David Morris
67 YOA
Morris Foods
2550 Maury Street
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
Case # 1973-12106
February 22, 1973
About 8:30 on Thursday evening, February 22, 1973, Celia Morris became worried when her husband Dave had not come home from Morris Foods, the grocery he owned at 2550 Maury Street in Des Moines and which usually closed at 6:00 p.m.
Courtesy photo Google Street ViewShe phoned a neighborhood man, who agreed to check out the store. When he saw the grocery’s front door ajar, he phoned Des Moines Police.
Arriving officers found David “Dave” Morris, 67, lying behind the meat counter shot in the back of the head; there were two empty .32 caliber cartridges nearby. The shooting took place just minutes before the body was found.
Morris’s wallet was missing and an unknown amount of money was stolen from the cash register.
Neighborhood resident Robert Braather of 2554 Maury Street said he was in the store in the late afternoon. He explained to the Des Moines Register that Morris had a daily schedule:
“He always had the same routine. He locked the doors at 6 p.m., counted the money, then left, locking the door behind him and turning on the burglar alarm. The only times he opened that door after he locked it was if he knew who was out there and knew it was safe to let the person in.”
Braather thought it odd that Morris was shot over two hours after he usually closed the store. He and others living nearby wondered if the killer hid in the store until Morris closed up.
Neighbors to the grocery were shocked and saddened by the robbery-homicide. Wilbur Millhouse of 2559 Maury Street told the Des Moines Register:
“It was just a small neighborhood business. I knew Dave and can’t imagine why anyone would want to shoot him. He was so well-liked down here.
He was a good man and treated us all just fine. The kids also liked him. I’ve lived here since 1955 and, when I was little, he used to give me candy.”
Braather echoed those sentiments, saying:
“We’re all pretty upset about it. He was such a kind man. I once went in and wrote him out a check for some beef, and he held it for 1½ months until I could cover it. That’s the kind of man he was.”
David Morris was born January 8, 1905 in Odessa, Russia. He and his wife Celia lived at 2115 46th Street in Des Moines. Survivors were Celia and his three children.
Questions and comments about the unsolved 1973 murder of David Morris should be directed to the Des Moines Police Department at 515-283-4864 or Iowa Cold Cases through the Contact form.
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