Tag Archives: Unsolved Wapello County Iowa murder

“Foully Treated”: Murder of Thomas McGary 1892

Murder Victim Thomas McGary ? – 1892 Cause of Death: Crushed Skull Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Milwaukee Railroad Sidetrack Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County August 17, 1892 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2017 Early on the morning of … Continue reading

Posted in Unsolved Iowa Murders: Historic Cases | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on “Foully Treated”: Murder of Thomas McGary 1892

Dead In Bed: Murder of Thomas Tolbert 1877

Murder Victim Thomas Tolbert 28-Year-Old Farmer 1849-1877 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Tolbert Farm Southwestern Road Two miles West of Eldon, Iowa Wapello County April 3, 1877 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written September 2014 In … Continue reading

Posted in Murders, Unsolved Iowa Murder | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

“No Necking Here”: Murder of Harry Overturf 1925

Murder Victim Stephen Harry Overturf, Jr. 32-year-old Farmer & Laborer Former Iowa National Guard Sgt. 1893-1925 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Robbery Murder Scene and Date Lane Leading to Overturf Home One Mile East of Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County July … Continue reading

Posted in Murders, Unsolved Iowa Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Murders, Unsolved Iowa Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Murders, Unsolved Iowa Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Murders, Unsolved Iowa Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Letters in Russian: Murder of Ben Mikovitch 1914

Murder Victim Ben Mikovitch Rock Island Railroad Laborer Russian Immigrant Age Unknown Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Near Shaul Cemetery Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County August 25, 1914 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written October 2010 On … Continue reading

Posted in Murders, Unsolved Iowa Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Wabash Trestle: Murder of James Chamberlain 1893

Murder Victim James Lewis Chamberlain 41-year-old Carpenter and Contractor 1852-1893 Cause of Death: Bludgeoned Motive: Unknown Murder Scene and Date Wabash Railroad Trestle Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County May 25, 1893 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2010 On Thursday, May … Continue reading

Posted in Murders, Unsolved Iowa Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Murder Behind the Meat Market: David P. Sutton 1893

Murder Victim David P. Sutton, Jr. 43-year-old Farmer 1850-1893 Cause of Death: Gunshot Motive: Drunken Quarrel Murder Scene and Date Barn, East Side of Town Ottumwa, Iowa Wapello County February 15, 1893 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ By Nancy Bowers Written August 2011 On … Continue reading

Posted in Murders, Unsolved Iowa Murder | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment