Joni Alexander was enjoying a summer evening at the lake with her family when she received a phone call that her mother, Lori Heimer was dead.

The following hours led to the realization that her mom had been murdered and investigators were desperately trying to find who was responsible.

“We got the phone call that everyone dreads and always pray you never receive,” Joni said as she recounted the events of June 25, 2016.

Joni and her sister, Katie Everly joined in on KSAL’s Clarke Sanders Show Tuesday in an effort to raise awareness of the case and to grow the reward purse for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the murder of Lori Heimer.

Both Joni and Katie told Clarke that the KBI and Saline County Sheriff’s Office is doing a great job of communicating to the family about the case. Now the family wants to increase the current reward to over $5,000 in hopes of bringing that one thread of information to help sew the clues together.

Events to raise money for The Lori Heimer Fund will be held on Saturday, September 10 at the Bishop Street Tavern in Salina from 11am to 3pm. The event include live music and raffles.

On Friday, September 23, the Abiline Pizza Hut will donate 15-percent of their proceeds during a fundraising event from 4pm to 7pm.

Saturday, October 1, The Heimer Family has organized a 5K Fun Run, Bake Sale and Auction in Assaria to help boost the reward.

Those who want to donate funds to the reward right now can send a check made out to the Lori Heimer Fund, PO Box 202 Assaria, Kansas 67416.

On June 25 authorities were called to 10525 South Hopkins Road near Assaria to investigate the brutal murder of 57-year-old Lori Heimer. Saline County Undersheriff Roger Soldan tells KSAL News that investigators are working alongside KBI agents to find the person or persons responsible for killing a woman who operated a dog breeding business at her home.

During the investigation, two vehicles of interest have been developed. Investigators are asking for the public’s assistance in locating the vehicles.
They are: An older flatbed pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet, which is ‘beat-up’, maroon in color, white front bumper, silver grill, wide-style side mirrors, with a driver that is 50 years of age or older, with ‘salt and pepper’ hair.
An older-style, small pickup truck, possibly a Chevrolet S-10, two-tone dark blue on top and bottom with light blue in the middle, the back bumper is silver, but the tailgate is blue (like the body of the truck) and is newer or appeared to have minimal damage when compared to the body of the truck, the remainder of the vehicle is described as ‘beat up’ and ‘scratched up’. There may be two animal cages or crates in the back. The driver of the vehicle was described as a white male approximately 40 years of age with shoulder length hair, wearing glasses.

If you, or someone you know, fits this description please notify investigators immediately.
Heimer was known to advertise her business in the region?s metropolitan markets, to include Wichita and Kansas City.
To provide information, please contact the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (24 hours a day) at 1- 800-KSCRIME or the Saline County Sheriff?s Office (785) 826-6500 during business hours.