A trial for a Cedar Rapids man, charged with killing a mother of three in April, has been set for October 15 in Linn County District Court.
Timothy Evans, 38, pleaded not guilty in a written arraignment to first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and first-degree arson in the fatal assault of Gina Frederiksen, 38, of Cedar Rapids.
In what police called a “random act,” Evans broke into her detached garage about 7:34 a.m. April 29 at 1814 I St. SW. The burglary turned into a robbery and fatal attack inside the garage, police said.
Neighbors called 911 after hearing an explosion. Upon arrival, officer Kevin Lukan pulled a unresponsive Frederiksen from the garage. She was given emergency medical care but died a short time later at the hospital, police said.
Two witnesses told police a few days later that Evans described how he killed Frederiksen, moments after it happened, and he admitted setting the fire in attempt to cover up the crime, according to the criminal complaint.
Judge Russell Keast of the 6th Judicial Associate District had released Evans on his own recognizance April 27, pending trial on a burglary charge involving a vehicle April 15.
Evans also was charged with an attempted burglary before Frederiksen’s death, at 4:38 a.m. at 2101 Haven Court SW. That is just south of Fredriksen’s home.
The homeowner, Shelly Matthess, told The Gazette last month that she saw Evans trying to get into her house. He left her fenced in backyard, but she said she got into her car and looked for him in the neighborhood but didn’t find Evans.
Last week, Evans was charged again for second-degree burglary and second-degree arson of a houseboat last year. He is accused of breaking into 2411 Houseboat Ct. NW on Nov. 5 and taking items from the houseboat before starting a fire with an “explosive or incendiary device or dangerous weapon,” according to a criminal complaint.
A cigarette butt found in the kitchen area of the houseboat was analyzed for DNA that matched Evans, according to the complaint. Evans was interviewed about the burglary and couldn’t explain why he would be on the houseboat.
Evans, who was homeless at the time of his arrest and has been in the Linn County Jail since May 1, under a $2 million bail.Since Evans’ arrest, police have continued to look into similar burglaries for any possible connection to him.
l Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com