The Deck — “Karen Streed (4 of Spades, Iowa)”

Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Ashley Flowers (Audiochuck)
Case: Murder of Karen Streed (1971, Iowa)

Overview

This episode of The Deck uncovers the unsolved 1971 murder of 21-year-old Karen Streed, whose body was found in the Millrace Canal in Amana, Iowa. Using a victim’s playing card distributed to prisoners—Karen as the "4 of Spades"—the podcast spotlights her story, the long-cold investigation, its major suspects, and the enduring gaps in justice. Through interviews with investigators and family, host Ashley Flowers explores the lack of closure and evolving efforts to solve Karen's case even fifty years later.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery of Karen’s Body

• Timeline: Sunday, October 24, 1971, around 5:30 PM
• Discovery: High schooler Lynn Trumphold, duck hunting, finds a woman’s decomposing body floating in the canal.
  • Delay in Reporting: Family hesitates, unsure; the official police call comes in ~7:10 PM.
• Investigator comment: "He immediately drove that little green boat back towards his family's home to get his parents..." (03:26)

2. Identifying Karen and Retracing Her Final Steps

• Victim: Karen Streed (née Casey), recently married, moved from California.
• Last Seen: October 18, 1971. Planned to meet her husband, Ron, but due to car issue, she intended to hitchhike from Cedar Rapids to Iowa City.
• Eyewitness accounts: Multiple people see a woman matching Karen's description hitchhiking southbound on 6th Street between 5:30–6:00 PM.
• Craig Streed (brother-in-law):

  “She would hitchhike quite a bit to get around... she was pretty familiar. I mean, she knew, you know, the dangers of hitchhiking.” (07:42)

3. The Investigation & Initial Dead Ends

• Postmortem findings:
  • Fourth gunshot wounds to the head/face.
  • Blunt force injury (“...indicating someone struck her with...maybe the butt of a handgun.” — Chief Deputy Sauerbry, 10:56)
  • Clear evidence of sexual assault.
  • Decomposition and water exposure destroyed much physical evidence.
• Evidence: Massachusetts driver's license, matches, gold watch, keys—all later reportedly missing from evidence storage.

4. Suspect #1: Larry Slaymaker (Former Local Police Chief)

• Belated Lead: In 1995, ex-sheriff William Spurrier relays that a tipster told him Larry confessed to Karen’s murder soon after the incident.
• Alleged confession:

  "I really showed that b—. I shot her four times in the back of the head with my .22 caliber pistol." (19:23)

• Background: Known "window peeper", accused (but unproven) of rape at knifepoint; known to own a .22 pistol.
• 2008 DNA Submission: Larry voluntarily gives a DNA sample but is never directly questioned about Karen’s murder, even when re-interviewed decades later.
• Missed Opportunity:

  "That's it. All these years later and you don't ask him about the main case you're investigating?" — Ashley Flowers (31:38).

5. Suspect #2: Richard Dean Richison

• Background:
  • Known for two attempted abductions of female hitchhikers in the same area and week as Karen’s disappearance.
  • Owned/managed a body shop with access to many cars (possible fit with the turquoise Oldsmobile described by witnesses).
  • Criminal record includes sexual assault of a minor and selling narcotics.
• Interview in 2008: Vague, claims alcohol-induced memory loss; refuses voluntary DNA, but police obtain a warrant for a buccal swab.
• Vehicle Discrepancies: Victims described different types and colors of cars than the Oldsmobile seen with Karen.

6. Eyewitness & Extraneous Leads, 2025

• Unnamed Call (2025):
  • Colonel Carl Gottsman claims to have seen a woman matching Karen’s description hitchhiking on Highway 218, being picked up by a "white and blue 1950s car" (vs. previously reported turquoise Oldsmobile).
  • Carl suggests serial killer Henry Lee Lucas was the driver, but evidence places Lucas in Michigan.
• Reflection from Law Enforcement:

  "Which is kind of random just to have someone call 50 plus years later..." — Chief Deputy Sauerbry (33:31)

7. Challenges with Evidence and DNA

• Water damage rendered most physical evidence nearly useless in the 1970s, and no foreign DNA was obtained in 2007/2008 retests.
• Key items missing: Karen’s personal belongings are unaccounted for, impeding future testing.
• Hope for advancements: Still, investigators are optimistic that new forensic techniques may provide breakthroughs.

8. Personal Impact & Regret

• Family fallout:

  “You’re never really going to get over it. I mean, you move on...but you still remember it and have regret. Just like you said. It’s like, geez, why didn’t I offer to...hitchhike down with her or something?...you always have those regrets.” — Craig Streed (39:06)

• Karen’s legacy:
  • More than headlines, Karen was a trailblazing woman of her time—educated, working, married, with ambitions beyond social stereotypes.
  • The case's ripple effect on her family, especially Ron, who was deeply affected and eventually left Iowa.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the crime scene’s challenges:

  “Water destroys physical evidence, period. So sheriff’s deputies knew that this would be a tough one to solve from the jump.” — Ashley Flowers (05:22)

• On lost investigation opportunities:

  “There’s no way. That’s right, right. We had to really dig in here because it not even being worth a conversation, sounded bananas to me.” — Ashley Flowers (20:06)

• On the frustration with evidence gaps:

  “Even if we thought they might have some today with DNA, it might be something to find those items. So No, I don’t know where they're at.” — Chief Deputy Sauerbry (37:23)

• On the lasting emotional toll:

  “I feel sorry for Ron...the heartache this has caused him all these years. And his family and Karen's parents.” — Chief Deputy Sauerbry (40:06)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:17] — Case Introduction: Karen Streed, October 1971 disappearance, body found 1 week later
• [05:57] — Identifying Karen, circumstances of last sighting
• [10:23] — Autopsy results: gunshot wounds, sexual assault
• [12:46] — Oldsmobile tip and vehicle description; hit dead end
• [14:13] — Aftermath: Impact on family and years of silence
• [16:58] — 1995: New tip about Larry Slaymaker, former police chief, as suspect
• [22:02] — 2007: DNA testing, evidence review
• [23:59] — Richard Dean Richison: attempted abductions, suspect development
• [31:19] — Larry Slaymaker DNA collected, no direct questioning about Karen
• [33:31] — 2025: Unsolicited eyewitness tip, possible misidentification (Henry Lee Lucas)
• [37:13] — Items untested/lost, blocking future forensic review
• [38:48] — Reflections from Craig, family effect and regret
• [40:06] — Law enforcement reflections and family impact

Conclusion & Call for Information

The murder of Karen Streed remains unsolved. Despite cold leads, missing evidence, and the deaths of key suspects, investigators—alongside Karen’s loved ones—persist in seeking answers. Advances in forensic science or tips from the public could still break the case.

Contact:
Anyone with information is urged to call Chief Deputy Todd Sauerbry at the Iowa County Sheriff's Office: 319-642-7307.

The Deck continues to shine a light on cold cases, giving victims a voice and prompting listeners to help seek justice.