camaro, by Dep. Everett E. Howard, C.I.D., Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 29, 1986
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, Incident Type: Death, Kim Loose of Blue Grass, report by Deputy Sheriff CW McCollom, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 29, 1986
  • Teen-age passenger killed in crash; driver charged,” The Quad-City Times, Sunday, Sept. 28, 1986
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, Sherry Ann Stefan interview, report by Dep. Everett E. Howard, C.I.D., Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 28, 1986
  • Obituaries: Kimberly Loose,” The Quad-City Times, Sunday, Sept. 28, 1986
  • SCOTT COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE CASE SUBMISSION SUMMARY: Daily, Jeffery Curtis, Report # 86-45205; Count I: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Prepared by Capt. D.J. Conard, October 1986
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, Jeffrey Curtis Daily interview at Scott County Sheriff’s Department, report by Capt. Dennis J. Conard, C.I.D., Sept. 27, 1986
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, Incident Type OWI and 10-50F, Walcott Mobile Home Park, report by Deputy Sheriff CW McCollom, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 26, 1986
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205; Sherry Ann Stefan interview, report by Lt. R. D. Huff, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 26, 1986
  • SUPPLEMENTARY, Incident No. 86-45205, JEFFERY CURTIS DAILY, OWI and fatality in Walcott Mobile Home Park, report by Dep. Roger L. Brown, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 26, 1986
  • SCOTT COUNTY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE CASE SUBMISSION SUMMARY, Jeffery Curtis Daily, Count I: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Report # 86-45205, Sept. 26, 1986
  • INCIDENT: ARRESTED PERSON DISPOSITION, Jeffery Curtis Daily, Scott County Sheriff’s Department, Sept. 26, 1986

 

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74 Responses to Kim Loose

  1. Jnp says:

    A couple thoughts/questions..
    1. I saw on Facebook that Iowa cold cases said (in 2016) they thought they knew what caused the marks on Kim’s body and what connected her case to Craig’s, was this ever posted to the public?
    2. In terms of the house fire that took the lives of the Loose brothers and parents, did they ever release anything on the padlocks that were on the doors? I wondered if they were installed by the parents to make sure the brothers didn’t run away and/or get hurt.
    3. With the amount of people that seemed to come forward witnessing things that night, I’m surprised no one saw what happened? I also have to think there has got to be rumors, do they warrant any truth?
    4. I’m also very curious about Kevin and Jeff, were they in and out of trouble after this? Did they stay friends? I was able to find a picture of Kevin, but never found any of Jeff…

  2. Katie says:

    Has there been any up dates? why don’t we put this on 48hrs or cold case !! we know the truth. What ever happened at the trailer was not good!! Craig was kill by his brother because he wanted to tell the truth!! So Jeff and Kevin got away with murder

    • Patrick Kerrigan says:

      Katie, I agree that the members of the Petersen family and Jeff Daly are responsible for the death of Kim. He borrows a car and pesters her to ride with him to pick up another girl for the party. Instead he takes her to a trailer and she ends up dead. He makes no effort to call 911 to get immediate medical attention for her.

      Then the authorities sort of hide the fill extent of her injuries, Then they appear not to conduct a full investigation. Then the police identify Kim, as Jeff’s girlfriend. I assume they never interviewed Kim’s family, since they told them the full extent of her injuries.

      Then one of the Petersen brothers died after an argument with his brother. Their mother appears to be non-chalant about the death of her son, possibly at the hands of another son, and their possible involvement in the death of of Kim.

      These are adults whose actions resulted in the death of a minor, and the authorities take action or hold anyone responsible. I guess the residents of this community are okay with this.

      A good lawyer, would look at filing wrongful death lawsuits at Jeff and the Petersens. Then we can get to the truth.

    • Julie Rose Loose says:

      No I have not heard anything.

    • Julie Rose Loose says:

      No updates. Thank you for asking.

  3. Dave Doyle says:

    Has anything more been done here? Are people still local? I would be interested to dig into this and find out what happened to people after the event.

  4. Katie says:

    I always thought this case was fishies!! I didn’t know Kim but I know the the boys.
    As for the house fire the fire chief and the investigator should of found the cause of the fire because I know when we had our house fire they found the cause of the fire !!

  5. Stay Strong says:

    This is another one that irritates me to no end.

    I can hardly believe after all these years Kevin Petersen and Jeff Daily hasn’t been brought to justice is a total injustice.

