The Cases – Homicides (1910 – 1919)
BY ERA: Up through 1899 | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000 – present | Missing Persons
The cases below include unsolved Iowa homicides from 1910 – 1919, and are listed in chronological order. Click on any hyperlink to view a victim’s case summary page and to access additional information and/or feature stories related to that case.
Jesse C. Leasure
59 YOA
Iowa City, IA
Johnson County
May 11, 1910
Triple Homicide:
Earl, Mary, and
James Hardy
Van Cleve, IA
Marshall County
June 5, 1910
Unidentified
White Male
South Fork Township
Delaware County
September 1910
Frank Searaway
43 YOA
Rural Millersburg
Iowa County
May 8, 1911
Jared Ham
56 YOA
Iowa River
Iowa City, IA
Johnson County
September 24, 1911
Villisca Axe Murders
Josiah B. Moore
43 YOA
508 E. 2nd St.
Villisca, IA
Montgomery County
June 10, 1912
Villisca Axe Murders
Sarah Moore
39 YOA
508 E. 2nd St.
Villisca, IA
Montgomery County
June 10, 1912
Villisca Axe Murders
Herman Moore
11 YOA
508 E. 2nd St.
Villisca, IA
Montgomery County
June 10, 1912
Villisca Axe Murders
Katherine Moore
10 YOA
508 E. 2nd St.
Villisca, IA
Montgomery County
June 10, 1912
Villisca Axe Murders
Boyd Moore
7 YOA
508 E. 2nd St.
Villisca, IA
Montgomery County
June 10, 1912
Villisca Axe Murders
Paul Moore
5 YOA
508 E. 2nd St.
Villisca, IA
Montgomery County
June 10, 1912
Villisca Axe Murders
Lena Stillinger
12 YOA
508 E. 2nd St.
Villisca, IA
Montgomery County
June 10, 1912
Villisca Axe Murders
Ina Stillinger, 8
508 E. 2nd St.
Villisca, IA
June 10, 1912
John Schnellbacker
55 YOA
E. Third & E. Walnut
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
March 10, 1913
Ben Mikovitch
Near Shaul Cemetery
Ottumwa, IA
Wapello County
August 25, 1914
Richard Huggins
50 YOA
Conger Street
Waterloo, IA
Black Hawk County
October 3, 1914
Chester N. Van Horn
41 YOA
Rural Home
Clear Lake Township
Cerro Gordo County, IA
November 19, 1914
John L. Rogers
31 YOA
Afton, IA
Union County
August 3, 1915
Joseph Busemi
27 YOA
Old Paper Mill
Waterloo, IA
Black Hawk County
October 4, 1915
Otto H. Samp
37 YOA
618 E. 2nd St.
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
October 1, 1916
John Doe 1917
50 YOA
Union Depot
Sheldon, IA
O’Brien County
April 17, 1917
Frank Oliverio
25 YOA
SW Fifth St. Bridge
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
August 6, 1917
William E. Kniffin
52 YOA
Cedar Street
Cherokee, IA
Cherokee County
August 2, 1917
Alta Marie Braun
12 YOA
Alley off Cedar Street
Le Mars, IA
Plymouth County
August 20, 1917
George Mattern
22 YOA
Des Moines Police Officer
Shot August 8, 1917
Died April 12, 1918
Dominic Sposeto
40 YOA
S.E. Seventh & Hartford
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
July 22, 1919
Carlisle Hunter
30 YOA
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
November 21, 1919
BY ERA: Up through 1899 | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000 – present | Missing Persons
What about this cold case of the Moore family murders? Katie Stilfer in 1903. What about her murder? This is terrible that no one has solved any of these cases. Who would do such a horrible thing to these people; why? And Donna Sue Davis; such a sweet, pretty little girl.
Patty, we appreciate your comment and share your concern that there are so many unsolved murders and that there are so many questions to ask. The Case Summary for Kate Slifer should be added within the next few weeks.