Linda Mayfield (Courtesy Council Bluffs Police Department)
Council Bluffs in
On April 9, 1982 at 2:18 a.m., officers were called to the Starlite Motel at 3320 West Broadway in Council Bluffs, Iowa, regarding a disturbance involving a man with a knife. When officers arrived at the scene, Linda Mayfield, 21, was found lying face down by the north office door.
The responding officer said the victim had several stab wounds to her face, chest, stomach, hand and foot.
Mayfield was transported to Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs by ambulance and died in surgery at 4:00 a.m.
A witness in the case — a friend of Linda’s — stated the offender was a Caucasian male, 26-28 years of age, 5’7 to 5’10, clean shaven, and wearing a blue jean jacket, light blue pullover shirt that had an emblem on it and blue jeans.
Courtesy photo Google Street ViewThe offender was also said to have lots of body hair that came up over his shirt collar.
The witness remembered the offender’s first name as “Chris.”
At this time the offender’s full identity is unknown and the case remains unsolved.
Less than three months after Mayfield’s murder, another young woman was also stabbed to death in a Council Bluffs motel.
On June 25, 1982 at 12:27 p.m., Council Bluffs Police officers were sent to investigate the death of a female in Room 106 of the Best Western Motel at 2216 27th Avenue. The victim was identified as 32-year-old Lee Rotatori.
Rotatori’s murder also remains unsolved.
Linda Mayfield was born August 8, 1960, in Nebraska.
She died April 9, 1982 at Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs.
Linda Mayfield (Courtesy Council Bluffs Police Department)
If you have any information regarding either of these women’s unsolved murders, please contact the Council Bluffs Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at (712) 328-4765 or Crime Stoppers at (712) 328-7867.
Also, their was the murder of that couple at the Amana Holiday Inn, in September 1980. I notice that all three of locations are connected to Interstate -80. On another webite, they mention a witness claiming the offender was driving a red in color Ford Mustang. I wonder if a similar vehicle is connected to any other cases.
As usual, I will ask if these cases were entered into the FBI’s VICAP system. It might identify a pattern or link to other crimes. Who knows it might be connected to other unsolved cases
Oops – my bad, and thanks for catching this, Robert J. Riley! Yes, I’d meant to type Council Bluffs, not Cedar Rapids.
So very sorry.for.the.lost.of your.sister. i pray they.find the responsible person so he.can.rot.in prison
Council Bluffs motel- not Cedar Rapids–but horrible nonetheless…
Lord, have mercy, *** amen
By any chance do anyone ever considered the case in Ft. Dodge could be related to this one. Angie Marie Altman how died of the same thing something to look into.
Praying for the family
I think about Linda often. I remember she had just had her babies. I really hope her killer will be found and brought to justice. RIP Linda, you are missed