Villisca in Montgomery County

Montgomery County in Iowa

Cold Cases in Villisca, Iowa

Mass Murders
Villisca Axe Murders
Josiah B. “Joe” Moore, 43
Sarah (Montgomery) Moore, 39
Herman Moore, 11
Katherine Moore, 10
Boyd Moore, 7
Paul Moore, 5
Lena Gertrude Stillinger, 12
Ina May Stillinger, 8
508 E. 2nd St., Villisca, IA (Montgomery County)
June 10, 1912

Sarah Moore

Josiah B. “Joe” Moore

Sometime during the night of Sunday, June 9, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in Villisca, Iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12.

The killings became known as the “Villisca Axe Murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in Iowa history.

The murders spawned nearly ten years of investigations, repeated grand jury hearings, a spectacular slander suit and murder trial, and numerous minor litigations and trials. It made and broke political careers.

Those killed included Josiah B. (Joe) Moore and his wife Sarah, their four children, Herman, Katherine, Boyd and Paul, and Lena and Ina Stillinger, who were spending the night with the Moore children.

Herman Moore

Katherine Moore

Boyd Moore

Paul Moore

Lena Stillinger

Ina Stillinger