CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa- Cedar Rapids Police have arrested a man in connection with the death of 38-year-old Gina Frederiksen. Police say tips from the public led them to 38-year-old Timothy Evans, who has been charged with First Degree Murder, as well as burglary, robbery, and arson. Police say Evans is accused of breaking into a garage, assaulting Frederiksen, and setting the garage on fire. Frederiksen was pulled from the fire, and was pronounced dead at the hospital. .
Cedar Rapids firefighters and police officers were dispatched to 1814 I Street SW at 7:34 a.m. Sunday when neighbors heard a loud boom and saw a garage fully involved with fire.
A police officer at the scene helped pull an adult female victim out of the burning garage, who died as a result of the homicide.
Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman released the following statement:
“Our thoughts are with the family of Gina Frederiksen during this difficult time. The Police Department worked tirelessly with cooperative neighbors and other individuals to gather information and collect evidence so that we could find the person responsible for this horrible crime. Our patrol and investigative divisions canvassed the neighborhood and have been diligently working with our partners in the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and Linn County Attorney’s Office to get a dangerous individual off the streets of our community.”