Kimberly Ratliff
22 YOA
1414 West Broadway
Council Bluffs, Iowa
January 12, 1999
The body of 22 year old Kimberly M. Ratliff was found with her throat slashed in a car that was left in the parking lot of Peoples Natural Gas, 1414 West Broadway. An employee made the discovery at about 10:40 am, January 12, 1999. It is believed the 1988 Plymouth Sundance with the body inside had been parked on the lot over the weekend. To this day, no witnesses have come forward and police have not been able to gather enough evidence to charge anyone with the crime.
Ratliff, who worked at Airlite Plastics Co. in Omaha, was last seen alive when she got off work about 11:30 p.m. Jan. 8, 1999.
Her body was discovered 3½ days later by a People's Natural Gas employee clearing snow from the sidewalk at 1414 W. Broadway in Council Bluffs.
The employee peered inside the white Plymouth Sundance and saw Ratliff sprawled across the front seat, her throat slashed.
Ratliff lived in Council Bluffs with her mother and stepfather, Joyce and Leslie Kennedy. 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 there was little blood inside the car, and there were indications that someone else had dressed her. Police think it wasn't random.
Anyone with information is asked to call (712) 328-4765 or (712) 328-4758.
Kimberly's 1988 Plymouth Sundance
Sources:
Council Bluffs Police Department
Omaha World Herald