Mark Koster
Mark Edgar Koster
58 YOA
Weight: 140 lbs.
Height: 5’10″
Hair: Grey
Eyes: Blue
610 N. 5th St.
Sac City, Iowa
Sac County
Went Missing: July 4, 2009
Legally Declared Dead: October 10, 2011
Remains Found: November 5, 2012
Mark Koster’s remains, identified this week by law enforcement officials using dental records, will remain in the custody of the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ames. The Sac City Police Department say that the circumstances and location of Koster’s remains — found in the basement of his former home by the new home’s owner — are suspicious and his death remains under investigation.
Police say an unknown male had been staying with Koster for approximately three months up until the time of his disappearance. Anyone with information in regard to the identity of the man is asked to contact the Sac City Police Department.
Due to the condition of the remains autopsy results may take up to two months to become available.
Information in part from WHO TV 13 Des Moines, www.whotv.com
News, Weather and Sports for Sioux City, IA: KCAU-TV.com
Mark Koster was reported missing to the Sac City (IA) Police Department on July 4, 2009. He was last known to reside at 610 N. 5th Street in Sac City, and was last seen with a friend — identified only as “Tom” — who allegedly was from either Florida or Texas but had been living with Koster in the three months prior to Koster’s disappearance.
“Tom” was never seen again after Koster went missing.
Daniel Koster, the victim’s brother, discovered his brother was missing when the Sac City utility department contacted him about his brother’s unpaid utility bills.
A search warrant served on Koster’s home following his disappearance showed no signs of foul play but revealed all of Koster’s clothes still present in the home, along with all his personal possessions including a pipe and tobacco. Koster’s vehicle was also found in the garage at his residence.
Neither Koster’s bank account nor his debit card showed any activity after he went missing.
Despite extensive efforts to locate Koster — including searches and investigations by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office, the Sac City Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation — no evidence developed to indicate Koster was still alive.
In 2011, Daniel Koster petitioned the Iowa District Court for Sac County to have his brother declared dead from accidental or other violent means.
The Court summoned and empaneled a jury of six qualified persons to inquire into the facts surrounding Koster’s disappearance to see if reasonable grounds existed to have him legally declared dead.
The jury found clear and convincing evidence that Mark Edgar Koster suffered death by accidental or other violent means, and Koster was declared dead as of October 10, 2011.
On Monday, November 5, 2012, a new homeowner renovating Koster’s former Sac City home discovered human skeletal remains buried in the home’s basement. He immediately contacted Sac City Police.
Lesly Gehlsen of Carroll, Iowa, had purchased the residence in May 2012.
In a November 6 press release, Sac City Chief of Police John Thomsen said the items were being sent to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office for identification.
On Thursday, November 8, the Sac City Police Department announced the remains had positively been identified as those of Koster. The remains were identified using dental records, and will remain in the custody of the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ames.
The Sac City Police Department called the circumstances and location of Koster’s remains “suspicious,” and said the case is currently under investigation.
“(His death) is going to be investigated no matter what because of the suspicious nature from where the body was recovered,” Thomsen said in a Sioux City Journal article dated November 8, 2012. “The main thing will be to find the friend, who was reported living with him. His name’s Tom, and he’s either from Florida or Texas.”
No one had lived in the home since Koster’s disappearance.
Due to the condition of the remains, officials said autopsy results may take up to two months to become available.
The Journal located one of Koster’s sisters, who said the family was saddened but relieved to have some closure in the case.
“We hope he is resting in peace,” Jane Koster, of Des Moines, told the Journal.
The Sac City Police Department and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation are currently seeking any information about the male who’d been staying with Koster for approximately three months up until the time of Koster’s disappearance. Anyone with information regarding the man’s identity is asked to contact Sac City Police at (712) 662-7772.
Some search, if he was in the house all along. How sad.
Hello, I am a new member if Iowa Cold Cases. When it is determined who the victim is in the home we will provide that information. Please feel free to email our website with any information. Thank you so much.
http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/New-homeowners-find-human-remains-in-basement/-/9357080/17287828/-/13bdajl/-/index.html
Between Pipl and Peoplefinders, it shows that Mark lived in SacCity, IA: Ocoee, FL; Dallas, TX and Lewisville, TX (just outside of Dallas). One site also showed a possible name of “Mark C Oster” which could have simply been a typo or misprint, or may have nothing to do with him at all.