In a press release Thursday, the Ogden City Police Department announced that Richard Annis, who is currently incarcerated in Iowa, admitted responsibility for the 1997 killing of Richard Billmayer.

“Detective Doug Dunbar of the Ogden City Police Department Detectives Bureau and Weber County Attorney’s Office Investigator Mike Rounkles obtained the confession following renewed investigative efforts,” the release said. It took years of work by investigators, witnesses, and cold case partners who continued pursuing answers in Billmayer’s death.”

According to the release, the involvement of the Ogden City Police Department started several years after Billmayer’s death in 1997.

“Ogden Police learned Billmayer had been missing after a report by a witness in 2008,” the release said. “Detective Gent was assigned the case and confirmed Billmayer had been missing since 1997. Detective Gent conducted an extensive investigation, locating and interviewing witnesses while pursuing available information. Despite those efforts, there was insufficient evidence at the time to resolve the case, and it eventually became cold.”

Over a decade later, OPD Detective Andrew Howard identified the case for renewed investigation during which he interviewed additional witnesses before the case, again went cold.

“Detective Howard also traveled to Iowa to interview Richard Annis, who was identified as the suspect during the investigation,” the release said. “He was already incarcerated in Iowa for an unrelated homicide. Although the additional investigation strengthened the information developed in the case, important questions remained unanswered.

“Six years later, investigators with the Cold Case Coalition identified Billmayer’s homicide case and began extensive research into him, the suspect, witnesses, and investigation history. Their work brought additional resources and renewed attention to the case.”

The release said that this year, the Cold Case Coalition presented its research to Detective Dunbar, who conducted another comprehensive review and presented the case to the Weber County Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit.

“Investigator Mike Rounkles joined Detective Dunbar in reviewing the case and determining what investigative opportunities remained,” the release said. “Building on the work of the investigators and witnesses who had contributed to the case over the previous decades, they determined another interview with Annis was warranted.

“Detective Dunbar and Investigator Rounkles traveled to the Iowa State Penitentiary to interview Annis. During the interview, Annis admitted responsibility for Billmayer’s death and provided information that corroborated significant details autonomously developed by investigators and witnesses during the investigation.”

The press release notes that the resolution of Billmayer’s homicide case happened because of strong partnerships and dedicated law enforcement members and agencies.

“The resolution of Richard Billmayer’s homicide represents more than the conclusion of a decades-old investigation,” the release said. “It reflects the Ogden City Police Department’s continued commitment to victims of crime and to the families who have waited for answers. Cold cases are difficult, and the passage of time creates challenges, but it does not lessen the importance of the victim or our responsibility to continue seeking the truth.

The Ogden City Police Department recognizes Detectives Gent, Howard and Dunbar, Investigator Mike Rounkles and the Weber County Attorney’s Office with the Cold Case Coalition, along with NamUS, the Weber County Attorney’s Office Cold Case Unit. We thank the witnesses who came forward and assisted investigators. We also extend our appreciation to the law enforcement and corrections professionals in Iowa who assisted our investigators during both phases of this case.”

The release concludes by stating the department will continue to do what it can to give victims of crime justice, no matter how long it’s been.

“No matter how much time has passed, we will not forget the victims of crime,” the release said. “We will continue working with our partners, pursuing new opportunities, and seeking answers and justice for victims and their families.”