Category Archives: Murders

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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Nearly Home: Murder of Anna Marie Medici 1962

Murder Victim Anna Marie Medici 21-year-old Office Worker 1941-1962 Cause of Death: Automobile Hit and Run Murder Scene and Date US Highway 69 Carney, Iowa Crocker Township Polk County November 16, 1962 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written April 2011 In … Continue reading

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“Cold-Blooded Sadistic Type”: Murder of Ramona Jean Cox 1962

Murder Victim Ramona Jean Cox 25-year-old Secretary, C.D. Wilcox Company Part-time Cashier, Ardan 1937-1962 Cause of Death: Slashed Motive: Sexual Psychopathy Murder Scene and Date 1526 Woodland Avenue Des Moines, Iowa Polk County April 29, 1962 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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“Stick ‘em up, Louie”: Murder of Louis Friedman 1930

Murder Victim Louis Friedman 37-year-old Grocer WWI Veteran 1893-1930 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Friedman Grocery 300 Pearl Street Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County December 12, 1930 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written March 2011 In … Continue reading

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The Christmas Eve Brawl: Murder of Charles Johnson 1901

Murder Victim Charles Johnson 35-year-old Saloon Owner 1866-1901 Cause of Death: Stabbed Motive: Drunken Mob Action Murder Scene and Date Johnson Saloon East Fifth and Court Avenue Des Moines, Iowa Polk County December 24, 1901 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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“The Whole Affair is a Deep Mystery”: Murder of Adelbert Rowland 1897

Murder Victim Adelbert D. Rowland 34-year-old Widowed Laborer 1862-1897 Cause of Death: Beaten With Club Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date South Fork Township 8 Miles NW of Maquoketa, Iowa Jackson County April 8, 1897 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Narrowly Escaping the Lynch Mob: Murder of Mr. Knisely 1848

Murder Victim Mr. Knisely Farmer ?-1848 Cause of Death: Unknown, Body Not Found Murder Scene and Date Knisely Cabin Sherman Township Jasper County, Iowa Summer, 1848 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written September 2011 In the early days of Iowa statehood, … Continue reading

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Wages in Gold: Murder of John Hill Beal 1893

Murder Victim John Hill Beal 19 year-old Farmhand 1874-1893 Cause of Death: Struck With Heavy Rock Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Railroad tracks 2 miles south of Cherokee, Iowa Cherokee County November 17, 1893 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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