Investigation continues into September death of Cedar Rapids woman

Sep. 30, 2022 6:00 am

A Linn County Sheriff's Office squad car. (file photo)

Background

Katelyne A. Marquez, 23, of Cedar Rapids, was brought to the Mercy Medical Center emergency room in Hiawatha on Sept. 7. She was not breathing and was pronounced dead.

Hiawatha police determined events leading to her death had happened in rural Marion, and the investigation was turned over to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

Marquez had no obvious injuries, and an autopsy was performed Sept. 9 at the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny, according to a Twitter post by the sheriff’s office.

Twitter

What’s happened since

Very little information has been released about Marquez’s death or the circumstances that may have led to it.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said in an email his office is waiting for the toxicology report or cause of death determination from the state medical examiner’s office.

A GoFundMe was started Sept. 11 to help pay for a memorial for Marquez. Any remaining funds are to go to Marquez’s 1-year-old son and his father, Tyler Evens, who is the boy’s sole caretaker, according to the GoFundMe page.

“Katie was only 23 yrs old when she was taken from us. But, boy, did she touch a lot of lives in those short 23 years,” Shannon Wiggins, Marquez’s cousin, stated on the GoFundMe page. “She was a beautiful person inside and out. Always had a smile on her face. No matter what the situation was. She was very loving and caring, and got along with everyone she met.

“All she ever wanted in life was to be a mother. She was finally given that opportunity and had a handsome baby boy (Jayce,) who just turned 1 in June. ... She loved that little boy more than anything. ... She also leaves behind Jayce's father, Tyler, her mother, Debbie, 4 siblings, and a ton of other family who love her so very much and are devastated.”

As of Thursday, the GoFundMe page had raised $2,160 for the family.