Search may’ve yielded clues in Eastern Iowa missing persons case

Tama County authorities may have some new leads in a three-year-old missing persons case. Police Chief Dan Wilkens says new information led them to search a rural Tama County farmhouse as they try to find 23-year-old Cora Okonski. Wilkens says search of the home north of Belle Plaine is now complete. He says they closed the search warrant out and will send some items seized to the D-C-I Crime Lab for analysis. The home belonged to relatives of Okonski’s boyfriend, who reported her missing in April of 2000. Wilkens talks about the items found in the search. He says it was bone fragments that they’re sending to the lab for testing. Wilkens was asked if the evidence has caused them to be suspicious of foul play. He says, “No, we’re still gonna consider it a missing persons case at this point.” Wilkens says they placed a newspaper ad seeking new information in the case and that led them to search the farmhouse.