Pamela Rae Hinrichs, 19, was found shot to death during the early morning hours of Tuesday, January 13, 1981, at AMVETS Post No. 28, 1317 S. 17th Street, Clinton, Iowa. A recent Clinton High School graduate and newly engaged, she had been working at the club when she was killed and investigators found the cash register and a nearby safe emptied. Her car, a Cutlass, was parked outside the club.

The Clinton Police Department, aided by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, investigated but the case quickly went cold. No substantial leads, no witnesses who provided crucial information, and no suspects were publicly identified. Pamela’s father, Raymond Hinrichs, offered a $2,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.

On November 28, 1981, less than a mile away, 53-year-old George Leonard was shot and killed during an early morning robbery at the Inn Tavern. The two killings had similar circumstances, and Pamela’s father contacted police about a possible link, but the Clinton County Attorney said investigators had no information to officially connect them.

If anyone knew Pamela, worked at either bar, or has information about those early morning robberies, please come forward with what was observed.