  6. Trevor says:

    This case keeps me up at night. So many things don’t add up.

  7. Mary Maki says:

    Can they get DNA off her clothes the sheriff said he kept?

  8. Jan Farley says:

    This case should be investigated…. ! It’s a cover up for sure!

  9. RIP Kimmie my sister Kim I miss you soo much Happy bday in heaven today.Tell Mom,Dad,Steven,Michael,and little Larry the second we miss you guys every second! Love your sister,Terrie(nickname) I wish you would have met your niece Natalia,and my husband Monte I love you 😘 Love Always and forever your sister Teresa

  10. LakeLife says:

    Two of the perpetrators died, where is the third one?
    We’re is daily??
    Is he still alive?!

  11. L says:

    This whole situation sounds sooo shady!
    It sounds like a cover up.
    This poor girl was kidnapped & possibly raped.
    Then they murdered her by beating her to death, then claimed she “died” in a random car accident…that never happened.
    THEN her parents who were trying to get justice for their daughter end up “mysteriously” dead in a fire, however no one can explain how the fire got started.

  12. R Michelle Kennard says:

    Was Kim’s body checked for signs of rape? From what I have read it sounds like it wasn’t. If not, Could an exhumed body still have evidence such as semen, vaginal bruising, etc.? She had injuries inconsistent with falling out of a car, but she was a young pretty girl that had been alone with three, maybe four young guys, alcohol was involved and she had been to the home of the brothers who lived near the driver of the Camaro. She had bruising on both knees. If rape had been committed while on her knees her head and neck could have been jerked and pulled harshly, and her chest wounds could have been from being held down (while on her back potentially) with too much force such as one or two guys holding her down or her chest could have been repeatedly thrust against something (while on her knees). It sounds like the deceased brother knew what happened, he was there after all, and was highly upset about it which is likely the reason he was killed. I’m so sorry about this for the family. RIP Kim.

    • tim says:

      I doubt after 34 years even with excellent embalming there would be any viable evidence then again I hope there would be. shame what happened to this girl.

    • Jody Ewing says:

      R Michelle, thank you for this question. The answer is as strange as this whole case. The autopsy report makes no reference to rape or sexual assault. Nothing. It doesn’t even state whether or not she was examined for signs of either incident. This is highly unusual.

      We have on the ICC site a case of a 6-year-old who allegedly died from burns suffered in a house fire, and her autopsy report does make mention that she was examined and that there were no signs of sexual assault or abuse. Yes, the subject is covered for a 6-year-old. I have autopsy reports for some elderly women (in 80s), who were beaten to death, and sexual assault is addressed in those autopsies, too.

      I don’t have autopsy reports on all of ICC’s female victims, but in the cases where a victim’s family member sent me a copy, sexual assault and/or rape is always addressed in the medical examiner’s report. Yet, here we have the case of a 16-year-old who died under extremely suspicious circumstances, but no mention of whether the M.E. even checked? The possible scenarios you posed are not without merit, but I wonder if any of us will ever know the full truth about what happened that night. Sometimes, what’s “not” in a report speaks volumes.

      • Amber Housey says:

        But 2 of the men present that night are still alive!

      • Michelle says:

        Thank you for the reply Jody. I believe she was raped in the case it wasn’t addressed and it would appear the M.E. was paid off or somehow involved closely with those committing the crime. They need to pull the body out and re-check it and question those 2 boys still alive. Unbelievable! This is just so disturbing!

  13. Dave Doyle says:

    Has anything else happened with this case? Are the men who were involved still in the area? Has anyone approached them? With this being a popular podcast topic has anyone reached out?

  14. John says:

    Soooo… why did she agree to drive further wait I’m confused I thought they were going down the street just to pick up the girl why they go to some other place

  15. Debi (Kallenberger) Thein says:

    So heartbreaking! I remember Kim well and have thought of her many times over the years…..praying for answers and justice for Kim! Wish there was something I could do to help

  16. Chris says:

    I’m so sorry for the loss of your sister, Kim. It’s just horrible. When reading the story from that night 32 years ago, some law official should have noticed something just isn’t right. Is there anyway you can go over the sheriff’s head and have Kim and Craig’s case reviewed? I hope you and your family get some closure.

  17. Patrick Kerrigan says:

    I find it frustrating that the now sheriff, is claiming that her death was accidental. Since, he was a senior person in the sheriff’s office, he should have referred the case to another agency. I hope the State of Iowa would take a look at it.

