Yuma’s coldest case: Unsolved murder of Rhonda Fortney

The coldest case in Yuma happened on November 4, 1969 when 20-year-old Rhonda Fortney was shot and killed right outside her home.

Rhonda’s death is still unsolved until this day, and one resident said that today there are far more questions than answers.

“We remember hearing all the commotion outside, came out from my mom’s house, and we saw policeman all over. That’s when we saw a young lady body laying outside on the sidewalk,” said one local resident.

Police reports described the alleged murderer as a black man in his twenties wearing a yellow jacket or shirt and gold tapered pants. The resident who’s lived in the area for 45 plus years claims the man who lived across the street from Rhonda was after the suspect the night it happened.

“They claimed that they saw what happened, and they took off running after him and chased him up on first but lost track of him,” said the local resident.

Sgt. Lori Franklin with the Yuma Police Department said that several witnesses were interviewed but no one could have said if Rhonda was a target.

“There’s nothing that indicated that someone disliked her, that anyone had it out for her,” said Sgt. Franklin.

This November will mark the 50th death anniversary of Rhonda’s death and since then Sgt. Franklin confirms the case has been visited by detectives twice.

Authorities are asking the community that if you have any information on this unsolved murder to call 78-CRIME.