A deck of cards, a possible candidate, and our neighborhood murder

There were so many thoughts going through my mind at the same time. But there was no question in my mind which was the most important.

(Attorney General Brenna Bird’s April 16th news conference on a new initiative to get tips on unsolved crimes.)

2026? — Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird held an event at the Des Moines police department regarding a new initiative that she was unveiling in support of her Iowa Cold Case unit, which works to figure out previously unsolved crimes.

The effort would distribute a deck of playing cards — each card with the face of an Iowan killed and/or missing in an unsolved crime case — at prisons and jails to see if anyone has a tip that could help solve the mystery of what happened.

Thought: It was impossible not to think about the timing of this news conference…less than a week after Governor Kim Reynolds announced that she would not run for re-election. Would fighting crime/getting justice for crime victims and their families be one of the main themes of Bird’s gubernatorial campaign?

(Note: Bird and a staff member both separately asked the media only to ask questions about the new initiative out of respect to family members of crime victims who also spoke at the event. That meant there could be no questions about Bird’s potential plans for a gubernatorial run.)

The Cards — Bird mentioned that a few other states (Connecticut was one of them) have tried these playing cards and found success in getting inmates to share knowledge about a crime.

Thought: What would family members think of seeing their deceased loved on the ace of spades, four of hearts, or any other card? Does this feel like a gimmick? Like their loved one is being used as a political prop?

Well, family members of three victims were there in person to support this effort. All spoke in favor of doing something like this as a way to possibly finally find the answers that they so desperately hope to get about which person is responsible for the killing of their relative.

Ashley Okland — Ashley was a realtor showing a West Des Moines model townhome on April 8, 2011. Someone shot and killed her. Police have never made an arrest.

My wife, Emily, and I lived in a townhouse just a block away from where Ashley was killed. It is hard to describe how stunning it was when this happened.

I later met Ashley’s brother, Josh, and interviewed him for a story about his sister. Now, about 14 years later, Josh was standing alongside Attorney General Bird once again hoping that someone will see the media coverage of his sister’s death and finally come forward. Or maybe an inmate someplace will see his sister’s face on one of those playing cards.

Thought: How does Josh keep hope alive? His family has been through so much suffering and agony…so much wondering when police will finally be able to tell them who would harm his sister. But he hasn’t given up. It is remarkable.

Attorney General Bird was right not to take questions about anything else on this day. Nothing else matters as much as finally finding Ashley’s murderer and bringing justice to Josh and the rest of her family.

If it takes a deck of cards, deal us all in.

Now, some politics…

Introducing the challenger — Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, a Republican who was first elected to her seat in 2014, officially has an opponent (technically, Ernst hasn’t announced her re-election campaign but said last year that she planned to run again).

Nathan Sage, a military veteran, mechanic, news and sports radio journalist and current executive director for the Knoxville Chamber of Commerce launched his campaign. Sage had been an Independent but now considers himself a Democrat. He is the first Democrat to announce his bid in this race.

The ad that he used to launch his campaign is not your typical ad. But could it be what is needed to connect with the Iowans Democrats need to upset Ernst in this race?

We looked into Safe’s launch on this week’s “Inside Iowa Politics.”

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