Category Archives: Unsolved Iowa Murder

What the Medium Saw: Murder of John Pierson 1904

Murder Victim (Louis) John Pierson 52-year-old Dairyman/Milkman 1851-1904 Cause of Death: Undetermined Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Mississippi River Burlington, Iowa Des Moines County Last Seen: March 11, 1904 Body Found: August 20, 1904 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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Under the Willows: Murder of John Doe 1904

Murder Victim John Doe 25-to 28-year-old Male Occupation Unknown Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Juncture of Milwaukee Road and Rock Island Tracks Perry, Iowa Dallas County August 2, 1904 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written September … Continue reading

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Pointblank: Unavenged Murder of James Alfrey 1866

Murder Victim James W. B. Alfrey 34-year-old Attorney Civil War Veteran 1831-1866 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Avoiding Arrest Murder Scene and Date Near Pleasanton, Iowa (formerly Pleasant Plain) Hamilton Township Decatur County May 16, 1866 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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Blood in the Barn: Suspicious Death of John L. Rogers 1915

Murder Victim John L. Rogers 31-year-old Laborer 1884-1915 Cause of Death: Slashed Throat Motive: Unknown Death Scene and Date Rogers Family Barn Afton Township Afton, Iowa Union County August 3, 1915 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written 2011 On Tuesday, August … Continue reading

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The Big Swede: Murder of Carl Axel Deer 1925

Murder Victim Carl Axel Deer a.k.a. “Carl Johnson” a.k.a. “The Big Swede” 64-year-old Coal Mine Watchman 1861-1925 Cause of Death: Struck With Axe Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Tent Home at Thistle Mine #4 Cincinnati, Iowa Appanoose County June … Continue reading

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The Cooler: Suspicious Death of David T. Todd 1887

Victim David T. Todd 47-year-old Butter & Egg Commission Dealer Civil War Veteran 1839-1887 Cause of Death: Chloroform Motive: Unknown Death Scene and Date E.S. Todd & Company 115 Walnut Street Des Moines, Iowa Polk County February 12, 1887 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ … Continue reading

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Drinking Bout: Suspicious Death of John F. Brennan 1898

Victim John F. Brennan 35-year-old Ice Harvester, Farmhand Eagle Center Resident 1862-1898 Apparent Cause of Death: Beaten Motive: Drinking Party Gone Wrong Death Scene and Date Sweeney Home Dysart, Iowa Tama County January 30, 1898 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written … Continue reading

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“That Old —“: Murder of John Rohrer 1893

Murder Victim John William Rohrer 58 year-old Chief Engineer Sioux City Water Works 1835-1893 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date West 4th Street Bridge Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County October 3, 1893 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers … Continue reading

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Boxcar Hanging: Murder of Leopold Glatzer 1895

Murder Victim Leopold Glatzer Resident of Holstein, Iowa Age and Occupation Unknown ?-1895 Cause of Death: Strangulation Motive Robbery Murder Scene and Date Rail Yards Sioux City, Iowa Woodbury County December 19, 1895 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written July 2014 … Continue reading

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The Battered Corpse: Murder of John Doe 1858

Murder Victim John Doe 1858 Age and Occupation Unknown ?-1858 Cause of Death: Unknown Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date West of the Cedar River Cedar Township Sac County, Iowa Autumn of 1858 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written July 2014 … Continue reading

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