Tag Archives: Unsolved Iowa Murders

After the Merry-Go-Round: Murder of Alta Marie Braun 1917

Murder Victim Alta Marie Braun 12-year-old Schoolgirl Cause of Death: Strangled Motive: Sexual Psychopathy 1905-1917 Murder Scene and Date Alley off Cedar Street Le Mars, Iowa Plymouth County August 20, 1917 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written June 2011 As Tuesday, … Continue reading

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Dead From a “Wallop”: Murder of John Schnellbacker 1913

Murder Victim John Schnellbacker (John Schnellbächer) 55-year-old Handyman East Des Moines Hotel 1858 -1913 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Argument Murder Scene and Date E. Third and E. Walnut streets Des Moines, Iowa Polk County March 10, 1913 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By … Continue reading

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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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Shot Down in the Street: Murder of Dr. William F. Swisher 1898

Murder Victim Dr. William F. Swisher 29-year-old Physician 1868-1898 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Concealing a Secret From the Past Murder Scene and Date Main Street (now Vine Street) Woodburn, Iowa Clarke County June 23, 1898 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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“A Splendid Gentleman, a Good Scholar”: Murder of Price V. Evans 1895

Murder Victim Price Vincent Evans 24-year-old Principal Osage High School 1871-1895 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Concealing a Secret From the Past Murder Scene and Date Osage, Iowa Mitchell County October 14, 1895 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written November 2011 … Continue reading

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The Dead Horse Trader: Murder of William Clugston 1867

Murder Victim William Clugston Horse Farmer Resident of Sandusky County, Ohio ?-1867 Cause of Death: Mutilated Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Washington Prairie Near Frankville Township South of Decorah, Iowa Winneshiek County January 1867 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers September … Continue reading

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“Thick Veil of Mystery” On New Year’s Eve: Murder of C.H. Wessell 1891

Murder Victim Carster Henry “C.H.” Wessel 68-year-old Farmer 1823-1891 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Drunken Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Near Post Office Teeds Grove Clinton County January 1, 1891 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written December 2011 On Wednesday evening, … Continue reading

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“True Disciple of Pollyanna”: Murder of Thecla Gerken 1917

Murder Victim Thecla Merle Gerken 23-year-old School Teacher 1894-1917 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Romantic Obsession Murder Scene and Date Jones and 9th streets Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County June 27, 1917 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written May 2012 During … Continue reading

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