Scott County in Iowa

Davenport in Scott County

Double Homicide

Mark E. Green, 18 months old
John R. Green, 3 years old

1512 Belle Avenue
Davenport, IA
Scott County
Case Number: 1984-10311
November 24, 1984

Case summary by Jody Ewing

John Green, 3, and his 18-month-old brother, Mark, died after two explosions occurred at their Davenport, Iowa, home on Saturday, November 24, 1984.

The boys were in an upstairs bedroom while their mother and aunt were in a downstairs bedroom when two explosions suddenly occurred about 12:30 p.m. near the front door at 1512 Belle Avenue. The children’s mother and aunt screamed for the children to get out of the home, and although a six-year-old daughter in the home’s kitchen was able to exit through the back door, the boys’ mother was unable to get upstairs to rescue her two sons.

A police officer attempted to rescue the boys but was overcome by heat and smoke and pulled out by rescuers.

John Green Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene and Mark passed away the following day.

If you have any information about this crime please contact the Davenport Police Department at (563) 326-7979.

Sources:

• “Cold Case Murders 1935-2009,” Quad-Cities Online, March 27, 2010
• “Mark and John Green, Jr., Obituary,” The Quad-City Times, Nov. 28, 1984
• “Boy joins brother as casualty of fire,” The Quad-City times, Nov. 26, 1984
• “Rescue try fails; fire kills boy,” The Quad-City Times, Nov. 25, 1984
• Unsolvedmurdersqcarea.org