The Deck – Rose Burkert and Roger Atkison (9 of Diamonds, Iowa)

Podcast: The Deck
Episode Title: Rose Burkert and Roger Atkison (9 of Diamonds, Iowa)
Date: February 4, 2026
Host: Ashley Flowers

Episode Overview

This episode explores the chilling double homicide of Rose Burkert and Roger Atkison, found brutally murdered in room 260 of the Holiday Inn Amana in rural Iowa, September 1980. Despite decades of investigation and the involvement of multiple law enforcement agencies, the case remains unsolved, shrouded in mystery due to the bizarre and staged aspects of the crime scene—and now, with new advancements in DNA technology, the case might finally be on the brink of a breakthrough.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery and Details of the Crime Scene

[00:00–13:10]

• Timeline of Discovery:
  Housekeeping staff discovered the bodies after the couple failed to check out. Initially, staff thought they were sleeping due to clothes on the floor, but further checks revealed the grisly scene.
  Told by Ashley Flowers [02:17]

• Victims' Identities:

  • 32-year-old Roger Atkison and 22-year-old Rose Burkert.
  • The couple was so viciously attacked they were unrecognizable.

• Cause of Death:

  • Both were bludgeoned to the backs of their heads; Roger received 7 blows, Rose 12.
  • Defensive wounds indicated the victims tried to protect themselves.
  • The murder weapon likely a cleaver or cane knife rather than a hatchet.

    "I think it was probably something more like a machete or a cleaver type of weapon. Something heavy enough to do significant damage." — Chief Deputy Todd Sauerbrai [05:12]

• Odd Aspects of the Scene:

  • Two mismatched chairs were pulled up side by side, facing the bed. One, closest to Roger, was draped with a pristine hotel towel, possibly indicating the presence of two observers.

    "The chairs was an unusual thing...almost indicating that somebody was sitting in the chairs, looking at the bed." — Chief Deputy Sauerbrai [06:58]

  • Personal belongings ransacked and scattered; a picture of a baby (linked to Roger) and a cashier's check (linked to Rose) both torn up.
  • Bar of soap destroyed on the floor—possibly pulverized or carved.
  • Bizarre message: The word "this" written in soap on the bathroom door.

    "He wrote the word 'this' on the back of the door with...that bar of soap." — Chief Deputy Sauerbrai [10:42]

  • No personal toiletries left in the bathroom—just a tube of toothpaste squirted and spread into the tub.

2. The Victims’ Background and Secret Affair

[13:54–17:08]

• Affair Context:
  • Room was not booked under either victim’s name, but as "Roger Burkert" (a combination of their names).
  • Roger was married, and his wife Marcella only learned of Rose upon being notified of the murder.
  • Roger had told his wife he was on a work trip; he and Rose met for a secret weekend rendezvous.

3. Movements the Night of the Murder & Mysterious Calls

[17:08–19:58]

• Arbitrary Room Booking:
  • Couple got the room last-minute due to a cancellation; unlikely anyone knew their exact plans.
• Timeline Gaps:
  • 8:00 PM: Rose calls her daughter's babysitter from the room.
  • 8:31 PM: Babysitter’s husband calls back—no one answers.
  • 9:00 PM: Unknown white middle-aged man calls hotel, asks specifically for Rose; call is transferred.
  • 9:15 PM: Neighbor hears a woman say "room service" from 260’s direction, followed by a thud.
  • 10:30 PM: Another neighbor hears a voice say, "I don't believe it. Where's Randy?" from outside.
  • Next morning: Do Not Disturb sign on door.

4. Parallel Murders and the Toothpaste Link

[23:11–26:55]

• Similar Cases:

  • Three months prior, William Kyle was murdered in similar circumstances in Galesburg, IL: no forced entry, squirted toothpaste in the bathroom, bludgeoned head wounds, robbery.
  • Third case in Meridian, MS: Jack McDonald, similar features, both salesmen, same peculiar presentation.

    "...in both, the wounds are approximately three and a half inches apart...in both, the personal effects and belongings have been gone through..." — Chief Deputy Sauerbrai [23:35]

• Key Suspect in Other Cases:

  • Raimundo Esparza, seen near a previous crime scene, but not tied conclusively to any case.

5. Theories and Potential Suspects

[26:55–38:45]

• A. Raimundo Esparza

  • Connected as a suspect by proximity and resemblance of the murders.
  • Not definitively linked via evidence; DNA and fingerprints do not match crime scene.
  • He died in 1983, leaving unresolved suspicion.

• B. Charles Hatcher (Family Serial Killer):

  • Convicted child killer, related to Roger’s wife. Ultimately ruled out by timecards and lack of motive.

