Authorities in Montana have arrested a man in a connection with a more than two decades old homicide “Cold Case,” in Council Bluffs. On Thursday (Oct. 15th), Council Bluffs police detectives requested and were granted an arrest warrant for 52-year-old Matt W. Kennedy. The warrant accuses Kennedy of Murder 1st Degree in connection with the January1st, 1999 death of his step-sister.

Kimberly Ratliff (Photo via Iowacoldcases.org)

The body of 22-year-old Kimberly Ratliff was discovered at the time inside her vehicle, which had been abandoned in the 1400 block of West Broadway, in Council Bluffs.  She had been viciously mutilated and nearly decapitated. Ratliff was last seen alive when she got off work at around 11:30 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 1999.

Matt Kennedy is a resident of Fairfield, Montana, who was living in Council Bluffs at the time of the murder. He was taken into custody and is being held in the Teton County, Montana Jail, pending extradition to Iowa. The homicide case remains an active investigation.

Authorities say no further information will be released regarding Kennedy’s arrest, until he is back in Iowa and the arrest warrant can be formally served.