Category Archives: Unsolved Iowa Murder

“The Peaceable Negro”: Murder of John Allen 1864

Murder Victim John Allen Employee of the Demoine [sic] House ?-1864 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Drunken Aggression Murder Scene and Date Ensign Livery Stable Walnut between 2nd & 3rd Des Moines, Iowa Polk County July 8, 1864 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading

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The “Menial Drudge”: Murder of Lovina Kneeskern 1876

Murder Victim Lovina Peck Kneeskern 51-year-old Farm Wife 1825-1876 Cause of Death: Poison Motive: Love Triangle Murder Scene and Date Frankville Township South of Decorah, Iowa Winneshiek County April 28, 1876 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written April 2012 In contemporary … Continue reading

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Blood by Lamplight: Murder of Esther Alger 1872

Murder Victim Esther Alger 72-year-old Farm Wife 1800-1872 Cause of death: Gunshot, Bludgeoning Motive: Teenage Sociopathy Murder Scene and Date Alger Home Near Calamus, Iowa Clinton County September 25, 1872 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written April 2011 In 1872, life … Continue reading

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“Riding the Blinds”: Murder of Elmer Dudrey 1896

Murder Victim Willis Elmer Dudrey 22-year-old Farmhand 1874-1896 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Drunken Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Train Station Webster City, Iowa Hamilton County June 7, 1896 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written June 2011 “Riding the blinds” was … Continue reading

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After Church: Murders of Lena and Tommy Peterson 1902

Murder Victims Mary Magdalene “Lena” Peterson 1886-1902 15-year-old High School Student Thomas Hoffman “Tommy” Peterson 13-year-old Grammar School Student 1888-1902 Cause of Deaths: Bludgeoned Motive: Family Jealousy Murder Scene and Date Madison Avenue Highland Park, Iowa Lee Township Polk County … Continue reading

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Victims

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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“Old Feud Fueled by Drink”: Murder of Nathaniel Carnagy 1847

Murder Victim Nathaniel Carnagy 39-year-old Farmer 1808-1847 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Drunken Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Marion, Iowa Linn County April 4, 1847 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers This is a story about a solved, unresolved murder. It’s not … Continue reading

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“Belle of the Tribe”: Murder of Ma-Sha-Che 1905

Murder Victim Ma-Sha-Che “Nelly Davenport” 16-year-old Meskwaki Tribe Member 1889-1905 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Sexual Psychopathy Murder Scene and Date Montour, Iowa Tama County April 4, 1905 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January 2011 In 1905, Ma-Sha-Che — whose … Continue reading

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Links

Important and Interesting Links What Happened to Paula? The Anatomy of a True Crime Midnight Assassin (John Hossack murder/Margaret Hossack trial) Villisca Ax Murder House Official Site Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Iowa Missing Person Clearinghouse: Iowa Department of Public … Continue reading

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Administrator

Nancy Bowers: Editor/Writer/Researcher Nancy Bowers is a trained historian and researcher with years of life experiences in writing and criminal justice. While earning Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Literature and History and a Doctorate in English and Film Studies, she … Continue reading

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