Palo Alto County in Iowa

Cold Cases in Palo Alto, IA

 

Double Homicide:
Debbie Rose Laubenthal, 18 YOA, of Bancroft, IA
Raymond Morris Henkins, 30 YOA, of Emmetsburg, IA
Killed near Depew, IA (Palo Alto County)
October 23, 1976


Debbie LaubenthalRaymond HenkinsOn Saturday morning, Oct. 23, 1976, Debbie Rose Laubenthal, 18, of rural Bancroft and Raymond Morris Henkins, 30, Emmetsburg, were found shot to death on either side of Palo Alto County roadway B-19 near the intersection of N-60 two miles north of Depew. Both victims had been shot with a 45-caliber weapon and both suffered multiple wounds.

Nile and Norma Jean Smith of Emmetsburg, both 23, were charged with murder in the slaying, but were acquitted by a Dickinson County jury in July 1977. The case remains open today.


Page last updated: January 29, 2010