Woodbury County in Iowa

Correctionville in Woodbury County

Leo Joseph Smith

Homicide

Leo Joseph Smith
56 YOA
Correctionville, IA
Woodbury County
Case # 69-00525
April 10, 1969

Case summary by Nancy Bowers

Early Thursday, April 10, 1969, Iowa Highway Patrol officers found 56-year-old Leo Joseph Smith’s body at a rest area on Highway 20 thirty miles east of Sioux City, Iowa, in Woodbury County. His throat was cut.

In an industrial area in northeast Sioux City later that day, two girls discovered an unidentified dead man under a truck. Because that man’s throat, too, was cut, authorities believed the two murders were connected.

On April 11, a transient 35-year-old Pittsburgh steel worker was arrested for the murder of the unidentified man. No one was ever charged with killing Leo Joseph Smith, however.

Smith would have turned 57 on April 30, 1969. He was the son of Emma C. Lincoln and Thomas P. Smith of Wilton, Iowa. His siblings were Ramona M., Jean M., Thomas G., and Donald E. Smith.

He was a Tech 5 in the 749 Military Police Battalion during WWII.

Smith’s funeral was held April 14, 1969 at the Gill Memorial Funeral Home in Wilton, Iowa, with Father John Kennedy conducting the service.

 Courtesy photo Steve and Debbie

Leo Joseph Smith was buried with military honors in the Oakdale Cemetery at Wilton.

Afterwards, American Legion Post 585 performed military graveside rites before the burial in Oakdale Cemetery.

Leo Joseph Smith was survived by his mother and siblings.

Questions and Information about the unsolved 1969 murder of Leo Joseph Smith should be directed to the Woodbury County Sheriff’s Office or to Iowa Cold Cases through the Contact form.

Sources:

• “2nd Body Found at Sioux City,” Estherville Daily News, April 11, 1969.
• “Card of Thanks,” Muscatine Journal, April 30, 1969.
• “Ex-Wilton man slaying victim,” Muscatine Journal, December 30, 1969.
• “Hold suspect in connection with 2 murders,” Oelwein Daily Register, April 11, 1969.
• “In Memorial,” Muscatine Journal, December 30, 1969.
• Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
• “Leo. J. Smith,” Muscatine Journal, April 14, 1969.

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