Tag Archives: unsolved Polk County Iowa murders

“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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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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Strangled With His Own Necktie: Murder of David Faulkner 1920

Murder Victim David A. Faulkner 30-year-old Receiving Clerk Iowa Packing Company 1860-1920 Cause of Death: Strangled Motive: Grudge Murder Scene and Date 2416 E. Lyon Street Des Moines, Iowa Polk County May 1, 1920 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written September … Continue reading

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Deadly Taxi Party: Murder of Thaddeus Mitchell 1922

Murder Victim Thaddeus William “Thad” Mitchell 44-year-old Taxi Driver President, Consolidated Taxi Company 1878-1922 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date St. Joseph Avenue near 20th Street Near City Detention Hospital a.k.a. “Pest House” Des Moines, Iowa … 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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“Fear of the Dread Black Hand”: Murder of Domenico Barretto 1921

Murder Victim Domenico Barretto 25-year-old Laborer 1895-1921 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Black Hand Vendetta Murder Scene and Date 1519 Jackson Avenue Des Moines, Iowa Polk County March 27, 1921 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written January 2011 On the night … 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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“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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