Polk County in Iowa
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Des Moines in Polk CountyDes Moines in Polk County

Donald Eugene Graspy, Jr.

Homicide

Donald Eugene Graspy, Jr.
46 YOA
1104 Fremont St.
Des Moines, IA
Polk County
Case # 2003-27457
July 17, 2003

 
Donald Eugene Graspy, Jr., 46, was found dead in the garage of a vacant house at 1104 Fremont St. in Des Moines just past noon on Thursday, July 17, 2003.

According to a Des Moines Register article dated July 18, 2003, Graspy, who allegedly was homeless, was dead when paramedics arrived.

Police said another homeless man, known as Jeff, who had been sleeping at the garage with Graspy, told Graspy’s niece, Jennifer Robbe of 1102 E. 12th St., that there was something wrong with her uncle.

Graspy’s sister, Penny Moneyhun, 41, also of the East 12th Street address, told the Register Graspy visited her home between 3 and 5 p.m. Wednesday and said he’d been beaten in a park. Moneyhun said her brother’s only visible injury was a blackened left eye.

“He was walking and coherent,” she told the Register.

Police said Graspy was lying face down on the garage’s floor with dried blood on his face when paramedics arrived, although his body was still warm to the touch.

An autopsy report showed Graspy had died of a seizure after having been in a fight.

Schizophrenic, Homeless, and Denied Social Security

Her brother had been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic while in prison during the late ’80s, Moneyhun told the Register in a story published July 19, 2003. 

He’d been in and out of custody for various offenses most of his adult life and “hung around the wrong people,” she said.

Graspy was married and had three daughters, but alcoholism forced him away from his family. 

Nancy Withers, who helps people with disabilities find financial help, said Graspy’s request for Social Security benefits was recently denied because of an outstanding felony warrant in California.

“He said: ‘Just forget it. I’ll live on the streets,’ “Withers said. “That’s the last I heard from him.”

Graspy’s death is currently under investigation by the Des Moines Police Department.

About Donald Graspy, Jr.

Donald Eugene Graspy, Jr., was born January 11, 1957. He died July 17, 2003.

Memorial services for Graspy were held on Sunday, October 5, 2003.

Information Needed

Anyone with information regarding Don Graspy’s unsolved murder is asked to contact the Des Moines Police Department Detective Bureau at (515) 283-4864.

Sources:
  • Des Moines Police Department, correspondence to Iowa Cold Cases, July 10, 2009
  • United States Social Security Death Index (via familysearch.org)
  • “D.M. homicides from 2000 officially closed,” The Des Moines Register, April 11, 2005
  • “Cause of 10th homicide unclear,” by Tom Alex, The Des Moines Register, Dec. 4, 2003, Page B.2
  • “Obituaries: Donald Graspy, Jr.,” The Des Moines Register, October 3, 2003
  • “Homeless man died of seizure,” by Carlos Rodriguez, The Des Moines Register, July 19, 2003, Page B.1
  • “Homeless D.M. man found dead,” by Carlos Rodriguez, The Des Moines Register, July 18, 2003, Page B.7
  • Donald Eugene “Don” Graspy, Jr. (1957 – 2003) Find a Grave Memorial

 

2 Responses to Donald Graspy

  1. Patrick Kerrigan says:

    Again another case with no details. The guy died, and we have to wonder how he died, that his death was classified as a homicide. I guess it too hard to provide some details. Who knows it might generate some leads. I like that his fellow homeless guy told Graspy’s niece that there was something wrong with him.

    That more then the police have told us. Maybe, if they provided more details it might jog someone’s memory. Nah, we can’t that.

  2. I pray that someone comes forward, prayers to his family and friends.

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