    Craig’s mother most likely does not want to acknowedge that one of her sons had a hand in the death of his brother. He also may have been involved in the death of Kim, or knows what really happened.

    • Julie Loose says:

      Now they are stating case is closed just like my family’s cases both closed kims case was suspious then closed and my mom dad and 2 brothers died in fire christmas day this year and they say undetermined but wont even look at all evidence or speak to all siblings

      • R says:

        First of all, I apologize – I realize I’m a little late in reading this.. I hope with all the time that’s passed, you have been able to obtain some answers and get the closure you deserve.. Someone else asked about the 2 guys that were there/and a part of Kim’s demise – did the Blue grass sheriff’s department speak to them?
        Julie, I’m so very sorry for everything you’ve been through.. I don’t know if I mistook your family’s home catching on fire the wrong way, but it kind of seems like maybe it was a message from the authorities to hush?? God I hope not. Please let us know how you’re doing!! You’re very strong and courageous, don’t ever forget that!

  18. Julie Loose says:

    I will never understand why investigators don’t speak to all family members before making decisions.

    Julie Loose

    • Amber Housley says:

      I agree. I’m so sorry for the losses you and your sisters and brothers have endured. This sherriff sounds like an ass. I wish there was a good private investigator who would take your case for free.

  19. Rick says:

    Do you think the recent fire could be related to the cold case.

    • Brian Rathjen says:

      No … this seems like a tragic situation that had zero to do with this cold case. It was bitterly cold and according to information in the provided link, the house was full of clutter, which impeded escape and helped the fire spread more quickly. Very sad end to their lives.

      • Jody Ewing says:

        Rick and Brian, there are far more extenuating circumstances than just a house full of clutter. It wasn’t the clutter that impeded their escape, but rather the high deadbolt locks on all the doors. The State Fire Marshal Division ruled the cause of the fire as “Undetermined.” Arson wasn’t officially ruled out, and though they could not determine the fire’s point of origin, they do know it started in the living room.

        I’ve thoroughly read the final reports from the multiple investigating agencies, and the number of inconsistencies reflects the number of contradictory statements provided to investigators the night of the fire and in the following days/weeks.

        Medical examiners begin with information (a victim history) provided to them by law enforcement, who already may have been misled by one or more family members or others who have or had a good reason (motive) for wanting to mislead. The autopsy reports, as expected, do accurately reflect the “causes” of death (i.e. they were injuries consistent with those one might sustain in a house fire), but the “manner” of death is highly subjective when it comes to fires. Normally, if the cause of a fire is ruled undetermined, the “manner” of any death(s) would follow suit as undetermined. (Obviously, this is barring cases where individuals have been shot or stabbed or bludgeoned to death and fire(s) then set in attempts to try to cover up the crime.) Otherwise, if arson can’t officially be ruled out, neither can the possibility of homicide when it comes to the manner of death(s).

        I’m not implying these deaths have anything to do with Kim’s or Craig’s unsolved cases — only saying there remains far more questions than answers in all six deaths.

  20. Thank you for sharing, Penny!

  21. Diana Wilson says:

    Terrible….only 16 years old. I hope you find out who did this.

  22. cheryl says:

    I think I would be trying to get ahold of the Attorney General and a good attorney. Election time is coming up and I would be very voiceful about the corruption. May your family find justice.

  23. Vicky Grizzoffi says:

    People complain that big cities like Chicago have corrupt courts. I've found the complete opposite to be true. Assistant states attorney Robert Bush of Jo Davies was in the the process of being disbarred but dropped dead of a heat attack in 2011. My condolences to the families of victims who are victimized a second time by the "good ol' boy " regime.

  24. jeanie dobbs says:

    I.remember this like it was yesterday Kim was a good friend I hope u get the answers you ate looking for God bless your family

  25. Cathy Bradley says:

    I remember this but always heard of it as an accident. I never knew much. I do remember her though. I will share this and hope someone comes forward with something to help. God bless and wishing you luck.

  26. Tracy (Schmell ) Thomas says:

    I remember this happening. I didn’t know Kim well, but knew who she was. Many of my cousins knew her and have many family members that still live in Blue Grass. Today when Kim’s picture showed up on my Facebook page I still remembered her and hope your family finds answers and closure.

  27. Melissa Bernauer says:

    I remember when this happened wish I knew what happened to her and I hope u find out so u and ur family can have peace of mind

  28. Chad Agan says:

    I remember this.god bless your family. I hope you find the answers.

