Tag Archives: unsolved Des Moines Iowa Murder

Black Hand at the Bridge: Murder of Francis “Frank” Oliverio 1917

Murder Victim Francis “Frank” Oliverio 40-year-old Factory Worker Schuermann Bros. Mills 1877-1917 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date SW Fifth Street Bridge, Raccoon River Des Moines, Iowa Polk County August 6, 1917 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading

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The Gardner and The Black Hand: Murder of Dominic Sposeto 1919

Murder Victim Dominic Sposeto 40-year-old Truck Gardner 1897-1919 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date S.E. Seventh & Hartford Des Moines, Iowa Polk County July 22, 1919 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January 2011 At … Continue reading

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“The King of Little Italy”: Murder of Angelo Ferrari 1922

Murder Victim Angelo Ferrari “The King of Little Italy” 35-year-old Bail Bondsman 1887-1922 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date 1066 42nd Street Des Moines, Iowa Polk County February 26, 1922 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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“Myself, Meadow, Hawk”: Murder of Evelyn Lee 1930

Murder Victim Evelyn Marie Lee 9-year-old Student Irving Grammar School 1921-1930 Cause of Death: Strangled Motive: Sexual Psychopathy Murder Scene and Date Four Mile Creek near Youngstown Des Moines, Iowa Polk County May 10, 1930 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … 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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“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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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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Locations

To read about unsolved murders in a particular Iowa location, click on Towns/Townships or Counties: ☛ Towns/Townships ☚ ☛ Counties ☚ Articles are added frequently. Check back soon for additional stories. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________    

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Taking the Waters: Murder of Frank Callahan 1905

Murder Victim Frank Callahan 34-year-old “Nervous Disorder” Patient 1870-1905 Cause of Death: Drowned Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Last Seen September 19, 1905 Des Moines, Iowa Found in Des Moines River at Levey Polk County September 24, 1905 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ … Continue reading

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The One-Armed Man: Murder of William A. Hunt 1893

Murder Victim William Asbury Hunt Des Moines’s First Police Chief 63-year-old Civil War Veteran Cause of Death: Bludgeoned, Pushed From a Height Motive: Robbery 1830-1893 Murder Scene and Date Alley, 600 block of Locust Street Des Moines, Iowa Polk County … Continue reading

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