Vinton in Benton County, IA

Benton County in Iowa

Cold Cases in Vinton, Iowa

Henry Stephens: 1810-1876

Homicide
Henry Stephens
66 YOA
RR Bridge over Mud Creek
One mile E. of Vinton, IA
Benton County
December 26, 1877

While walking home from Vinton, where he sold some horses, 66-year-old Henry Stephens was robbed and pushed off the railroad bridge over Mud Creek one mile east of Vinton.

Myrtle Cook

Homicide
Myrtle Cook
51 YOA
Vinton, IA
Benton County
September 7, 1925

Myrtle Cook, a Klanswoman and president of the Benton County Woman’s Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.), was shot and killed on September 7, 1925, after publicizing the names of suspected bootleggers.

Homicide
James Charles Huff, Jr.
26 YOA
Vinton, IA
Benton County
Case Number: 7700102
January 1, 1977

On his 26th birthday, November 24, 1976, James Charles Huff, Jr. began a new job as a hired hand working for Lindsey Edgar “Ed” Huelsenbeck northeast of Shellsburg, Iowa. On January 1, 1977, after having suffered a series of “injuries” over several days — including a head wound, skull fracture, bruises and lacerations on his chest, the sides of his arms, legs, and knees — Huff was found unconscious in the Huelsenbeck barn. He was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital in Cedar Rapids and then transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals in Iowa City, where he died four days later on January 5.

John Albert Rose

Homicide
John Albert Rose
35 YOA
Vinton, IA
Benton County
Case Number: 7802418
April 21, 1978

On April 21, 1978, the body of Chicago resident John Albert Rose was found four miles north of Vinton and three miles west of Urbana. He was shot in the head.

Homicide
Unidentified Skull
Vinton, IA (Benton County)
Case Number: 9612995
July 28, 1997

On July 28, 1997, a Benton County Deputy submitted a teletype to all agencies nationwide regarding a skull that had been located in Plum Grove Cemetery outside of Vinton, Iowa.

If you have any information about any of these crimes, please contact the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at (515) 725-6010 or e-mail coldcaseunit@dps.state.ia.us.