In the quiet, rural setting of Coggon, Iowa, a sense of unease settled over the community on the evening of February 1, 2017. A 9-1-1 call pierced the winter air just before 6 p.m., reporting a shooting at a residence on Seven Hills Road. When Linn County Sheriff's deputies and emergency responders arrived at the scene, they discovered the body of a young man lying in the yard. He was identified as 20-year-old Dylan Michael Plotz, a White male from the nearby city of Cedar Rapids. It was apparent he had been fatally shot.
The immediate aftermath of the discovery was a flurry of law enforcement activity. Investigators descended upon the property, securing the area and beginning the painstaking process of piecing together the events that led to Dylan's untimely death. A search warrant was executed at the home, and detectives worked through the night and into the following days, collecting evidence and speaking with individuals connected to the incident. An autopsy was scheduled to be performed by the State Medical Examiner's Office to officially determine the cause of death.
As the investigation unfolded, the Linn County Sheriff's Office revealed that they had identified several possible suspects. A number of people, including both witnesses and potential suspects, were brought in for questioning. While authorities expressed that they did not believe any suspects remained at large, they remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the case. Despite the initial progress and the questioning of multiple individuals, no arrests were ever publicly announced in connection with the shooting death of Dylan Michael Plotz. The investigation continued, with authorities executing multiple search warrants, but the case grew cold, leaving a family and a community searching for answers that have yet to come.
