Elgin Hobart Strait in his younger years.Elgin Hobart Strait
80 YOA
Mason City, Iowa
Cerro Gordo County
Case # 7700254
March 18, 1977
A Troubled Past?
In 1956, Elgin Strait was charged with lascivious acts with a child after being arrested for molesting several children. He pled guilty and paid a 500 dollar fine.
Proceedings were started against him for breaking the Sexual Psychopath Law, which was newly on the books in Iowa. This statute called for court-ordered committal to a state mental hospital of people not insane but who had “criminal propensities.” A Waterloo psychiatrist examined Strait and said he did not fit the legal definition of a criminal sexual psychopath.
In 1963, Strait was arrested for assault with intent to rape a Mason City woman, who fought him off. At that time, Cerro Gordo County Attorney David J. Butler recommended application of the law which would require Strait’s committal to a state hospital as a sex deviant. Strait was unable to raise the three thousand dollar bond.
Elgin Hobert Strait 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.
On May 5, 1917, he married Flossie J. Ridnour in Corning, and the couple had four children: Geneva Rose Strait LaGrange, Otho Strait, Colleen G. Strait, and Ruth Strait DeMaris. He also had several grandchildren.
The Strait family lived in Davenport before moving to Mason City.
Questions and information about the 1977 unsolved murder of Elgin Hobart Strait should be directed to the Mason City Police at 641-421-3636, or Iowa Cold Cases through the Contact form.
Was Lillian Eileen Demaris who disappeared in 1952 related to Ruth Strait DeMaris the daughter of Elgin Hobart Strait an obvious sex offender? Could his murder and Lilllian Eileen Demaris’ disappearance related?
Mark, So far, I have not been able to find a family link between Lillian DeMaris and Elgin Strait. I will keep trying.
Mark, I have determined that there is no known relationship between the two. Her maiden name was Huff.
I found this article while searching for family tree info – very interesting yet disturbing. (Cyrus Strait was a relative of mine)
S.K., thank you for your comment. Through searching your family tree, is it possible for you to answer Mark Alcorn’s comment above?
I don’t know of a connection but haven’t researched back in their family. I just saw this post about her parents when running a quick search. http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=116912 I guess Lillian’s husband could have been related to Ruth’s husband in some way, especially since they are all from the same general vicinity. Sorry I couldn’t help!
Thank you!