45 Years Later an Amana Hotel Double Murder Remains a Mystery

It's a crime that the small community of Amana, Iowa, doesn't like to talk about. It has been so long now, perhaps many residents don't even know it happened. 45 years ago, a young couple was murdered in an Amana hotel. Justice has yet to be served.

When did the double murder in Amana happen?

The date was September 12, 1980. CBS2 reports that it was the day that 22-year-old Rose Burkett and 32-year-old Roger Atkinson checked into the Holiday Inn in Amana. The next day, when a housekeeper went to clean room 260 where the couple was staying, a grisly discovery was made.

What happened to the young couple?

CBS2 reports that the housekeeper discovered a room splattered with blood. Burkett and Atkinson were both dead, their skulls beaten in by what appeared to be a hatchet or a machete. They were found face down, lying on the bed, according to CBS2.

Were investigators able to find any evidence at the scene?

According to CBS2, the story shocked everyone living in the small Iowa community. Many wondered if they were safe. Investigators thought that the bathroom in the hotel room would be the place most likely to find evidence. Authorities thought that the suspect might have cleaned up in the bathroom, leaving behind evidence. CBS2 reports that some unidentified DNA was found on a bathroom towel, but so far has not led to any leads.

Could there still be a break in the case?

45 years have passed since the crime. CBS2 reports that Iowa County officials took another look at the evidence in the case as recently as 2015. However, no new leads surfaced. Many fear that the person responsible for the crime might have died.

The Amana hotel murders are another Iowa cold case just waiting to be solved.