In the small town of Cozad, Nebraska, Leah Rowlands, a 41-year-old Caucasian mother of two, was building a new life. She had moved to the quiet community to be with her boyfriend, leaving behind what was described as an abusive previous relationship. Known for being hardworking and outgoing, she had recently started a job at the local Amoco gas station just off Interstate 80.
Things were looking up for Leah, and on March 9, 1997, she was promoted to the position of store manager.
Her first shift as manager was the following day, March 10, 1997. What should have been a day of promise turned into a tragedy that would haunt the community for decades. Shortly before 10:30 a.m., a man pulled his red Pontiac Grand Am into the station. He entered the store barefoot, wearing dark sweatpants, a hooded sweatshirt, and a leather bomber-style jacket. The man, described as a white male in his late 20s to mid-30s and standing over six feet tall, waited for a mother and daughter to leave before he approached the counter. After grabbing a soda, he demanded money from Leah. She complied, handing over about $150 from the register. He then ordered her to lie down on the floor behind the counter. In a moment of inexplicable violence, the man pulled out a 9mm pistol, leaned over the counter, and shot her three times, killing her instantly. He then walked out of the store with the cash, a soda, a pack of cigarettes, and a lighter, and drove away.
The entire horrific event was captured on the store's surveillance camera, providing investigators with a clear image of the suspect. Despite the wealth of evidence, which also included fingerprints, the killer has never been identified, and no arrests have ever been made in the case. The vehicle was identified as a 1992-1995 model Pontiac Grand Am, but the license plate was not clear in the footage. The case received national attention, appearing on "America's Most Wanted," which generated numerous leads, but none led to a breakthrough.
Over the years, the investigation has remained open, a persistent cold case for the Cozad Police Department, the Dawson County Sheriff's Office, and the Nebraska State Patrol. Theories about the motive vary. Law enforcement has leaned towards the idea of a random robbery that turned deadly, possibly committed by a transient passing through on the interstate. However, Leah's brother has long held the belief that her abusive ex-husband may have hired a hitman. To this day, the identity of the barefoot man who took Leah Rowlands' life on that March morning remains a mystery, leaving her family and the community of Cozad without closure or justice.
