Rachel Anne Reuter, a 30-year-old mother of two, was last seen on June 12, 2021, leaving the Super 8 Hotel in Urbandale, Iowa. Originally from Cassville, Wisconsin, Reuter had been struggling with substance abuse for several years prior to her disappearance. In the days leading up to her going missing, she had been asked to leave a treatment center. Her father officially reported her missing to the Urbandale Police Department on June 16, 2021.
Surveillance footage showed that on June 12, 2021, Reuter left the hotel with 46-year-old James Klever, a man she had recently met. Cell phone data tracked their movement to a residence in Bondurant, Iowa, where they spent time in the garage without the homeowner's knowledge. The last known activity from Reuter's phone was a call made to a rideshare service at 3:30 a.m., though no ride was officially requested. The homeowner later reported hearing a disturbance in the garage and was told by Klever that Reuter was "out of control".
The investigation into Reuter's disappearance soon transitioned from a missing person case to a homicide investigation. Evidence discovered in the Bondurant garage led investigators to believe that Klever had killed Reuter there on June 13, 2021. Authorities believe he then placed her body in the trunk of his vehicle. It was reported that Klever was motivated by the belief that Reuter was a police informant regarding his involvement in selling methamphetamine.
In November 2021, James Klever was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Rachel Reuter's death. During his trial, Klever testified that he and Reuter had a fight and he struck her in the heat of passion. A witness testified that Klever admitted to killing Reuter and disposing of her body. In May 2023, a Polk County jury convicted Klever of first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Despite his conviction, Rachel Reuter's remains have never been located. Klever claimed to have disposed of her body in the Grand River in Decatur County, Iowa.Last Seen: Jun 12, 2021
