Michael Carr's graduation photo, courtesy Janelle Turner (Michael's sister).
Michael Edward Carr
19 YOA
Hwy 9, East bound side of road
Estherville, IA
Emmet County
December 26, 1975
At approximately 10 p.m. on Friday, the day after Christmas 1975, Michael Edward Carr was struck by a vehicle on the west edge of Estherville, Iowa, while walking home along Highway 9 on the road’s east-bound side.
Carr, 19, had spent the evening with a friend at the “Filling Station” bar in Estherville.
A local couple found Carr alongside the road, his arms folded across his chest like a body in a coffin, and with his head resting on the curb. The Emmet County sheriff said Carr had been positioned there, leading officials to believe that whoever hit Carr most likely knew him.
Carr’s body sustained numerous bruises in the hit-and-run; he had hit the vehicle’s bumper, the windshield and the top of the car. A maroon vehicle may have been involved.
Carr was transported to Rochester, Minnesota, where he died one week later on Friday, January 2, 1976.
Following his death, Michael Carr’s family received two anonymous letters, which they handed over to police. The family knew one letter had come from a girl Michael may have dated; she’d stated in the letter how nice he was and how sorry she was about what had happened to him.
The family described the other letter’s contents as “strange.”
In addition, Father Al Grendler of Estherville’s Catholic Church received a $500 donation to go to the Carr family, though the donor wished to remain anonymous and Grendler would not reveal the person’s name. He did tell the family it was not “guilt money.”
Police spoke with the priest about the donation, but Grendler would not disclose the donor’s name to them, either.
At the time of his death, Carr was employed with the catalogue merchandiser “Ardan’s” in Des Moines.
One good thing did come from his death, a family member said. One of Michael’s kidneys was donated to a man who had been on dialysis for some time.
Michael Edward Carr was born October 22, 1956. A native of Des Moines, he had moved to Estherville with his family two years prior to his death. Services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday, January 5, 1976, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Estherville, and he was buried at St. Patrick’s Cemetery.
Survivors included his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Carr, five sisters and his grandmother.
Sources:
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Thanks for doing this! We hope that one day, we will be able to put an end to years of uncertainty.
Janelle Carr
I was so surprised to find out there was a COLD CASE department here in the State of Iowa. I Hope and pray that this case as the others could some day be solved, so that we can put this whole thing to rest. Just reading this brings things back and seem fresh in memory. It seems that there are so many unanswered questions…then and still now. Thank you for all the work you are doing!
Llinda Carr
Linda, the Iowa DCI Cold Case Unit, headed by Agent Michael Motsinger and Agent Michael Kircher, are doing a great job. However, at present their funding is in question. Fingers crossed that they can keep going to help victims and families. Check out this link for more information: http://globegazette.com/news/article_d99154ce-9fa9-11e0-a3e3-001cc4c002e0.html
Nancy,
I was just wondering the funding for this year and next for the “Cold Case Unit”. It seems for a state of our size there are far too many of them.
Thanks so much Nancy!
Mary.
Mary, I agree that there are so many unsolved murders and missing persons in Iowa that the state should have a Cold Case Unit. Unfortunately, those deciding how to appropriate state funds don’t agree and the Unit was shut down last fall. Your brother Michael and all the others deserve more than that. Jody Ewing and I are working hard to provide a place where the stories of victims and their families can be told. We won’t let them be forgotten. Thanks so much!