Micalla “KK” Rettinger, a 25-year-old Waterloo resident and former University of Northern Iowa softball standout, was tragically killed in a shooting early Sunday morning, April 28, 2019, while traveling south on U.S. Highway 218 near the Brinker Lake and Cedar River bridges.
According to police, Rettinger was driving when a single bullet pierced the driver’s side window and struck her in the neck. The bullet then continued through the vehicle, hitting her boyfriend, 32-year-old Adam Kimball, in the face. A second passenger and the couple’s dog, King, were seated in the back of the vehicle and were not injured.
Waterloo Police were initially dispatched to the area for what was reported as a possible motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival, officers discovered a single vehicle off the roadway on the southbound side of Highway 218 near the Greenhill Road off-ramp. Rettinger was pronounced dead at the scene. Kimball was transported to Allen Hospital and later transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, where doctors successfully removed the bullet from his face.
Investigators believe the gunfire may have originated from the area near the Cedar River and are asking for assistance from anyone who may have been shooting or hunting between the U.S. Highway 218 bridge and the Conger Avenue bridge during the early morning hours. Authorities have not identified a suspect and continue to treat the case as an active investigation.
Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers, along with private donations, is offering a $58,000 reward for information leading to answers in the case. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Waterloo Police Department or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers.
In the wake of her death, the University of Northern Iowa established a scholarship fund in Micalla Rettinger’s name to honor her academic and athletic legacy.
Micalla Rettinger was remembered by family and friends as a warm, compassionate, and driven individual who brought joy to those around her. A standout athlete and honors graduate in biology, she was pursuing her dream of becoming a dentist while working locally in Waterloo. Loved deeply by her family, friends, teammates, and community, her death left a lasting impact and a case that remains unresolved.
