THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
Unsolved
Pamela Rae Hinrichs
photo courtesy Iowa Cold Cases
Offender: Unsolved
Age: 19 years old
Case #: 81-00259
County: Clinton
City: Clinton
Date of Crime: January 13, 1981
Age: 19 years old
Case #: 81-00259
County: Clinton
City: Clinton
Date of Crime: January 13, 1981
Pamela Rae Hinrichs, 19, was shot during an apparent robbery of the AMVETS Post No. 28 at 1317 S. 17th Street in Clinton, in the early morning hours on Tuesday, January 13, 1981. According to reports at the time of the incident, the cash register and a nearby safe were cleaned out. There were no substantial leads, suspects or witnesses.
The last person, besides the murderer, to see Pamela alive was Richard Hudson. He has replayed the night in his mind numerous times. Each time he is unable to come up with anything that would have made him suspicious of what was to occur after he left the Post. The only thing different about that evening for Richard was he remembered to take his gloves with him. “I had left my gloves there before,” he said. “What bothered me about it was thinking what if I had left them there that night and returned to get them? It’s scary to me to think I might have confronted the murderer and he might have killed me.”
Richard believes that the murderer hid in the building until everyone left. Richard said that when he left the Post, he saw no cars or people lurking around. Several hours passed before anyone noticed something was wrong at the AMVETS Post. When Pamela walked Richard to the door around 9 p.m., January 12, she also went out to start her car to warm it up before she left. About eight hours later, the car was still purring.
The last person, besides the murderer, to see Pamela alive was Richard Hudson. He has replayed the night in his mind numerous times. Each time he is unable to come up with anything that would have made him suspicious of what was to occur after he left the Post. The only thing different about that evening for Richard was he remembered to take his gloves with him. “I had left my gloves there before,” he said. “What bothered me about it was thinking what if I had left them there that night and returned to get them? It’s scary to me to think I might have confronted the murderer and he might have killed me.”
Richard believes that the murderer hid in the building until everyone left. Richard said that when he left the Post, he saw no cars or people lurking around. Several hours passed before anyone noticed something was wrong at the AMVETS Post. When Pamela walked Richard to the door around 9 p.m., January 12, she also went out to start her car to warm it up before she left. About eight hours later, the car was still purring.
A nearby neighbor, who happened to notice the car at that odd hour, called local authorities. Three officers drove out to the Post and investigated the area. Steve Mallinger was one of the officers who was sent to the scene. He said since no windows were broken, the door was locked and the registration on the car checked out, a running car wasn’t out of the ordinary. “If I had the ability to see through the doors and around corners we would have followed up,” Mallinger said. “But an idling car isn’t an unusual thing.”
The Department of Criminal Investigation was also called in to help solve the murder. John Jutte, special agent in charge, said the case remains open until it reaches the courts. Jutte has received tips on the case even within the last year. However, the more time that passes, the more difficult it becomes to put the pieces together,” he said.
If you have any information about Pamela’s unsolved murder, please contact the Clinton Police Department at 563.243.1457.
Source: Iowa Cold Cases