The 1997 killing of 22-year-old Traci Ann Evenson remains one of Cedar Rapids’ most haunting unsolved homicide cases, leaving investigators and family members searching for answers for nearly 30 years.
Evenson, a student at Kirkwood Community College who worked two jobs, was found dead inside her second-floor apartment on Ninth Avenue SW on the morning of June 22, 1997. Her sister discovered the scene after Evenson had failed to respond to calls and messages following her shift at APAC TeleServices the night before.
Authorities determined Evenson had been brutally beaten and suffocated sometime during the evening hours of June 21. Investigators quickly stated the crime appeared to be fueled by rage rather than robbery or sexual assault. Detectives believed the killer was likely someone Evenson knew and trusted enough to allow into the apartment.
The investigation led Cedar Rapids police to collect a large amount of evidence from the residence, including clothing, bedding, fingerprints, hairs, and personal belongings. Officers also searched the downstairs apartment occupied by the building’s landlords, though no connection between unrelated drug charges and the homicide was ever established.
Despite extensive testing by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation laboratory, the case produced few solid leads. Investigators later acknowledged the homicide generated remarkably few tips from the public, even after a reward totaling more than $16,000 was offered by family members, friends, and Evenson’s employer.
Years later, suspicion focused on Evenson’s brother-in-law, Anthony Jackson, after detectives examined his criminal history and behavior surrounding the case. Authorities theorized Evenson may have confronted him over personal issues or rejected unwanted advances, potentially triggering a violent confrontation. However, DNA evidence failed to connect him directly to the murder.
In a tragic twist, Jackson, Evenson’s sister, and their two young children were all killed in a traffic crash just months after the homicide, further complicating the investigation and leaving many questions unanswered.
Friends and relatives described Evenson as quiet, hardworking, and dedicated to school and family. She had graduated from Washington High School and was balancing college coursework with demanding work schedules at both a telemarketing company and a local grocery store deli.
Today, the murder of Traci Ann Evenson remains unsolved, and investigators have continued to hope advances in forensic technology or new witness information could eventually bring long-awaited answers to her family.
Photo of Traci Evenson
