Polk County in Iowa

Des Moines in Polk County

Ross R. McConnell

Homicide

Ross R. McConnell
47 YOA
1604 Tichenor St.
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
Case # 71-29236
June 26, 1971

Case summary by Jody Ewing

Early Saturday morning, June 26, 1971, Ross R. McConnell, 47, awoke at 1:30 a.m. in his Des Moines home and discovered he was on fire. He ran to a neighbor’s house and help was summoned.

McConnell was taken to Broadlawns Polk County Hospital with second-degree burns over 60 percent of his body. He died later that day.

Police and fire investigators both said the odor of gasoline was present at McConnell’s home, and that there were unusual burned patched in McConnell’s yard. The case — cited as arson — expanded to include homicide after McConnell died.

Officials said witnesses provided descriptions of two automobiles seen in the area shortly before the fire, but no one was ever held accountable for the crime.

Services for McConnell were held Saturday, July 10, at the Dahlstrom Funeral Home with interment in Laurel Hill Cemetery.

Sources:

• Des Moines Police Department
• “D.M. Man Burned Severely in Fire,” Des Moines Register, June 27, 1971.
• “Funeral Services,” Des Moines Register, July 10, 1971.

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