Category Archives: Unsolved Iowa Murder

Family Annihilation: Murders of James, Earl, and Mary Hardy 1910

Murder Victims James Hardy 63-year-old Farmer 1846-1910 Earl Hardy 29-year-old Farmhand 1880-1910 Mary Emery Hardy 57-year-old Farm Wife 1852-1910 Murder Scene and Date Hardy Farm Van Cleve, Iowa Marshall County June 5, 1910 Cause of Deaths: Bludgeoned Motive: Obtaining an … Continue reading →

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After the Merry-Go-Round: Murder of Alta Marie Braun 1917

Murder Victim Alta Marie Braun 12-year-old Schoolgirl Cause of Death: Strangled Motive: Sexual Psychopathy 1905-1917 Murder Scene and Date Alley off Cedar Street Le Mars, Iowa Plymouth County August 20, 1917 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written June 2011 As Tuesday, … Continue reading →

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Dead From a “Wallop”: Murder of John Schnellbacker 1913

Murder Victim John Schnellbacker (John Schnellbächer) 55-year-old Handyman East Des Moines Hotel 1858 -1913 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Argument Murder Scene and Date E. Third and E. Walnut streets Des Moines, Iowa Polk County March 10, 1913 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading →

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“Fear of the Dread Black Hand”: Murder of Domenico Barretto 1921

Murder Victim Domenico Barretto 25-year-old Laborer 1895-1921 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date 1519 Jackson Avenue Des Moines, Iowa Polk County March 27, 1921 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January 2011 On the night … Continue reading →

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Black Hand at the Bridge: Murder of Francis “Frank” Oliverio 1917

Murder Victim Francis “Frank” Oliverio 40-year-old Factory Worker Schuermann Bros. Mills 1877-1917 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date SW Fifth Street Bridge, Raccoon River Des Moines, Iowa Polk County August 6, 1917 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading →

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The Gardner and The Black Hand: Murder of Dominic Sposeto 1919

Murder Victim Dominic Sposeto 40-year-old Truck Gardner 1897-1919 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date S.E. Seventh & Hartford Des Moines, Iowa Polk County July 22, 1919 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January 2011 At … Continue reading →

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“The King of Little Italy”: Murder of Angelo Ferrari 1922

Murder Victim Angelo Ferrari “The King of Little Italy” 35-year-old Bail Bondsman 1887-1922 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date 1066 42nd Street Des Moines, Iowa Polk County February 26, 1922 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading →

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“Thin Veil Over Her Face”: Murder of Chester N. Van Horn 1914

Murder Victim Chester Newton “Chet” Van Horn 41-year-old Farmer 1873-1914 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Love Triangle Murder Scene and Date Van Horn Farm Clear Lake Township Cerro Gordo County November 19, 1914 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written October 2011 … Continue reading →

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Shot Down in the Street: Murder of Dr. William F. Swisher 1898

Murder Victim Dr. William F. Swisher 29-year-old Physician 1868-1898 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Concealing a Secret From the Past Murder Scene and Date Main Street (now Vine Street) Woodburn, Iowa Clarke County June 23, 1898 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading →

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“A Splendid Gentleman, a Good Scholar”: Murder of Price V. Evans 1895

Murder Victim Price Vincent Evans 24-year-old Principal Osage High School 1871-1895 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Concealing a Secret From the Past Murder Scene and Date Osage, Iowa Mitchell County October 14, 1895 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written November 2011 … Continue reading →

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