The cases below include unsolved Iowa homicides from 1930 – 1939, and are listed in chronological order. If you know of a case not listed here or have information you’d like included with an existing page, please contact us with relevant details and we’ll respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.
Click on any image or link to view a victim’s case summary page and to access additional information and/or feature stories related to that case.
Please Note: Malvern resident Charles Shamblen was found dead outside Malvern’s city limits in December 1936 and his murder fell under the jurisdiction of the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. A former Iowa Cold Cases volunteer added Mr. Shamblen’s case to this website, but on February 19, 2013, Mills County Sheriff Eugene Goos confirmed Mr. Shamblen’s case was not an unsolved homicide. Therefore, Charles Shamblen’s case summary information has been removed from this site.
While we understand loss and the historical interest/significance of each and every Iowa homicide, our website’s primary goal has always been — and remains — focused on providing case summaries for unsolved Iowa murders.
We encourage thoughtful discussion here but ask that comments remain civilized and constructive … i.e. without personal attacks or name-calling. Be respectful of others and remember that victims' family members visit these pages, too. If you'd like to provide us with information regarding a suspect or have other sensitive details to relay, please email us directly. Thank you in advance.
Please Note: Malvern resident Charles Shamblen was found dead outside Malvern’s city limits in December 1936 and his murder fell under the jurisdiction of the Mills County Sheriff’s Office. A former Iowa Cold Cases volunteer added Mr. Shamblen’s case to this website, but on February 19, 2013, Mills County Sheriff Eugene Goos confirmed Mr. Shamblen’s case was not an unsolved homicide. Therefore, Charles Shamblen’s case summary information has been removed from this site.
While we understand loss and the historical interest/significance of each and every Iowa homicide, our website’s primary goal has always been — and remains — focused on providing case summaries for unsolved Iowa murders.
Jody Ewing
Iowa Cold Cases Administrator