IOWA CITY - It has been 12 years since authorities found the body of Susan Kersten in a farm field near her Iowa City home. At first investigators thought the 38-year-old woman died from a car accident. But days later, an autopsy showed someone murdered her. The unsolved murder will soon be back in the public eye.

Next week, Johnson County officials plan an announcement to bring new interest to this case. The press conference is scheduled for Thursday. Some of Kersten's family, including her son and his wife, will be there. They wouldn't say too much about the announcement other than the fact they hope it motivates others to help solve this case.
The family says they haven’t given up hope deputies will find the killer.

Jason Kersten and his wife Jackie spend every waking moment caring for their two-year-old twin daughters. His other main priority is solving his mother's murder investigation…something he's been aggressively pursuing these past few years.

“Just really get it back out there in everyone's mind,” says Kersten.

He’s hoping at least one person comes forward with the missing pieces, and has the information to prove who the family thinks might have done this to his mother.

“Our family has pretty much always known where they will end up with this and how they will take care of it," says Kersten.

But they never expected to be without answers 12 years later.

“It's been hard for the family because of the fact that they've always been so close to breaking the case, well so they've told us," says Kersten.

The Johnson County sheriff wouldn't say much about the case because it’s an ongoing investigation. He acknowledges investigators back then got a late start. Authorities first thought Kersten died from a car accident, and didn't begin the homicide investigation until three days later. But the sheriff is optimistic his department will bring closure.

“We believe we will overcome the hurdles, we believe we will get a successful arrest out of this case," says Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek.

Success could take help from the public. The Iowa City Area Crimestoppers is part of the investigation. It offers money for tips that lead to arrests, even in cases this old.

“Any kind of felony case, whether it be burglary, assault, murder,” says Doug Myrick of the Iowa City Area Crimestoppers.

Jason and his family hope someone comes forward, and brings the closure his family has been wanting for years.