Category Archives: General

The Tramp at Breakfast: Murder of Andrew Hart 1896

Murder Victim Andrew Hart 26-year-old Farmhand 1870-1896 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Myron Woodard Farm Section 9, Washington Township Near LaMoille, Iowa Marshall County December 13, 1896 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written September 2013 In … Continue reading

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The Beckoning Hand: Murder of Alma Harrison 1905

Murder Victim Alma Harrison 17-year-old Daughter of Prominent Davenport Family 1888-1905 Murder Scene and Date Mississippi River Disappeared at Buffalo, Iowa Scott County July 17, 1905 Found 8 miles North of Muscatine, Iowa Muscatine County July 22, 1905 Cause of … Continue reading

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Poison Kiss: Murder of Edwin Hodges 1869

Murder Victim Edwin F. Hodges 24-year-old Farmer 1845-1869 Cause of Death: Poison Motive: Elimination of Husband to Obtain Wife Murder Scene and Date James McQuinn Home Florence Township (formerly Cue) Benton County January 8, 1869 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Shock: Suspicious Death of Neva Andrews 1950

Victim Neva Elizabeth Andrews 46-year-old Homemaker Divorced Mother of Two 1903-1950 Cause of Death: Shock Due to Slashing Motive: Unknown Death Scene and Date 500 Block West Willow Street Cherokee, Iowa Cherokee County August 7, 1950 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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Below the Melan Arch Bridge: Baby John Doe 1898

Murder Victim Baby John Doe Newborn Infant 1898-1898 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Infanticide Murder Scene and Date Des Moines River Sixth Avenue Melan Arch Bridge Des Moines, Iowa Polk County April 22, 1898 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written June … Continue reading

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“None But a Frenzied Woman”: Murder of Anna Wiese 1893

Murder Victim Anna Wiese 20-year-old Hired Girl Henry and Rebecca Russie Farm 1873-1893 Cause of Death: Stabbed, Slashed, and Clubbed Motive: Jealousy Murder Scene and Date Vienna Township Marshall County August 26, 1893 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written December 2010 … Continue reading

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Obsession: Murder of Mamie Peterson 1896

Murder Victim Mamie A. Peterson 18-year-old Household Helper, Family Home 1878-1896 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motives: Jealousy/Avoiding Responsibility for Pregnancy Murder Scene and Date Unionville, Iowa Appanoose County May 12, 1896 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written May 2013 The elements … Continue reading

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Motives for Murders

The most important yet complicated and sometimes even unknowable aspect of a homicide is what compels one person to take the life of another. In cases of unsolved or unresolved, the “why” is often a matter of conjecture or speculation … Continue reading

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Taken to the Grave: Murder of Juliette Thomas 1871

Murder Victim Juliette Pranal Thomas 58-year-old Farm Wife 1813-1871 Cause of Death: Poison Motive: Love Triangle Murder Scene and Date Thomas Home Hazelton, Iowa Buchanan County February 12, 1871 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written April 2013 The story of Juliette … Continue reading

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Methods of Murders

This page lists victims on the website according to cause of death. Some victims are listed under more than one cause in cases where multiple methods were employed. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ☛ Asphyxiated ☚ Francis John Rafferty ☛ Axed ☚ “Apple Grove … Continue reading

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