A weekend event will honor the memory of a northeast Iowa girl who was murdered as family members prepare for the trial of her accused killer. It’s been nearly nine years since 5-year-old Evelyn Miller disappeared from her Floyd County Home on July 1, 2005. Evelyn’s body was found 5 days later by kayakers on the Cedar River.
Her mother’s boyfriend, Casey Frederiksen, will soon go to trial for raping and killing her. Evelyn’s Paternal Grandmother, Linda Christie, says she’s touched that a group organized a motorcycle ride and fun run to remember Evelyn. The second annual event will take place this Saturday. “She is greatly, greatly missed,” Christie said.
It has taken Christie a long time to get to the point where she can openly talk about the loss of her granddaughter. Now, she said it helps to discuss what happened and her memories. “I just keep saying, may the grace of God be with me as I go through this. He has been with me since day one. He really has,” Christie said. In the fall of 2012, authorities charged Frederiksen with first degree murder and first degree sexual abuse in the case. His trial is coming up on September 15 in Hamilton County.
Christie vows to leave the courtroom when pictures surface of Evelyn’s body. But, the grandmother said if given the chance she’ll be ready to confront Frederiksen in court. Linda said there isn’t a doubt in her mind that he’ll spend the rest of his life behind bars. “God sent to this earth a very special soul in Evelyn Miller, but I think he took her to get her out of that hell hole she was living in with her mother and Casey Frederiksen,” Christie said.
In 2006, Frederiksen pleaded guilty to three federal child porn charges. In August of that year, a judge handed him a 14-year prison sentence. Organizers of Saturday’s fun run and motorcycle ride plan to donate all proceeds from the event to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
(Reporting by Jill Kasperie, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids)