Mary Ann Green

Mary Ann Green (courtesy Susan Smith)

Mary Ann Green

* Homicide

Mary Ann Green
59 YOA
Spring Creek Mobile Park
Highway 23 South
Oskaloosa, IA
Mahaska County (Jurisdiction)
September 27, 1987

 

On September 27, 1987, Mary Ann Green was found stabbed to death in her Oskaloosa, Iowa, mobile home, located in the Spring Creek Mobile Park on Highway 23 South in Mahaska County. Mary Ann’s murder fell under the jurisdiction of the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office, whose solid investigative skills quickly led to the arrest of Green’s stepson, Richard Lee Green, and his acquaintance, David Kelly Yant.

Mahaska County in Iowa
Mahaska County in Iowa
 
Oskaloosa in Mahaska CountyOskaloosa in Mahaska County

Richard Green and David Yant were charged with first-degree murder in Mary Ann’s death. Their first trial in Mahaska County resulted in a hung jury. The second trial, held in Polk County, ended with a hopelessly deadlocked jury. In the third and final trial, a Washington County District Court jury acquitted the two men on March 2, 1989.

~ ~ ~

* Those familiar with the criminal justice system understand the law’s complexities and that an acquittal does not necessarily mean an unknown killer remains at large. In any murder trial, all known evidence may not be made available to jurors for specific legal reasons, and jurors also reach conclusions based on lawyering strategies.

Iowa Cold Cases contacted both the Oskaloosa Police Department and the Mahaska County Sheriff’s Office to inquire as to the status of Mary Ann Green’s homicide, and received prompt responses from both law enforcement agencies. According to Mahaska County Sheriff Paul R. DeGeest, the Mary Green murder is by “lawful terms” unsolved, though there is no investigation being done and there will be no further investigation.

Mary Ann Green's gravestone (courtesy photo)

Mary Ann Green’s gravestone (courtesy photo)

Mary Ann Green was buried in Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa, Mahaska County.

Sources:

 

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25 Responses to Mary Ann Green

  1. Angela F Johnston says:
    May 15, 2023 at 1:12 am

    I’m sadden by this…….I’m the step granddaughter of this. I came looking for answers……..not slander.

    Reply
  2. Patrick Kerrigan says:
    November 6, 2018 at 8:28 pm

    It should be reviewed by newer invetigators. I am sure that they might come up with something. It wonder however if any of the evidence still exists. With new forensics they might find something different.

    I notice there is no mention of the certain circumstances of her murder. Also, was anything of value taken from the residence. Tina, how many times was she stabbed. I Wonder why they determined that the stepson and his buddy, did the dirty deed.

    Also, who stood, to inherit her money, and that mansion of a mobile home. I find it interesting that they moved the trials to two other counties. Maybe, the authorities should have stood down after the hung and maybe dead locked juries, and reviewed things, and looked at their case.

    Reply
  3. Jd says:
    June 2, 2018 at 12:42 pm

    Any new updates on this case?

    Reply
  4. Jan says:
    January 5, 2018 at 11:52 am

    Oskaloosa and not feeling any guilt I have heard

    Reply
    • Jean Maynard says:
      January 6, 2018 at 4:44 pm

      what my boyfriend went through during that time ; I’m sure is nothing compared to why her family went through,.They didn’t convict my boyfriend for a reason. Please dont be so quick to judge…..

      Reply
  5. Jan says:
    June 11, 2017 at 12:53 pm

    Murder for hire. Don’t you wonder what the jury was thinking to let these scam men off. One of these men know the truth as I am sure a few others

    Reply
  6. 62-98 officer says:
    October 14, 2016 at 8:28 pm

    I looked up both subjects on Iowa Dept Of Corrections website and neither one is incarcerated. How sad. Basically they got off scott free then? Hopefully karma caught up to them.

    Reply
  7. Sandy R says:
    September 2, 2015 at 1:17 pm

    I wonder what name she was trying to indicate with the “N”? What a horrible death! And so soon after her husband passed away. Lori..I agree with your sentiments..I hope the killer/s rot in hell!

    Reply
  8. tina says:
    August 10, 2015 at 2:26 pm

    In 1987, Mary Ann Green resided in a home at Oskaloosa’s Spring Creek Mobile Park on Highway 23 South.
    The 59-year-old widow did not live lavishly, so few people other than friends and family knew she was a wealthy woman.

    For many years, her deceased husband Herman Green owned and operated a successful back-hoe business in Oskaloosa; when Herman died in June of 1987, Mary Ann inherited a large estate.

    Mary Ann and Herman had no children of their own; but they raised her nephew Jackie as a son, and Herman had five sons from his first marriage.
    On September 27, 1987, Mary Ann Green was found in her home stabbed to death in what looked like a personal and up-close attack.

    When she tried to defend herself against the knife blows, several of her fingers were slashed nearly off.And in her last moments of life, Mary Ann managed to get to a closet door mirror. With her own blood she wrote the letter “N.”

    Reply
  9. Lori says:
    June 25, 2013 at 4:23 pm

    They may have gotten away with murder in this life but a whole lot of Justice awaits them on the other side. May you two never feel a moment of peace, may your dreams include nightmares and may you both rot in hell.

    Reply

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