  29. mary says:

    Julie, I do pray that you n your family will find answers… I have never forgotten about you n your family… Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

  30. God Bless you for never giving up. I know you knew from the beginning that Kim’s death wasn’t right! Prayers that the family finds out what happened! <3

  31. Tawna broderick says:

    You should try and get a hold of the two ladies that are on the show cold justice and see if they can help you they work on trying to solve cold cases.

  32. Jenny Matzen says:

    I remember this like it happened today.my thoughts and prayers go out to kims family.i hope you get all the answers you so deserve.

  33. Marc Onken says:

    I hope your able to find the truth and peace. I still remember Kim and its a shame the world was deprived of her sweet contribution so early.

  34. Misty Winter Gullion says:

    I am so sorry to read this and had no idea when I was going to school that this had happened to your family. I went to school with both Larry and Steven. Larry my brother and myself used to walk to school everyday. Steven was and always has been one of my favorite memories in high school. When he would talk to no one at school he attempted so many times to talk to me. I have often talked about him throughout my adult life and wonder how and where he is. He was an amazing kid! I hope your family finds the answers you are looking for and I will share this to my page. Prayers are with you.

  35. Chris Rider says:

    This was so sad back then and still heartbreaking today. Someone knows something as it is clear things are not adding up. I hope you get answers and justice is served!!!!

  36. Prayers that you, and your family get the closure you need! And hopefully justice for kim!

  37. This is very heartbreaking.

  38. Rodney Kelly says:

    life sucks when hey think about it every day what really happened

  39. RIP Kim, I really hope you and your family gets answers. I never knew that both deaths were related. (((((Hugs)))))

  40. Rodney Kelly says:

    and I hope there lives

  41. Rodney Kelly says:

    Somebody knows they have all the people

  42. We were so young back then, It much easier to except the simple answers. Bless your heart for looking for closure for your family. Praying for answers.

  43. Ken Saur says:

    Julie Loose , I am so sorry for the loss in your family.
    Sounds to me like somebody knew something, and that somebody was pushed off a bridge late that night and drowned .
    There has to be a connection somewhere with the sheriffs office somehow to cover up the crime.
    I remember both you and your sister very well in school… Kinda quiet both of ya!
    I hope someday yu’all get answers! God bless

  44. Shared hon. {{{{Hugs}}}} n hope sent too <3

  45. RIP Kim! I knew some of those things but not all of them Julie. I never forget playing with all of you growing up. I was closer to Kim because of our age. Beautiful girl..very sweet!

  46. I didn’t know any of that! I hope people come forward.

  47. I hope you get answers..

  48. julie says:

    Yes I have they all know them….do you have any ideas from a lawyer close to here but does cases like this?this has been never ending nightmare. Thank you for your advice

  49. julie says:

    It seemed normal for them to keep evidence when they said was suspicious but when he said it’s accident end of story with no reason no documents why would you keep it……

  50. julie says:

    We tried all other people we keep getting told sheriff has all the power and it’s conflict of interest due to he was captain at the time but now sheriff

    • SL says:

      Have you guys tried talking with an attorney? Maybe not with a local attorney, but someone from another part of Iowa (maybe Iowa City/Des Moines)? I just can’t get past how your family was treated. If I was an attorney, I’d take your case up for free. Something is really fishy with the sheriff, and you and your family deserve answers. I’m so sorry to hear about everything you guys have gone through.

  51. julie says:

    This has been very hard and shocking and the way we have been treated for only trying to get answers

  52. julie says:

    He was the captain on the case in 1986 now sheriff we even asked for her clothes/evidence back he said he was keeping it in case he needed it….

    • SL says:

      Is there a way that another law enforcement agency can go in and review the case? This sheriff’s behavior sounds very, very fishy to me. On the other hand, it might be helpful that he kept the evidence (as long as it hasn’t been contaminated) because this means that the evidence could be analyzed again.

    • SL says:

      My heart goes out to you and your family, Julie. I’m so sorry that you’ve had to live this nightmare for so long. You deserve answers.

  53. SL says:

    Sounds to me like the sheriff who called them in recent years needs to be investigated. Everything about this case seems like local law enforcement has been covering something up. I hope that this family is able to get the investigation that they deserve; and I hope that if the sheriff is covering something up and hindering an investigation, he/she loses their job. This is absolutely not acceptable.

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