On August 21, 2004, 54-year-old Dorothy Kajpust was staying at a friend’s mobile home in eastern Idaho as a temporary living arrangement when, suddenly, in the early morning hours of that Saturday, an unknown individual entered the home and brutally assaulted Dorothy, leaving her for dead. Five days later, Dorothy passed away in the hospital without regaining consciousness. For nearly two decades, Dorothy’s case has remained unsolved, and the mystery surrounding her death is still just as puzzling for detectives today as it was in 2004.
Courtesy of Idaho Cold Case Tip Line
Episode Info
If you have any information on the murder of Dorothy Kajpust please, please call Detective Sgt. Joshua Fielding at the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office at 208-529-1200.
Dorothy was 54 at the time of her murder. Photo Courtesy: Idaho Cold Cases
Dorothy’s yearbook photo. Photo Courtesy: Idaho Cold Cases
Dorothy was staying at a friend’s mobile home the night she was murdered. Photo Courtesy: Idaho Cold Cases
The mobile home was located in the rural town of Ririe, Idaho. Dorothy was sharing the home with another woman, Ruby, who had also been granted permission to live there temporarily. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
After Dorothy was airlifted to a nearby hospital, police swept the scene, looking for any clues they could find as to what led up to the attack. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
The mobile home had been completely ransacked, and several items had been stolen. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
The mobile home had been completely ransacked, and several items had been stolen. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
The bedroom, where Dorothy was found, had also been ransacked. Beneath the drawers and clothing on the bed, police found a large blood stain. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
The bedroom, where Dorothy was found, had also been ransacked. Beneath the drawers and clothing on the bed, police found a large blood stain. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
A gun safe, which was originally in the bedroom closet, had been dragged out to the driveway. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
Tire tracks were discovered in the driveway. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
A South Idaho Press article announced Dorothy’s death on September 1, 2004. Photo Courtesy: South Idaho Press
Dorothy’s funeral lasted maybe five minutes, with no friends or family in attendance. A September 19, 2004, article from The Times News detailed her simple burial. Photo Courtesy: The Times News
A 9mm pistol, which was stolen from the mobile home in Idaho, was found three years later in southern California. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Office
Desert Center, California — where the gun was located — was just around 100 miles away from the only physical address police ever had for Dorothy, which was in Helmet, California. Photo Courtesy: Bonneville County Sherriff's Department
After hearing about Dorothy’s simple funeral with no guests, some local high school students organized a memorial service for her. They raised enough money to buy Dorothy a proper headstone that reads, “Dorothy Kajpust — February 8, 1950 - August 26, 2004 — Forever In Our Hearts.” Photo Courtesy: Idaho Cold Cases