Boyfriend/father being re-examined as suspect in 2005 murder of 5-year-old girl (Charles City, Iowa)

Former live-in boyfriend/father CASEY FREDERICKSON is being re-examined as a suspect in the 2005 murder of his former girlfriend's five-year-old daughter. One month ago, a federal drug indictment involving the manufacture of methamphetamine was filed against Frederickson, which has generated new leads on the murder case. In addition, Frederickson was sentenced to prison on child pornography charges in 2006 after investigators found more than 1,000 images on his computer hard drive, some of which included young girls with adult men. (Hmm. Sounds like a convincing investigative direction to me.)

The mom was working the night shift and Frederickson was babysitting on the night the little girl disappeared (her body was found five days later in the Cedar River). After the murder, the mom lost custody of her other two daughters, of which Frederickson WAS the father, to foster care.

http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/07/01/news/local/doc4a4aeaa4b4603245326687.txt

Sheriff sees ‘developments’ in Evelyn Miller’s murder
By MARY PIEPER, mary.pieper@globegazette.com

By Mary Pieper

CHARLES CITY — The investigation into the murder of 5-year-old Evelyn Miller of Floyd, which has been ongoing for the past four years, has been rejuvenated due to several recent developments, according to Floyd County Sheriff Rick Lynch.

Evelyn was reported missing from her home four years ago today. Her body was found in the Cedar River at Charles City five days later.

Lynch said some new technology to assist with the case has become available. He said he isn’t able to be more specific because doing so might compromise the investigation.

He also said a federal drug indictment filed a month ago against Casey Fredericksen — who was the live-in boyfriend of Noel Miller, Evelyn’s mother, at the time of the little girl’s death — has generated more tips in the murder case.

“We are pretty fired up right now,” Lynch said.

The drug indictment alleges Fredericksen, who was already serving a 14-year prison sentence on child pornography charges, conspired with others to manufacture methamphetamine from 2004 through June 2005.

Fredericksen went to prison on the child pornography charge in 2006 after investigators found about 1,650 images on his computer hard drive, some depicting young girls having sex with adult men.

Lynch said he still has two deputies actively investigating Evelyn’s murder. Lynch and another deputy assist them when they can.

They have round-table discussions about the case periodically, according to Lynch.

They also work with Chris Calloway from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, who took over from Bill Basler as the lead DCI agent on the case after Basler retired in 2006.

Lynch said Calloway was involved in the case from the beginning, even though he wasn’t the lead agent at the time.

Lynch said Evelyn’s murder is the most difficult case he has ever had to deal with because it involves a child.“It’s tough on everyone,” he said. “Police officers are human beings and most of us are fathers.”He said he tells his deputies, “You need to look at it rationally, not emotionally.”

Evelyn was reported missing early July 1, 2005, from the apartment south of Floyd that her mother shared with Fredericksen.

Fredericksen was home with Evelyn and two other children while Miller was working a night shift. She returned home around 6 a.m. and reported her daughter missing.

Danny Slick, one of the last people to see Evelyn alive, was sentenced in February 2007 to one year and one day in prison for lying to FBI agents investigating the girl’s disappearance.

Miller served two days in jail in 2007 on a charge of going armed with intent. She also lost her bid to get custody of the two young sons she had with Fredericksen, who were put in foster care shortly after Evelyn’s murder.

Lynch said other family members have told him Miller is now living somewhere in California.
Lynch said the Sheriff’s Department is eager to hear any legitimate tips from the public regarding Evelyn’s murder, but people shouldn’t waste investigators’ time by giving false information.“Don’t call us up on a wild goose chase,” he said.