Category Archives: General

Cold Night Out: Murder of Donald Nervig 1965

Murder Victim Donald Amos Nervig 52-year-old Co-Owner Nervig & Avila Speedometer & Electrical 1912-1965 Cause of Death: Struck with Ax or Hammer Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date 7380 6th Avenue Des Moines, Iowa Polk County December 15, 1965   … Continue reading

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Brothel Double Homicide: Murders of Willard Woodring and Richard Buchanan 1960

Murder Victims Willard Charles “Bill” Woodring 42-year-old Hawkeye Hotel Proprietor 1917-1960 Richard B. Buchanan 49-year-old Resident of Colona, Illinois Moline, Illinois, Service Station Owner 1911-1960 Cause of Deaths: Gunshots Motive: Mob Hit Murder Scene and Date Hawkeye Hotel 100 Johnson … Continue reading

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Death in a Cubicle: Murder of Fred Coste 1959

Murder Victim Frederick Leonard Coste 47-year-old Manager Family Finance Corporation 1911-1959 Cause of Death: Stabbed Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Family Finance Corporation 312 Second Avenue SE Cedar Rapids, Iowa Linn County October 15, 1959 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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The Aspiring Actress: Murder of Marlene Padfield 1959

Murder Victim Marlene “Mickey” Padfield 17-year-old Clerk J & T TV Repair 1941-1959 Cause of Death: Undetermined Motive: Sexual Psychopathy Murder Details and Dates Last Seen at Cozy Inn 1011 First Avenue E. Cedar Rapids, Iowa February 19, 1959 Body … Continue reading

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On the Front Porch: Murder of Rose Grandanette 1958

Murder Victim Rose Danato Grandanette 33-year-old Homemaker Mother of Three 1925-1958 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Gone Wrong Murder Scene and Date Grandanette Home Sunrise Boulevard and 73rd Street Windsor Heights Des Moines, Iowa Polk County September 14, 1958 … Continue reading

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“Maniac” in the Drugstore: Murder of Lucille Bacher 1955

Murder Victim Lucille Lenore Bacher 43-year-old Owner Lincoln Avenue Pharmacy 1912-1955 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned, Throat Slashed Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Lincoln Avenue Pharmacy South Lincoln & Redwood avenues Davenport, Iowa Scott County November 29, 1955 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading

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Under the Court Avenue Bridge: Murder of Charles Sanders 1954

Murder Victim Charles Edward “Charlie” Sanders 67-year-old Painter and Paperhanger 1886-1954 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Court Avenue Bridge, Des Moines River Des Moines, Iowa Polk County April 15, 1954 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Taxi Ride to Death: Murder of George Massouris 1950

Murder Victim George James Massouris 30-year-old Union Pacific Car Man Driver, Red Top Taxicab Company 1920-1950 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Orchard Road near Highway 6 Council Bluffs, Iowa Pottawattamie County November 18, 1950 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ … Continue reading

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The Poisoned Family: Rhode-Elefson Murders 1948-1949

Murder Victims Lucy Ann Kemp Rhode 72-year-old Farm Wife 1876-1948 Alonzo Lyman Rhode 75-year-old Farmer 1873-1949 Winifred Audrey Rhode Elefson 47-year-old Music Teacher 1901-1949 Cause of Deaths: Poisoned Motive: Obtaining an Inheritance Murder Locations and Dates Tabor, Iowa Fremont County … Continue reading

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After a Game of Bridge: Murder of Anne M. McGrevey 1948

Murder Victim Anne Marie Miller McGrevey 45-year-old Contract Bridge Instructor 1903-1948 Cause of Death: Arson Fire Motive: Romantic Entanglement Murder Scene and Date 6505 Forest Court Windsor Heights Des Moines, Iowa Polk County January 30, 1948 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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