Marion County in Iowa
Donald John Murphy
39 YOA
Knoxville, Iowa
Marion County
July 20, 1984
On Friday, July 20, 1984, Donald Murphy was reported missing from a Knoxville hospital. In November hunters found his skeletal remains in northern Polk County just a few days prior to what would have been Murphy’s 40th birthday.
Knoxville in Marion County
Donald John Murphy was born November 9, 1944 at Knoxville, the son of James Francis and Catherine Bingaman Murphy. He spent most of his life in the Knoxville area. He graduated from Knoxville High School in the class of 1963 and later entered the Coast Guard.
He was preceded in death by his father and an infant brother and sister. He was survived by his mother Catherine of Knoxville; his brothers, James Murphy of Woods, Wisc., Gene Murphy of Lovington, N.M., and Gerald Michael Murphy of rural Knoxville; and his sisters, Mary Margaret Eddleman of Knoxville and Mrs. Clair Lois Rankin of Hobbs, N.M.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Murphy’s birthday, Nov. 9, 1984, with Rev. Philip Ryan officiating. Pallbearers were Bruno Avon, Jim Brees, Bob Momyer, Michael Beard, John Anderson and Charles Galeazzi. Interment was in St. Mary Cemetery at Weller, Iowa.
If you have any information about this unsolved crime please the Polk County Sheriff’s Department at (515) 286-3814 or e-mail polkcounty.sheriff@polkcountyiowa.gov.
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