Ronli Ratliff

At 24, Ronli was a young adult with a plethora of life to live. She still had friends who just wanted to party, but she was not interested in that lifestyle. Her family and friends point out that she wasn't a party girl and didn't stay out until the early morning hours. She was a homebody.

On April 14, 2004, Ronli decided to stay at her family's home in the country instead of her house in the town of Mooresville. This was not too odd, Ronli would often do this. 

The morning of April 15, 2004, the neighbors that lived across the street from the home awoke to Sirens and smoke billowing from the home at 5354 Dayhuff Road. Authorities responded to the call regarding the fire. It was upon working to put out the fire that they discovered the remains of Ronli. Her remains were discovered by fire fighters on the sofa in the living room of the home.

Ron Ratliff, Ronli's father, was angry and horrified the morning that he was called to the home on Dayhuff Road. As authorities pulled his daughter's body from the home, news crews took video. He couldn't believe that the Sherriff's office allowed crew's to invade his privacy and to defile his daughter's memory in such a way.

When the investigation began, it was quickly determined that Ronli's death was not caused by the fire. Arson investigators quickly ruled that the fire was set intentionally to cover up the murder of young Ronli.

Investigators into the young woman's death never revealed the cause of death, but have continually called it a "violent death." It was never revealed whether or not the victim had been sexually assualted. The cause of death may not have been revealed so that investigators may have a way to later validate information that they receive from a suspect or the public.

Family members have suspected that Ronli knew her killer. Her aunt, Kimberely Sink, claims that Ronli had threatened to turn some of her peers in for their rampant drug use. She believes that this is what would have led to the slaying of the young woman.

In 2007, Jeffrey Voss became a person of interest in the case. This occured shortly after he took a plea agreement in which he pleaded guilty to the death of Christina Tedder. Tedder was in middle school at the time of her murder. She was abducted on Christmas Eve. She was strangled with a vacuum cord and then dumped in a river, naked except for her socks.

The same article that claims that Voss is a person of interest in Ronli's case states that he is because the victims were found handcuffed and unclothed. I was unable to verify this with another source.

In 2015, Morgan County formed a cold case team. This team began looking into the case of Ronli Ratliff. The cold case team started by pouring over all the evidence, information, and interview files that the department had. They brought in Arson investigators to review the information as well.

 Darrell Brown was the arson investigator for Morgan County the day the fire occurred in 2004. He says that he has poured over the evidence time and time again. He always hopes that he will find some small clue that will help finally solve the case.

Investigators have not released new information in the case since 2016. I was unable to find any news coverage of the case after the announcement of the cold case team beginning work on the case in 2016.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers at 317-262-8477 (TIPS) or800-222-8477(TIPS).

______________________Sources_____________________________

http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/cold-case-who-killed-ronli-ratliff

"Detectives Working on Body Found in Burned Home." R. Joseph Gelarden. The Indianapolis Star. April 20, 2004. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/127345661/

"Indy Unsolved: Killer Sought in the 2004 of Indiana Woman." Russ McQuaid. WTTV News. April 24, 2015. http://cbs4indy.com/2015/04/24/tonight-at-11-indy-unsolved-killer-sought-in-2004-death-of-indiana-woman-whose-body-was-found-in-burning-home/

"Kidnapped Girl Laid to Rest." Paul Stauder. WTHR 13 News. December 28, 2004. https://www.wthr.com/article/kidnapped-girl-laid-to-rest

"Killer Set Fire to Home to Cover Tracks in Morgan County Cold Case Homicide, Investigators Say." Matt Adams. FOX 59 News. April 15, 2016. http://fox59.com/2016/04/15/killer-set-fire-to-home-to-cover-tracks-in-morgan-county-cold-case-homicide-investigators-say/

"Morgan County Investigators Take New Look at Cold Case." Rich Van Wyk. WTHR 13. April 15, 2016.https://www.wthr.com/article/morgan-county-investigators-take-new-look-at-cold-case

"Police Continue Search for Clues in Unsolved 2004 Mooresville Murder." Russ McQuaid. FOX 59 News. April 18, 2016. http://fox59.com/2016/04/18/police-continue-to-search-for-clues-in-unsolved-2004-mooresville-murder/

"Voss will Serve Life Sentence for Teen's Christmas Eve Murder." Sara Galer. February 27, 2007. WTHR 13 News. https://www.wthr.com/article/voss-will-serve-life-sentence-for-teens-christmas-eve-murder