On July 12, 1979, a fire at the Hill Top Motel in Red Oak, Iowa, claimed the life of 3-year-old Keara Coshow. Despite known suspicions of child abuse from Keara's stepmother, Karen, and Keara being nearly blind from an injury many suspect was inflicted upon her by her stepmother, investigators ruled the fire and Keara's death a tragic accident.

The investigation was reopened in 2007 and closed in 2010 with the same conclusion: the fire and Keara's death were an accident.

Many, including myself, consider Keara's death to be highly suspicious. Over the years, petitions have been created to have the case reopened with no success.

But, in 2025, the Iowa Attorney General's Office released a deck of Iowa Cold Case cards, and I was surprised to find Keara's face among them, with her being labeled "homicide victim", and the card stating the fire was ruled arson.

Nowhere in the 1979 investigation report, or the records I received in 2024, indicate her case was ever considered to be arson. Was there a huge update in the case? Has it been reopened? Or did investigators simply copy what crime journalist Jody Ewing wrote on her blog, Iowa Cold Cases, without checking on the official record?

I reached out to the Iowa Attorney General's Office and the Iowa Cold Case Unit to request clarification; neither has responded as of 5 November 2025.

Listen to my previous episode on Keara Coshow: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cardinal-crimes/id1781462994?i=1000695493302

Or watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/WInjK111ydE?si=YW1dTfJ0UVzArgua

Sources:

• Roy Marshall, Investigation Report Case #7907361, State of Iowa Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division
• State of Iowa Death Certificate (certified reproduction of original record), Keara Coshow, Issued April 23, 2007.
• Jon Mathis, Closing and Disposition Record Case #0706806, Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation
• Iowa Cold Cases Playing Cards, 1st Edition, Iowa Office of the Attorney General, Department of Corrections, Sheriff's & Deputies Association, Iowa Police chiefs Association, Iowa County Attorneys Association, April 16, 2025
• Jody Ewing, Keara Coshow Case Summary, Iowa Cold Cases, https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/keara-coshow/
• Rossi, R., Lodise, M., Lancia, M., Bacci, M., De-Giorgio, F., & Cascini, F. (2014). Trigemino-cardiac reflex as lethal mechanism in a suicidal fire death case. Journal of forensic sciences, 59(3), 833–835. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12408

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