Rhonda Renee Pecha-Link

Date Found: October 19th, 1983

Location: Woodward, Oklahoma

Investigating Agency: Woodward Police Department

(580)254-8535

Rhonda Renee Pecha-Link was found murdered on October 19th, 1983. She was seventeen years old.

At the time of her murder Rhonda was married and the mother of a young son. She was living with her son in an apartment in Woodward while going through a divorce. Early in the morning of October 19th, her son- who was merely 18 months old at the time- was found sitting outside of her apartment and the apartment was found on fire. Rhonda was found inside, stabbed and badly burned.

In the days after her murder, law enforcement said multiple times they were confident that they would make an arrest in her murder soon, however they never did- other than an early suspect who was later released as a material witness. It is believed that Rhonda likely knew her killer; there was no evidence of forced entry at her home and her child was also left safely outside and not harmed. Law enforcement believes it was likely an argument that became violent and Rhonda struggled with her killer, before being repeatedly stabbed with what was a military type survival knife. The murder weapon was left at the scene.

Her killer has never been brought to justice.