    "Trying to find a motive for Charles eventually became so outlandish that investigators wrote him off completely." — Ashley Flowers [30:13]

• C. Floyd Hatcher (Marcella’s Father):

  • Known to be aware of the affair, possibly had a motive.
  • Made odd, potentially incriminating statements to girlfriends.
  • Alibi unclear; multiple people "covered" for him.

    “Well, mom said he was with her, and his girlfriend said he was with her, so I don’t know where he was at.” — Marcella [32:42]

  • Died in 2017; ruled out through familial DNA testing.

• D. Marcella Atkison (Roger’s Wife):

  • Faced intense suspicion and scrutiny, including accusations by Roger’s brother Larry.

    “I envisioned...she’s probably sitting in one of those chairs along with her dad...giving him devil out of the Bible.” — Larry [36:18]

  • Had a strong alibi and no evidence or motive tying her to the crime.

• E. Mike H. (Roger’s Brother-in-Law and Colleague):

  • Unusual behavior post-murder (dumping items before police arrived).
  • Provided alibi more than a decade later, remembered by his wife.

6. Advances in Forensics and The Hope for Justice

[38:45–46:42]

• DNA Testing Initiatives:

  • 2015: Forensic evidence from the scene (including towels) was tested for DNA for the first time.
  • Result: Male DNA profile uncovered—but not matching any known suspects or previously tested persons.

    “It’s an unknown male DNA profile. It’s a pretty good profile, all things considered.” — Chief Deputy Sauerbrai [39:58]

• Challenges:

  • No matches in national databases; concern about potential red herrings due to hotel towel/contamination.

• New Efforts:

  • More advanced testing (MVAC) is planned for the towel, Roger’s wallet (not yet tested), and the toothpaste tube, in hopes of extracting further DNA.

    "There is one item that I've never tested, and I'm just waiting for the right time to do that...Roger's wallet." — Chief Deputy Sauerbrai [44:07]

7. Linger Questions, Family Reflections, and the Unsolved Nature

[44:46–46:42]

• Unknown male caller the night of the murders—his identity could be key.
• Marcella believes the murder was "personal" given the overkill and circumstances.

  “I think it was personal because they were. It was overkill, you know, just...they didn’t just kill somebody, they overkilled them.” — Marcella [45:40]

• Marcella has moved on with her life but still hopes for justice.
• The investigation awaits breakthroughs from DNA or a crucial tip.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the bizarre crime scene:

  “There was just a lot of odd things about the crime scene. We don’t really know why they would have taken the time to do some of those things.” — Chief Deputy Sauerbrai [06:29]

• On the killer’s behavior:

  “The killer had taken out bars of soap...and he had crushed one of the bars of soap, kind of pulverized it, and it was just laying...on the floor amongst those other items.” — Chief Deputy Sauerbrai [08:07]

• On the emotional toll for family:

  “If he ever talks like he needs to get something off of his mind, you know, like some kind of confession...please listen.” — Marcella [33:23]

• Roger’s brother’s suspicions:

  “He told me he had an old rotten watermelon.” — Larry, on Mike H.’s explanation for dumping items [37:56]

• On the hope for a break:

  “Maybe this new method of testing for DNA will finally close Rose and Rogers case.” — Ashley Flowers [44:46]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:51 — Introduction of the case, initial scene recounting
• 03:58 — Chief Deputy Sauerbrai describes cause of death and scene details
• 06:29 — Crime scene oddities: chairs, soap, shredded items
• 10:42 — Soap-written message: “this” on the bathroom door
• 13:54 — Revelation about victims' affair and false room registration
• 17:08 — Timeline of last calls and room service ruse
• 23:11 — Discussion of similar murders in Illinois and Mississippi
• 29:39 — Exploration of Charles Hatcher as a suspect
• 31:37 — Floyd Hatcher’s possible motive and suspicious comments
• 35:45 — Roger’s brother Larry’s speculation about Marcella
• 39:12 — DNA testing timeline and findings/suspect elimination
• 41:32 — Attempts to retrieve suspect DNA from deceased suspect
• 44:07 — Reveal: Roger’s wallet has never been tested
• 45:40 — Marcella’s conviction that the crime was personal

Conclusion

The Rose Burkert and Roger Atkison double murder remains a frustrating and haunting mystery—one amplified by strange details, familial secrets, and the chilling possibility of a serial killer’s pattern. With new DNA technologies and a persistent investigative team, hope lingers that the nearly half-century-old case can still be solved. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office.

For more episodes and information on cold case advocacy:
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