On March 18, 1977, Elgin Hobert Strait, 80, was found dead at his Mason City, Iowa, residence from a shotgun blast to the head.

Elgin Hobert Strait as a Teenager

Elgin Hobert Stait was born October 15, 1896 in Adams County, Iowa, one of 15 children of Josie Mary McCord and Peter Addison Strait. His brothers were Jacob M. Strait, Cyrus Daniel Strait, Blaine Lockheart Strait, Warren Lester Strait, Arnold A. Strait, Arlan Lewis Strait, Donald Robert Strait, and Byron Roosevelt Strait. His sisters were Winnie Mable Strait Westcoat, Celia Bell Strait Ritenour, Agnes Vernice Strait Hardee, Iva C. Strait Scott, Blanche Rose Strait, and Flossie Fern Strait Smith Jackson. Many of his siblings preceded him in death.

On May 5, 1917, he married Flossie J. Ridnour in Corning, Iowa, and the couple had four children: Geneva Rose Strait LaGrange, Otho Strait, Colleen Strait, and Ruth Strait DeMaris. He also had several grandchildren.

Although his death was examined by a Cerro Gordo County Grand Jury in July 1979, there were no suspects named and it was declared an “unsolved murder.” The case has never been solved.

If you believe you have any information concerning this case, click here to report it to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Cold Case Unit.