Category Archives: Murders

The Wrong Brother? Murder of William VandeBrake 1920

Murder Victim William E. VandeBrake 30-year-old Drugstore Owner 1890-1920 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Romantic Obsession Murder Scene and Date Corner Drugstore 302 Main Street Rock Valley, Iowa Sioux County October 19, 1920 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2011 … Continue reading

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At Closing Time: Murder of Officer George W. Mattern 1918

Murder Victim George W. Mattern 22-year-old Police Officer Des Moines, Iowa, Police Department Killed in the Line of Duty 1890-1918 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Avoiding Arrest Murder Scene and Date Alley off Second between Walnut & Court North of … Continue reading

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Teatotaling Klanswoman: Murder of Myrtle Cook: 1925

Murder Victim Myrtle Elizabeth Underwood Cook 51-year-old Homemaker President, Benton County W.C.T.U. President, Benton County Women of the KKK 1874-1925 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Personal Assassination Murder Scene and Date 703 3rd Avenue Vinton, Iowa Benton County September 7, 1925 … Continue reading

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“Butcher, Baker”: Murder of Otto H. Samp 1916

Murder Victim Otto H. Samp 37-year-old Baker Resident of Newton, Iowa 1879-1916 Cause of Death: Stabbed Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date 618 E. 2nd Street Des Moines, Iowa Polk County October 1, 1916 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January … Continue reading

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Death Along the Lincoln Highway: Murders of Rosela and Homer Brownfield 1922

Murder Victims Rosela May “Rose” Brownfield 41-year-old Wayside Store Owner 1881-1922 Homer Francis Brownfield 43-year-old Veterinarian, Hog Farmer, & Wayside Store Owner 1879-1922 Cause of Deaths: Gunshots Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Brownfield Store Low Moor Corner Lincoln Highway … Continue reading

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Alleyway Robbery: Murder of Carlisle Hunter 1919

Murder Victim Carlisle Gordon “Lyle” Hunter 30-year-old Guthrie County Farmer 1887-1919 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Downtown Alleyway Des Moines, Iowa Polk County November 22, 1919 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written October 2010 In the … Continue reading

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The Eccentric Baggage Hauler: Murder of William Kniffin 1917

Murder Victim William E. “Bill” Kniffin 52-year-old Baggage Hauler Illinois Central Railroad Station 1865-1917 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Carman Barn, Cedar Street Cherokee, Iowa Cherokee County Injured on August 2, 1917 Died on August … Continue reading

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Neither Rain, Nor Snow, Nor Death: Murder of Walter Baldwin 1921

Murder Victim Walter L. Baldwin 49-year-old U.S. Postal Employee 1871-1921 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Mail Route: Union Station to Post Office Council Bluffs, Iowa Pottawattamie County July 16, 1921 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Ancient Vendetta: Murder of Joseph Busemi 1915

Murder Victim Joseph Busemi 27-year-old Laborer Waterloo Fuel Company 1888-1915 Cause of Death: Stabbed Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date Near Old Paper Mill Cedar River Waterloo, Iowa Black Hawk County October 4, 1915 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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Leave Town or Die: Murder of Richard Huggins 1914

Murder Victim Richard William Huggins 49-year-old Florist Sherwood Greenhouse 1865-1914 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Romantic Entanglement Murder Scene and Date 600 blk Conger Street Waterloo, Iowa Black Hawk County October 3, 1914 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written March 2012 … Continue reading

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