Montgomery County in 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
Keara Coshow
Homicide
Keara Lee Coshow
Age: 3
Hilltop Motel
1303 Summit Rd.
Red Oak, Iowa
Montgomery County
July 12, 1979
Keara Lee Coshow, 3 years old, was burned alive July 12, 1979, in the laundry room of the Hilltop Motel in Red Oak, Iowa, to cover up injuries her stepmother allegedly inflicted upon her the previous day.
Homicide
Evelyn Resh
87 YOA
400 E. Coolbaugh St.
Red Oak, Iowa
Montgomery County
September 16, 1997
Evelyn Resh, 87, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997 after someone deliberately set fire to the Red Oak apartment house where she lived alone. Fire officials said the blaze had been set in two different locations within the structure, causing Resh’s death. Mrs. Resh lived on the third floor and died of smoke inhalation.
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