George Keller (Courtesy photo Keller family)
George Raymond Keller, a 61-year-old World War II veteran, was found dead in his rural Clarke County, Iowa home in the early morning hours on Tuesday, September 29, 1981.
According to the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), Keller, who lived alone, had converted his garage into a temporary home while he was having a house that was destroyed by fire two years earlier rebuilt.
Clarke County in Iowa
A Cedar Rapids Gazette article published Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1981, said the fire had been tagged an arson but officials never made any arrests in the case.
An autopsy performed Sept. 29 at a Des Moines hospital showed Keller died from more than one gunshot wound to the head.
DCI agents and Clarke County sheriff’s officials said Keller was found in a pool of blood. The Gazette also reported:
Keller’s sister, Lucy Kent, and brother-in-law, who became suspicious when Keller failed to show up for work at an Osceola gas station Monday night, found him dead at about 1 a.m. Tuesday, officials said.
Authorities said Keller was a chicken farmer and was known as “Chicken George.” He lived alone and did not have a telephone, officials said.
Bob Wetzler, Keller’s employer of more than a year, had notified Ms. Kent of Keller’s failure to report to work, the Gazette said. Mr. and Mrs. Kent and Wetzler went to Keller’s garage apartment, located about 12 miles northeast of Woodburn, and found him lying on the floor just inside the door of his home.
“He had one hand up in the air like he was lunging or something,” Wetzler is quoted as saying in the Gazette’s Sept. 30 story.
When the Iowa DCI established a Cold Case Unit in 2009, George Keller’s murder was one of approximately 150 cases listed on the Cold Case Unit’s new website as those the DCI hoped to solve using latest advancements in DNA technology.
Although federal grant funding for the DCI Cold Case Unit was exhausted in December 2011, the DCI continues to assign agents to investigate cold cases as new leads develop or as technological advances allow for additional forensic testing of original evidence.
The DCI remains committed to resolving Iowa’s cold cases and will continue to work diligently with local law enforcement partners to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice for the victims and their families.
An August 20, 2014 message sent to Iowa Cold Cases asked for the public’s help in solving Keller’s death, stating:
The family would like everyone to know we have not forgotten George and we would very much appreciate any help opening his case and getting as much publicity about his case as possible.
It’s been too long and there are still people who know something — we just have to drag it out of them to receive justice for George and let him finally rest in peace.
He has one sibling still living — he was never married nor did he have any children.
Courtesy photo Frank, findagrave.comGeorge Raymond Keller was born in Clarke County on March 18, 1920, to Oren Ray and Ina Elizabeth (Snyder) Keller.
He served in World War II as a Tech 4 with the US Army.
Keller was a lifelong bachelor, and though he had no children, he had a large extended family including three brothers and three sisters.
He was buried in the Bethel Chapel Cemetery in Liberty, Iowa, Clarke County.
If you have any information about George Keller’s unsolved murder, please contact the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at (515) 725-6010, email dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us, or contact the Clarke County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 342-2914.
Mike and Denny did some time but not much
Amanda, I like that his brother Dennis and a friend Michael Followill, were also involved in the robbery. But Jerry killed Mr. Horner. I guess stealing $5.25, was not enough. It sounds like something he might be connected to the murder of George Keller. I wonder if they ever followed up and interviewed him.
The other question is what happened to his brother Dennis and Mr. Followill. Did they ever do anytime for their involvement in the crime, which led to the death of Mr. Horner.
Mike died last year and denny lives in kville area…mike was my uncle and other 2 cousins…i have a strong belief Jerry did this one too
They did some time but not alot
Jerry was interviewed somewhat recently and of course, he denies having anything to do with George’s murder.
Mr Kerrigan I’m the one who turned States evidence on them for murdering Mr. Horner. I want you to know that they are responsible for more murders .when I got Mike to tell me what happened I was so horrified learning about Mr. Horner death that when he told me that there were others all I could say over and over was how could you guys do that.
Harold Horner, George Keller and Lloyd Patrick
I can promise you they did chicken George’s murder but I can’t prove it also Jerry made sure they each did one so they wouldn’t tell on each other I heard them fighting about it one night.
Alice,
Would you be willing to speak to me privately through email?
acornett@sio.midco.net
Angie
I believe it was Jerry Broughton who committed this crime but cant be proven
He is in Fort Madison Prison for the murder of Harold Horner from Russell, Ia.
George was a friend of my dad’s for many years and we used to visit often. As young children, we always knew him as Chicken George. Our thoughts go out to his family and other friends.