On April 1, 1995, in Everett, Washington, seven-year-old Roxanne Doll disappeared without a trace. Her mother, Gail Doll-Iffrig, awoke to a chilling realization—her daughter was gone. Roxanne’s pink nightgown lay untouched in the bedroom she shared with her younger sister. Her father, Tim Iffrig, had spent the previous night drinking heavily at a neighbor’s house before passing out on the couch. But while the family was scrutinized in the press, investigators quickly turned their attention elsewhere.
The Tragic Case of Roxanne Doll: A True Crime Story
According to Broken Doll by Burl Barer, police suspected someone close to the family. A friend, Richard Clark, had a troubling past—including an earlier conviction involving a four-year-old girl. Clark failed a polygraph when asked about Roxanne’s whereabouts, and his vehicle—a battered old van—was searched. Authorities found disturbing evidence, but no sign of the little girl.
As days passed, the community rallied in a massive search effort, but hope dimmed. Then, a week after her disappearance, two children playing near an embankment made a horrifying discovery—a child’s foot protruding from beneath debris. The body was identified as Roxanne Doll. She had suffered unspeakable brutality, and forensic evidence from Clark’s van confirmed the worst—blood and fibers tied him to the crime.
Broken Doll by Burl Barer (Amazon)
Clark’s arrest ignited fury. The Iffrig family endured relentless criticism, with locals blaming their lifestyle for the tragedy. But Broken Doll details how police found no evidence of wrongdoing by Roxanne’s parents. The true villain had always been Clark—a man capable of monstrous acts.
After a lengthy trial, Clark was sentenced to death. Years later, in a desperate bid to avoid execution, he finally confessed. He had lured Roxanne from her bedroom window with a lie—promising her a puppy in his van. His taped admission provided closure, but it could never undo the horrors he inflicted on an innocent child.
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