Category Archives: Murders

A Story Yet To Be Told: Murder of Sheila Jean Collins 1968

Murder Victim Sheila Jean Collins 18-year-old Freshman Iowa State University 1949-1968 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned and Strangled Motive: Sexual Psychopathy Murder and Date Last seen in Ames, Iowa January 26, 1968 Body found in rural Colo, Iowa Story County January … Continue reading

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Death on the Way to Sturgis: Murder of James M. Bailey, Jr. 1975

Murder Victim James M. “Beetle” Bailey, Jr. 32-year-old Treasurer Hells Angels, Cleveland Chapter 1942-1975 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Revenge for Snitching Murder Scene and Date Highway 117 Overpass, I-80 Colfax, Iowa Jasper County August 14, 1975 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy … Continue reading

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Flesh and Blood: Murder of Aaron Smith 1864

Murder Victim Aaron Smith 41-year-old Farmer 1823-1864 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Family Dispute Concerning Incest Murder Scene and Date Saylor and Crocker Townships Line Polk County, Iowa March 8, 1864 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January 2013 In the … Continue reading

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When the Dogs Didn’t Bark: Murder of Robert M. Clary 1982

Murder Victim Robert M. Clary 48-year-old Pipefitter 1934-1982 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Love Triangle Murder Scene and Date 419 1/2 14th Avenue S. Clinton, Iowa Clinton County September 29, 1982 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written February 2012 Shortly after … Continue reading

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Bright, Bold Blackmailer: Murder of Alice Kelly 1888

Murder Victim Alice Kelley 28-year-old Blackmailer 1860-1888 Cause of Death: Beaten and Slashed Motive: Revenge for Blackmail Murder Scene and Date Wooded Area “Old Field” Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County July 9, 1888 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January 2013 It … Continue reading

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Destination Unknown: Murder of Geraldine Maggert 1968

Murder Victim Geraldine Evelyn Florence Maggert 25-year-old Secretary Urban Renewal Relocations, Cedar Rapids Office Single Mother of a Daughter Cause of Death: Beaten and Strangled Motive: Sexual Psychopathy 1943-1968 Murder and Date Last Seen: Downtown Cedar Rapids Linn County, Iowa … Continue reading

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Coal Mine Plunge: Suspicious Death of Robert Lee Ruby 1936

Victim Robert Lee Ruby 54-year-old Farmer and Coal Miner 1882-1936 Cause of Death: Pushed From a Height Motive: Unknown Death Scene and Date Bidwell Coal Mine Polk Township Wapello County, Iowa January 11, 1936 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August … Continue reading

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  By Nancy Bowers Thank you for visiting Iowa Unsolved Murders: Historic Cases — a not-for-profit educational and historical website. This is a repository, a quiet library rather than a frenetic and inter-active forum for breaking news on recent or … Continue reading

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Forgotten and Unsolved: Murder of Melvin Royale Adams 1983

Murder Victim Melvin Royale “Mez” Adams Royal Canadian Air Force veteran 1928-1983 Cause of Death: Stabbed Motive: Drinking Party Gone Wrong Murder Scene and Date Cabin south of Agency, Iowa Wapello County February 13, 1983 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Double Identity: Murder of George Griswold 1905

Murder Victim George Ruggles Griswold 41-year-old Iowa Agent State Mutual Life Assurance Company 1864-1905 Cause of Death: Undetermined Motive: Business Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Conjunction of Des Moines & Raccoon rivers Des Moines, Iowa Polk County September 13, 1905 … Continue reading

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