July is one of the busiest months at Iowa Cold Cases. Foul play and suspicious events — which steadily grow in numbers from a low during the deep cold of February — peak in the first two weeks of a month that begins with extended Independence Day celebrations.

The holiday creates conditions and opportunities just right for crime.

Nearly every Iowa city or hamlet hosts a 4th of July parade or picnic with a carnival and fireworks. Add to that class and family reunions, and even the smallest towns see inflated populations. Drifters and transients come in with traveling midways and food booths; but in the crush of crowds, strangers don’t arouse suspicion.

The festive atmosphere pushes regular schedules aside, alters behavior patterns, and lowers caution.

Hot, muggy weather provokes physical and emotional stress, anxiety, and aggression.

Many activities are scheduled long after night falls, and folks drift off afterwards into the potentially dangerous darkness towards their homes or cars.

Alcohol, consumed all day and long after the fireworks end, lowers inhibitions — of both victims and predators — and emboldens risk-taking and aggressive behavior.

Although many unsolved homicides cluster around this time, this weekend we remember Iowans who have gone missing during the 4th of July holiday.

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Thousands gather each year to watch giant explosions of color coordinated to music at the Dubuque Jaycees and Radio Dubuque Fireworks Display along the Mississippi River. Afterwards, the restaurants and bars of downtown Dubuque fill with celebrants.

Crystal Arensdorf, 20, disappeared from Dubuque July 4, 2001.

That’s where 20-year-old Crystal Ann Arensdorf and her friends were on the hot, humid night of Tuesday, July 3, 2001 — in Knicker’s Saloon at 2186 Central Avenue. Even though she was a minor, Crystal drank alcohol there.

Knicker's Saloon, where Crystal Arensdorf was last seen on July 4, 2001

The 5-feet-6, 115-pound blonde wore blue-tinted soft contacts over her brown eyes that night. She was dressed in a white polo shirt, tan shorts, and sandals and wore an opal pendant on a gold chain, an opal ring, and a toe ring.

Crystal chatted with brothers Steven and David Peacock; and, after her friends left, she tried to find a ride to East Dubuque, Illinois, on the other side of the Mississippi. She discussed sharing a cab with bartender Robert R. Mootz after the bar closed, but that never materialized.

Crystal vanished after last being seen at Knicker’s Saloon around 2:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 4.

She has been declared an involuntarily missing and “endangered” person.

The Peacock brothers were polygraphed and their car seized and searched, but charges against them were not filed. Bartender Robert Mootz was also questioned. He was convicted of serving alcohol to a minor but not charged with Crystal’s disappearance. In October of 2001, Crystal’s boyfriend, Tim Gerlieb, was cleared of suspicion.

After following up on more than 550 leads, Dubuque Police are stymied. The Arensdorf family is offering a $2,500 reward for details leading to Crystal’s whereabouts.

If you have any information concerning the disappearance of Crystal Ann Arensdorf, contact the Dubuque Police Department at 319-589-4410 or the Iowa DPS Missing Person Information Clearinghouse.

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Waterloo Jaycees Fireworks Festival on the Cedar River

The free Independence Day Jaycees Fireworks Festival annually draws nearly 30,000 people into downtown Waterloo for an air show, music, and beer gardens. The view along the Cedar River is spectacular as fireworks explode from the 6th Street Bridge.

The celebration is held the first Saturday in July, which in 2004 was July 3. Temperatures hit 85, the sun went in and out of the clouds, and humidity was high. A little rain fell in the evening but had dissipated by fireworks time. The festivities continued into Sunday, July 4 and the early hours of Monday.

L.C. Matlock was last seen July 5, 2004 in Waterloo.

That’s the day 37-year-old Waterloo resident L.C. Matlock disappeared. He was last seen near the Mullen Avenue Bridge wearing a white Denver Broncos Terrell Owens jersey with blue jeans and black Nike tennis shoes.

When Matlock failed to show up at his Tyson meat plant job, his employers contacted his family, who did not know where he was. He was reported missing to Waterloo Police on Monday, July 19, two full weeks after he disappeared.

Matlock, who lived alone, has not contacted family members; and his bank account has been inactive.

Police have no evidence of foul play in Matlock’s disappearance but consider him physically endangered because he needs medication for a health problem.

Matlock is African-American, stands 6-feet-2, and weighs 210. He has black hair and brown eyes.

If you have information on the whereabouts of L.C. Matlock, contact the Waterloo Police at 319-291-4339 or the Iowa DPS Missing Person Information Clearinghouse.

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Michael James Delaney, 49, disappeared from Davenport on July 3, 2008.

Forty-nine-year-old Davenport resident Michael James Delaney was reported missing on Thursday, July 3, 2008 after he lost contact with his teenage daughter Jennifer, with whom he lived.

On that day, the annual “Red, White, and Boom” celebration took place along the Davenport and Rock Island riverfronts. Clowns, obstacle courses, art work, and music provided family entertainment; and the day ended with fireworks on the Mississippi synchronized to patriotic music.

Shorty before he disappeared, Michael Delaney purchased a recent-model, white, extended-cab Chevrolet Silverado Z71 4-wheel drive pick-up, which also has not been seen since July 3, 2008. There is no VIN information available for the truck because the seller is unknown.

Michael Delaney bought a truck similar to this one shortly before he disappeared. (photo courtesy of the Quad-City Times)

Mark Edward Handlon, a person of interest in Michael Delaney's disappearance

Authorities named 53-year-old Mark Edward Handlon as a “person of interest” in the disappearance. Handlon had arrest warrants at the time in the Quad City area, one for stealing money from a Moline restaurant. He also failed to return a white 2000 Chevrolet Silverado pickup to a Bettendorf car dealership in June 2008. Police also are looking for him.

Michael James Delaney is a white male who stands 5-foot-10, weighs 190 pounds, and has brown hair and blue eyes. A woman who dated him shortly before he disappeared described Delaney as a “wonderful, caring, and charming person” who was devoted to his daughter and still grieving the death of his wife.

Michael James Delaney

Delaney’s photo and information are posted on several missing person websites where readers are encouraged to provide feedback. This post — signed by “Michael James” — was left on helpfindthemissing.org at 3:35 p.m. on November 12th, 2009:

“i am dead. please do not worry about me. i am in a better place. i was killed by someone i did not know and i do not want anyone looking for me any longer. my body is by the susquehanna river where i often used to fish. please stop worrying, i am fine.”

If you have information on the whereabouts of Michael Delaney or his vehicle or about Mark Edward Handlon, contact the Davenport Police Department at 563-326-7979, Davenport Police Detective Shannon Hughes at 563-326-6147, Quad City Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500, or the Iowa DPS Missing Person Information Clearinghouse.

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Temperatures and humidity were both in the low 80s on Friday, July 3, 2009. This was the last time the Maquoketa Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored its annual Independence Day fireworks following dirt track races at the Jackson County Fairgrounds. Racing fans had long enjoyed the combination of the spectacles.

It was also the day that 40-year-old Noel E. Brown was reported missing to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office.

A photo of Noel Brown is not available, but he stands six-feet tall, weighs 155 pounds, and has brown hair and hazel eyes.

If you have any information about Noel Brown’s disappearance, contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office at 563-652-0662 or the Iowa DPS Missing Person Information Clearinghouse.

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There will always be a carefree and jubilant celebration of our nation’s independence and people will continue to mix alcohol with the fun of large crowds. July heat and humidity are a constant in Iowa.

But limiting alcohol intake, not becoming separated from companions, and being aware of surroundings and unusual behavior will help guard against foul play on the 4th of July.