MISSING: Denise Fraley

When Denise Fraley went missing in 1982, her husband was immediately suspected of having been involved. Not only because of his bizarre and changing stories about what happened to her, but because of a history of domestic violence in their marriage. 

Over 40 years have passed with nothing bringing investigators or Denise’s family closer to knowing what happened. But will advancements in forensic technology bring the evidence needed to move the case forward? 

If you have any information about Denise Fraley, please call the Cedar Rapids Police Department at 319-286-5442.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline at thehotline.org or by texting “START” to 88788. 

SOURCES: 

• https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/denise-fraley/
• Jeff Burnham, Police suspect 3 killed but lack bodies, March 19, 1992, The Gazette
• Trish Mehaffey, COLD CASE: Popular Cedar Rapids singer goes missing 1982; husband’s stories inconsistent, March 9, 2025, The Gazette
• Another explanation for torso, August 23, 1984, The Globe Gazette
• Bill Theobald, Klindt heads the list of who didn’t testify, August 29, 1984, Quad City Times
• Roland Krekeier, A tale of drugs, divorce, custody and maybe murder, March 31, 1984, The Gazette
• Walter Warr, Disappearance Story, April 8, 1984, The Gazette
• Rick Smith, Missing persons: Most are found quickly, but some have disappeared without a trace, December 28, 1984
• Jeff Burnham, Proving murder without a body: it’s not impossible, March 19, 1992, The Gazette
• Prosecutors claim stories by Klindt are conflicting, August 23, 1984, The Muscatine Journal
• Mark Reinders, My turn, November 29, 1984, The Sioux City Journal