SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — It’s a murder mystery in Northwest Iowa that has gone unsolved for almost 50 years.
We’re talking about the death of Wilma Nissen, whose body was found in 1978 in a ditch just outside of Rock Rapids.
There’s a renewed effort in this cold case by her daughter and investigators to find answers, but more importantly, the cold-blooded killer.

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Krissi Atkisson walks quietly across the cemetery with a bouquet of roses to place at her mother’s grave.

“I want to know who killed her and I want to know why,” Atkisson said.

Her mother, who worked as an escort and dancer out of Sioux Falls was found murdered in a ditch just outside of Rock Rapids. Her feet were tied together.

Atkisson, who lives in Kansas City, has been actively looking for answers for almost 20 years and has constantly been calling the Lyon County Sheriff’s office to get an update on the cold case.

“I was finally able to meet with the new sheriff and the investigator, that was really good,” Atkisson said.

Atkisson believes they are making some ground.

KELOLAND News asked for an interview with the sheriff’s office, but they denied our request.

Instead, they issued a statement that says in part, “Despite the passing of time, as this is an active and open investigation, there are many specific details which will not be released. Doing so could compromise the investigation.”

It goes on to say “The investigative team continues to seek out forensic solutions which may lead to additional information for investigators.”

“They’re still working on it, thankfully, they have amplified DNA, but it’s not enough to put into CODIS,” Atkisson said.

CODIS is an acronym for Combined DNA Index System which is a database for DNA samples of convicted offenders.

The FBI’s criminal database doesn’t support amplified DNA, so that evidence hasn’t been of any use, but they are still hoping technology will change and finally pinpoint who killed Atkisson’s mom.

Don: What frustrates you the most? Krissi: Not being able to help in some way, I want answers.

The Iowa Attorney General’s Cold Case Unit is getting involved by distributing a deck of cards with pictures and names of victims.

“Those are going to jails and prisons in hopes of somebody saying, hey, I know that person,” Atkisson said.

Wilma is the 6 of Hearts.

“I’m just here to support Krissi in any way I can,” Amy Kelley, who is a Homicide & Violent Crime Advocate with the Family Crisis Center in Sioux Center, said.

Amy Kelley, who is a Homicide & Violent Crime Advocate with the Family Crisis Center in Sioux Center, says if and when there’s ever an arrest, she’ll be there to assist.

“We will be involved as much as our clients ask for us to be. We are client-driven so if they want to talk with us just once and then again around the time of trial that’s fine or sometimes we meet with them every week or whatever they’re needing at the time,” Kelley said.

And just like Atkisson, she’s hoping new DNA technology will be discovered and bring the family some closure.

“We’ve got some new people, like the new sheriff in Lyon County and with the cold case task force I mean there’s some fresh eyes looking at this so I’m pretty hopeful,” Kelley said.

Atkisson wants to be more involved, but in the meantine, she’ll keep putting the word out on her social media pages and podcasts.

“Anyone who can listen about her story I’ll tell, because hopefully someone out there has to know something about it, it’s just a matter of finding the right person,” Atkisson said.

If you have any information that could lead to an arrest, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office is asking you to come forward and report it.