Category Archives: Unsolved Iowa Murders: Historic Cases

The Apron in the Shack: Murder of Erma (Irma) Vivian Caldwell 1924

Murder Victim Erma (Irma) Vivian Caldwell 27-Year Old Waitress 1897-1924 Cause of Death: Drowned Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Chicago Great Western Railroad Bridge Iowa River Marshalltown, Iowa Marshall County August-September 1924 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written March-April 2020 … Continue reading →

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A Dream of Murder: Mysterious Disappearance of Mr. Thomas 1857

Murder Victim Mr. Thomas Age and Occupation Unknown ?-1857 Cause of Death: Unknown Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Millersburg, Iowa Iowa County August 1857 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written September 2017 Historical accounts sometimes tease the historian who is … Continue reading →

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The Broken Clevis: Murder of Samuel Cronk 1867

Murder Victim Samuel S. Cronk 23-Year-Old Deputy Sheriff Civil War Veteran 1844-1867 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned With a Clevis Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date South of Cottonville, Iowa Jackson County January 23, 1867 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written September … Continue reading →

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The Insane Tramp: Murder of Will Sargent 1897

Murder Victim William N. “Will” Sargent 20-Year-Old Peddler 1877-1897 Cause of Death: Beaten, Thrown Down A Mine Shaft Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Chicago Company Coal Mine Seymour, Iowa Wayne County April 3, 1897 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading →

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The Irish Carpenter: Murder of William Martin 1885

Murder Victim William Martin 42-year-old Carpenter 1843-1885 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Mississippi River Clinton, Iowa Clinton County September 26, 1885 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2017 Forty-two-year-old Irish-born carpenter William Martin kept busy … Continue reading →

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“Foully Treated”: Murder of Thomas McGary 1892

Murder Victim Thomas McGary ? – 1892 Cause of Death: Crushed Skull Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Milwaukee Railroad Sidetrack Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County August 17, 1892 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2017 Early on the morning of … Continue reading →

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Dead In a Corn Field: Murder of David Conners 1895

Murder Victim David “Dave” Conners Farmer ?-1895 Cause of Death: Gunshot Wounds Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Corn Field Conners Farm Near Lenox Adams County September 10, 1895 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2017 In the early fall … Continue reading →

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“Furiously Angry”: Murder of Wesley Wilson 1894

Murder Victim Wesley “Wes” Wilson 36-Year-Old Coal Miner 1858-1894 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Argument Over A Woman Murder Scene and Date Samuel Moffin Boarding House Colon, Iowa (Ghost Town) 5 Miles West of Oskaloosa Mahaska County Shot: April 21, … Continue reading →

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The Well Digger: Murder of Peter Hendrickson 1895

Murder Victim Peter Hendrickson 47-Year-Old Well Digger And Stone Mason 1848-1895 Cause of Death: Unknown (Staged Suicide) Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Keokuk and Des Moines Railroad Bridge Des Moines, Iowa Polk County October 5, 1895 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy … Continue reading →

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“Lilies of Soul-Less Sin”: Murders of Max Noack and Ora Minter 1895

Murder Victims Max Noack 22-Year-Old Farmhand 1872-1895 Ora Minter, a.k.a. Hazel Hammond 18-year-old Prostitute 1876-1895 Cause of Deaths: Gunshots Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Maud Hoyle’s Brothel 209 Fourth Street, Second Floor Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County August 25, … Continue reading →

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