Category Archives: Unsolved Iowa Murder

The Dead Horse Trader: Murder of William Clugston 1867

Murder Victim William Clugston Horse Farmer Resident of Sandusky County, Ohio ?-1867 Cause of Death: Mutilated Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Washington Prairie Near Frankville Township South of Decorah, Iowa Winneshiek County January 1867 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers September … Continue reading

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“Thick Veil of Mystery” On New Year’s Eve: Murder of C.H. Wessell 1891

Murder Victim Carster Henry “C.H.” Wessel 68-year-old Farmer 1823-1891 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Drunken Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Near Post Office Teeds Grove Clinton County January 1, 1891 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written December 2011 On Wednesday evening, … Continue reading

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“True Disciple of Pollyanna”: Murder of Thecla Gerken 1917

Murder Victim Thecla Merle Gerken 23-year-old School Teacher 1894-1917 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Romantic Obsession Murder Scene and Date Jones and 9th streets Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County June 27, 1917 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written May 2012 During … Continue reading

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Grifters and Cons: Murder of “Lucille Marvin” 1937

Murder Victim “Lucille Marvin” Conwoman, Thief ?-1937 Cause of Death: Strangled Motive: Concealing Criminal Activity Murder Scene and Date Lafayette Hotel, Third Floor Clinton, Iowa Clinton County October 9, 1937 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written April 2012 Nothing seemed amiss … Continue reading

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“Myself, Meadow, Hawk”: Murder of Evelyn Lee 1930

Murder Victim Evelyn Marie Lee 9-year-old Student Irving Grammar School 1921-1930 Cause of Death: Strangled Motive: Sexual Psychopathy Murder Scene and Date Four Mile Creek near Youngstown Des Moines, Iowa Polk County May 10, 1930 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Name

To read about a particular victim of an historic unsolved Iowa murder, click on a name below from the list alphabetized by first name. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ☛ A through K ☚ Aaron Smith Addis Lyman Adelbert Rowland Agnes McLaughlin (Sister Mary … Continue reading

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The Wabash Trestle: Murder of James Chamberlain 1893

Murder Victim James Lewis Chamberlain 41-year-old Carpenter and Contractor 1852-1893 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Wabash Railroad Trestle Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County May 25, 1893 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2010 On Thursday, May … Continue reading

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Murder Behind the Meat Market: David P. Sutton 1893

Murder Victim David P. Sutton, Jr. 43-year-old Farmer 1850-1893 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Drunken Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Barn, East Side of Town Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County February 15, 1893 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2011 On … Continue reading

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The Defective Shotgun: Murders of Claud and Anna Miller 1949

Murder Victim Claud Francis Miller 64-year-old Farmer 1884-1949 Anna Henrietta Miller 61-year-old Farm Wife 1888-1949 Cause of Deaths: Gunshot Motive: Obtaining an Inheritance Murder Scene and Date 2 miles north of Camp Dodge Polk County April 4, 1949 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading

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Cab in the Snow-Filled Ditch: Murder of Leon Groves 1951

Murder Victim Leon E. Groves 40-year-old Optometrist Part-time Taxi Driver 1911-1951 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date SE 18th & Scott Des Moines, Iowa Polk County December 22, 1951 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January 2012 … Continue reading

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