Beth Ann Ricketts goes missing from Des Moines, Iowa, three days before Christmas in December 1997. The 31-year-old mother is last seen leaving the home she shares with her children to have breakfast with her fiancée. Then she plans to go Christmas shopping. But she never returns. That afternoon there’s a fire at Beth Ann’s apartment, and her bedroom is destroyed. Her fiancé claims that the last time he saw Beth, she was alive and said she just wanted to be on her own for a while. After 25 years, the police assume Beth is dead, but her daughter is still looking for answers to what happened to her mother.
Beth Ann Ricketts disappeared in Des Moines, Iowa on December 22nd, 1997. If you have any information about this case, please contact the CrimeStoppers of Central Iowa at 515-223-1400, leave a tip on their website, or submit a tip at unsolved.com.
Images released in connection with this episode. If you recognise anyone pictured, contact the tip line — you may remain anonymous.
Thank you to everyone that took the time to listen to my Mom’s story. It means a lot to see the comments and know people care when there had been such a lack of caring at the beginning of this case. I’m grateful to you for boosting the algorithm and taking the time to fully grasp what happened to my family.
Hoiw the police hasn’t arrested a guy on parole with a missing woman after he lied about her contacting him and seeing her to try to shut down a missing person case. He was after her money, he had probable cause, he’s trading in both cars…he dumped the kids off so he could start a fire. How many red flags need to be flying for the police to arrest this guy for murder? He’s the only suspect, he had motive (money), he stops answering questions, and he’s on the run! They needed to catch him before he did this to someone else.
Is there a picture of William Halterman? I think he is my brother-in-law.
I do. Does your brother in law lives in Iowa?
Don’t wait until this man hurts another woman!
Of all the cases on this podcast, this one seems like most solvable. How the Fiancé has never been arrested or even brought in for questioning in beyond me. I feel like the criminal justice system really failed the family on this one.
why were the kids left alone?
Where is the fiancé now and why he hasn’t been arrested is beyond me. My heart goes out to Beth Ann’s kids. This case is solvable. I pray it does soon. This family needs peace and Beth Ann deserves justice.
Pretty shotty police work from the start! Who just cancels a case because someone calls and goes “oh Beth is there and she’s mad!” Terrible. I hope they get justice soon and find the perp who is very obviously Bill.
Very cut and dry to me, husband is the perp! Seems like crime committed in the bedroom, then sat on fire and burned up the evidence.
“Despite all the suspicion circumstances, the police don’t have enough evidence to arrest ______.” That’s all they ever say. You got what you need! More than what others have been convicted on! You’re pathetic! So sick of police letting killers off the hook. Take it to a grand jury, D.A.! You waiting for him to confess? You’re a joke.
It blows my mind that somehow the police couldn’t interview the fiancé especially since he was on parole!