Dale Redman (Courtesy Des Moines Register)
UPDATE: Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers Offers Reward
March 5, 2015 — Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers has offered a $1,000 reward for information in Dale Redman’s death.
Anyone with information is asked to call the La Porte City Police Department at 319-342-2236 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477). Tips may be left at WWW.CVCRIMESTOP.COM.
Tips may also be sent with TipSoft or by texting the word CEDAR plus the information to CRIMES (274637). Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out at any time. Text HELP for more information.
Dale Redman, the 57-year-old owner-operator of the La Porte City Dairy, was shot at his dairy sometime Tuesday night, March 5, 1968. Officials said the unidentified suspect shot the respected businessman eight times in the head at close range — two shots to Redman’s face and six to the back of his head — with a .22 caliber handgun.
La Porte City in Black Hawk CountyAlthough Redman’s billfold was missing, [then] La Porte City Police Chief Robert Webber said a motive in the case had not been established.
“Nothing new has come up since the first 30 days after the murder, and we’re not sure if robbery was the motive,” he is quoted as saying in a Cedar Rapids Gazette article dated June 27, 1968.
Redman’s wife, Ruth, 55, discovered her husband’s body shortly after midnight after he failed to return home from the dairy that evening and had gone to check on him.
Redman recently had purchased the city’s former firehouse — just four blocks from the couple’s home — where he planned to house refrigeration equipment.
Ruth Redman found her husband’s station wagon parked outside the Chestnut Street business, and though the building was locked, looked through a window and saw her husband lying inside on the floor near an ice cream machine.
Mrs. Redman drove home to phone police and get another set of keys to the building. She and Chief Webber returned to the building at approximately 12:30 a.m.
Pathologist Gilbert Clark estimated time of death as somewhere between 7:30 and 8 p.m. early Tuesday evening.
Courtesy photo Waterloo Daily CourierThe Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation assisted the La Porte City Police Department and the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office with the investigation, which included inquiries into a burglary at Redman’s place of business just 10 days before his murder. Based on footprints found in the snow, officials said two burglars were responsible for having entered the business, battering open the safe with a hammer and stealing 50 dollars.
In reference to the night of Redman’s homicide, investigators said they believed he was shot shortly after entering the building, though no shell casings were recovered at the scene.
When former Black Hawk County Sheriff Michael Kubik retired in December 2008, he said he still thought about two cases that went unsolved: that of Dale Redman and Angela Buck. Buck’s body was discovered in a ditch near a creek on North Pilot Grove Road in Black Hawk County on August 11, 1995. The 37-year-old mother of four was described as a woman with a big heart who fell upon hard times and in with the wrong crowd.
Kubik said investigators hadn’t given up on bringing Redman’s and Buck’s perpetrators to justice.
On March 19, 2013, both Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson and La Porte City Police Chief Larry Feaker confirmed with Iowa Cold Cases that Dale Redman’s murder remains an open investigation.
Perry “Dale” Redman was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on September 4, 1910, the son of John and Emely Redman.
On September 2, 1934, he married Ruth Barker in Des Moines.
Courtesy photo Mary E., findagrave.comMr. Redman was a graduate of Ft. Dodge Junior College and Iowa State College in Ames. He owned and operated the La Porte City Dairy, was an Elder of the First United Presbyterian Church and a member of the Lions Club. He was a well respected member of his community, having served as a city councilman and a school board member.
Funeral services were held at the First United Presbyterian Church in La Porte City on Friday, March 8, 1968, with Pastor Ronald McMenamin officiating.
He was survived by his wife, Ruth; five children: Nancy, of Grundy Center, Iowa; Susan, of Elkader, Iowa; John, of Long Beach, Calif., Andrew, of Dubuque, Iowa, and Robert, of Frankfurt, Germany. He also was survived by two grandchildren, Mark Dale and Beth Ann, and a brother and two sisters: Earl Redman, Otho, Iowa; Mrs. Tom Brennan, Fort Dodge; and Mrs. Ralph Stevens, Vista, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Paul.
Pallbearers included Rich Mahood, Bob Pennell, Max Thompson, Bill Wagner, Larry Mether and Harold Mask, with interment at West View Cemetery in La Porte City.
Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers has offered a $1,000 reward for information in Dale Redman’s death.
Anyone with information is asked to call the La Porte City Police Department at 319-342-2236 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477). Tips may be left at WWW.CVCRIMESTOP.COM.
Tips may also be sent with TipSoft or by texting the word CEDAR plus the information to CRIMES (274637). Message and data rates may apply. Text STOP to opt out at any time. Text HELP for more information.
I grew up in La Porte City during that time. The one rumor that NO one would denied? Was that it was ??. With this being said God took very good care of this person. He died a horrible death from Cancer. ?? died many years ago, no loss to La Porte City.
Kat, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s office had reason to believe it was a drifter not a resident of the community that committed the crime. This drifter left town right after the murder but was never charged as there wasn’t enough evidence.
I would like to know why the Sheriff’s office had reason to believe it was a drifter. 2 shots to the face and 6 back of the head seems like some real personal hatred / revenge.
Someone knows something! So please someone come forward. For the family and friends.
Come on, someone! Come forward!!!!
Just read this horrible crime.also just joined the site,Im Michael D Rogers,and my bio father was also murdered in 1959,cold case,Melvin J Gallagher.Hope you find closure to your story.
I’m sorry for your loss!