Welcome

Aaron Brilbeck reports on the unsolved murder of Phil Terrell, a 42-year-old father of three who disappeared Christmas Eve in 1993, and whose body was found two months later in a Warren County Creek bed.

Welcome to the Iowa Cold Cases website. Here you'll find lists of unsolved homicides, missing persons cases where foul play is suspected or the victim assumed deceased, photos and videos, and cases cross-referenced by city and county.

Case summaries and updates are added daily, and our blog regularly highlights cold case anniversaries and cases in the news. Comments are always welcome.

Thank you for taking time to visit.

Phil Terrell

COLD CASE THURSDAYS

This Week: Phil Terrell

A Father of Three Disappears Christmas Eve

Phil Terrel was a successful businessman and devoted father of three.

On Christmas Eve 1993, his girlfriend said he went for a walk and never returned. Two months later, a horseback rider stumbled upon Terrell's remains in a Warren County creek bed.

Terrell's two youngest children, son Parker and daughter Amy Terrell Cowan, sat down with WHO-TV Channel 13's Aaron Brilbeck to talk about the toll their father's unsolved murder has taken on the famiy.

Courtesy photo WHO-TV Parker Terrell and Amy Terrell Cowan talk about their father's unsolved murder in an August 26 interview with WHO-TV's Aaron Brilbeck.

Parker, the youngest son who still lived at home when his father went missing, didn't mince words about how he feels nearly 17 years since his father's death.

"I lost a big part of myself when I lost him and I don't know if I ever learned to properly become a man or be an adult or anything from losing him," he told Brilbeck. "It hurts, and I'm mad."

• Watch the Video
• Read More about Phil Terrell

Is there a case you'd like WHO-TV to feature? E-mail us with the details.

Other Videos in the Series

We Remember: Cold Case Anniversaries

Upcoming cold case anniversaries are listed below and also include — where noted — birthdays the victims would have celebrated. If it has been some time since your local media provided an update on a case in your community, politely encourage them to check on its status and then communicate any recent developments to their viewers or readership. With Iowa's Cold Case Unit now well underway, there's no better time to spark renewed interest and, quite possibly, help generate fresh leads.

Upcoming Anniversaries

Jimmy Bremmers 8 YOA 2701 Cottage Ave. Sioux City, IA August 31, 1954	Kimberly S. Doss Age at Report: 16 Missing from Davenport Missing Since: September 1, 1982	Viola Findley Age at Report: 29 Missing From Waterloo NamUS MP # 2914 September 1, 1983	Earl Thelander 80 YOA Onawa, IA Monona County Crime Date: 8/28/07 DOD: 9/01/07
Hazel Reimann 87 YOA 131 S.E. Watrous Ave. Des Moines, IA Polk County September 2, 2008	William Talbert, Jr. 18 YOA 1400 21st Des Moines, IA Case # 1995-40323 September 3, 1995	Jane Wakefield Age at Report: 26 Missing from Iowa City Missing Since: September 5, 1975	Johnny Gosch Age at Report: 12 YOA Des Moines Case # 8204613 September 5, 1982
Jamedia Hines, 21 1700 Oakland Des Moines, IA Case # 1987-37149 September 5, 1987	Lisa Peak, 20 YOA Waverly, IA Bremer County Found in rural ditch September 7, 1976	Rhonda Knutson Williamstown, IA Chickasaw County Case # 9207040 September 7, 1992	Donald Hebert 3115 McKinley Des Moines, IA Case # 1980-38313 September 8, 1980
Brian Schappert, 22 Kum & Go store Cedar Rapids, IA Linn County Case # 9208179 September 8, 1989	William Thomas 1213 Jefferson Des Moines, IA Case # 1979-35742 September 9, 1979	Linn A. Snyder Age at Report: 44 Missing from: Pottawattamie County September 9, 2006	Norma Jean Horgen 18 YOA Mason City, IA Cerro Gordo County Case # 6601036 September 10, 1966
Pennye Watson 18 YOA 1054 21st Des Moines, IA Case # 1983-32787 September 10, 1983	Ernest Lilly 3940 McDonald Des Moines, IA Case # 1973-46114 September 11, 1973	Double Homicide Rose Burkert, 22 Case # 8006274 Amana Holiday Inn Iowa County Sept. 12, 1980	Double Homicide Roger Atkison, 32, Case # 8006274 Amana Holiday Inn Iowa County Sept. 12, 1980
Denise Fraley 30 YOA Cedar Rapids Missing Since: September 12, 1982	Double Homicide Celestina Payano and Emanuel Burgs II 1831 Mondamin Des Moines, IA Case # 2002-36527 September 12, 2002	Rose Grandanette 33 YOA Windsor Heights Des Moines, IA September 14, 1958	Emma S. Lewis, 80 Waukee, IA Dallas County Case # 7600804 September 14, 1976
Jose Raul Camacho 1820 E. Armypost Rd. Des Moines, IA Case # 1996-39840 September 14, 1996	Wilbur Brown 47 YOA 603 West 5th St. Sioux City, IA Sept. 14, 1997	Morris Wright 1426 10th Des Moines, IA Case # 1986-41137 September 15, 1986	Sandra Jo Pittman 17 YOA Highway 30 Rest Area Clarence, IA September 17, 1980

Missing Photos

We're making every effort to include a headshot photo with each victim's profile, but many are still needed. If you have a photo you'd be willing to share, please e-mail to Jody. We continue to add pages and case summaries each day and appreciate any and all help in making this site as inclusive as possible.