Category Archives: Unsolved Iowa Murder

Down in the Dark: Murder of Officer Pitt M. Doxsie 1897

Murder Victim Officer Pitt McClellan Doxsie 34-year-old Night Watchman Assistant Marshal 1863-1897 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Avoiding Arrest Murder Scene and Date Rear of W.H. Littell Store Independence, Iowa Buchanan County Shot: October 24, 1897 End of Watch: October … Continue reading

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The Czech Marble Cutter: Murder of Matej Straka 1878

Murder Victim Matej “Matthew” Straka 45-year-old Stone Cutter Le Grand Quarry Marshall County, Iowa 1833-1878 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Deserted Road 4 Miles West of Chelsea, Iowa Tama County August 29, 1878 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading

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“Trio of Thugs”: Murder of Officer Rolland P. Smith 1901

Murder Victim Officer Rolland P. Smith 23-year-old Night Marshal Killed in the Line of Duty 1878-1901 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Avoiding Arrest Murder Scene and Date Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Tracks Station Street Chelsea, Iowa Tama County End of … Continue reading

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Green Corn Dance Tragedy: Murder of Se-Ton-a-Qua 1897

Murder Victim Se-Ton-a-Qua 16-year-old Meskwaki Tribe Member 1881-1897 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Sexual Psychopathy Murder Scene and Date Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Tracks West of Tama, Iowa Tama County July 26, 1897 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written March 2013 … Continue reading

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Lumberyard Tramps: Murder of Officer Jacob Neibert 1896

Murder Victim Jacob O. Neibert 53-year-old Night Policeman Muscatine Police Department Civil War Veteran, Iowa 35th Infantry 1842-1896 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Avoiding Arrest Murder Scene and Date Hershey Lumber Company 1001 Hershey Avenue Muscatine, Iowa Muscatine County End … Continue reading

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“No Necking Here”: Murder of Harry Overturf 1925

Murder Victim Stephen Harry Overturf, Jr. 32-year-old Farmer & Laborer Former Iowa National Guard Sgt. 1893-1925 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Lane Leading to Overturf Home One Mile East of Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County July … Continue reading

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Sisters Act: Suspicious Deaths of Josephine Goodwin and Elizabeth Anthony 1925

Victims Josephine Goodwin 59-year-old Retired Cedar Rapids Police Matron 1866-1925 Elizabeth Anthony 55-year-old Unemployed Widow 1870-1925 Cause of Deaths: Gassed Motive: Love Triangle Death Scene and Date 1302 7th Street “East Bottoms” Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County July 10, 1925 … Continue reading

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Third Time, No Charm: Murder of Benjamin “Barney” Kaplan 1925

Murder Victim Benjamin “Barney” Kaplan 38-year-old Grocer 1885-1925 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder and Date Kaplan Grocery 301 S. Wall Street Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County Shot April 15, 1925 Died May 27, 1925 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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Babe in the Woods: Murder of an Infant Girl 1910

Murder Victim Infant Girl February 25-March 4, 1910 Cause of Death: Strangulation Motive: Infanticide Murder Scene and Date Johnson Woods North of Iowa City, Iowa Johnson County March 4, 1910 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written March 2013 It was 4:30 … Continue reading

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“Walking Corpse”: Suspicious Death of Nancy Duncan 1880

Victim Nancy Duncan Widowed Farm Wife ca. 1820-1880 Cause of Death: Slashed With Knife Motive: Family Neglect and Abuse Body Location and Date Rural Area, Loess Hills Pacific Junction, Iowa Mills County June 6, 1880 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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