Gone Cold: Exploring Iowa’s Unsolved Murders

On August 23, 2015, in , by Jody Ewing

About Gone Cold   Gone Cold: Exploring Iowa’s Unsolved Murders is a collaborative partnership with the Iowa Newspaper Association and Iowa news organizations to revisit some of the most brutal and mystifying homicides in state history. The weekly series will feature a number of the state’s 438 unsolved murders, with articles published simultaneously across the state in […]

Chris Axiotis

On June 1, 2015, in , by Jody Ewing

Christopher George Axiotis Undetermined Christopher George “Chris” Axiotis 16 YOA Q Pond Park Osceola, Iowa Clarke County November 16, 1999   Case Summary by Jody Ewing   In November 1999, Christopher “Chris” Axiotis didn’t really have a place to call home. The 16-year-old Osceola youth’s incarcerated father had been in prison most of the teen’s […]

Jorge Gutierrez

On February 24, 2011, in , by Jody Ewing

Jorge L. “George” [or “Louie”] Gutierrez, Sr. Homicide Jorge “Louie” Gutierrez, Sr. 47 YOA 3400 block of South Concorde St. Davenport, IA Scott County October 19, 2004     Jorge L. “George” [or “Louie”] Gutierrez, Sr., of East Moline, Ill., was found wrapped in a sleeping bag in the bed of his maroon 1983 Chevrolet […]

William Freimuth

On February 4, 2011, in , by Jody Ewing

Webster County in Iowa   Fort Dodge in Webster County William Henry Freimuth Homicide William Henry Freimuth 71 YOA Fawkes Standard Service Station Highway 20 Fort Dodge, Iowa Webster County DCI Case # 61-00355 February 16, 1961   William H. Freimuth, a 71-year-old Fort Dodge service station attendant, was shot in the back of the […]

Elgin Strait

On February 3, 2011, in , by Jody Ewing

Elgin Hobert Strait (Courtesy Ancestry.com) Elgin Hobert Strait Homicide Elgin H. Strait 80 YOA 1302 S. Hampshire Ave. Mason City, Iowa Cerro Gordo County Case # 77-00254 March 18, 1977   Case Summary compiled by Jody Ewing On March 18, 1977, Elgin Hobert Strait, an 80-year-old widower who lived alone, was found shot to death […]

Dillon Luna

On January 30, 2011, in , by Jody Ewing

Cerro Gordo County in Iowa   Mason City in Cerro Gordo County Dillon James Luna Homicide Dillon James Luna 15 days old 1429 N. Federal Ave. Mason City, IA Cerro Gordo County April 30, 1992   Case summary compiled by Jody Ewing   Dillon Luna, the 15-day-old son of Joseph and Christine Luna, was found […]

Gerald Best

On December 30, 2010, in , by Jody Ewing

Gerald E. Best Homicide Gerald E. Best 50 YOA 4 N. Madison Ave. Mason City, IA Cerro Gordo County December 30, 1999   Gerald Best was found stabbed to death on Dec. 30, 1999, in his apartment at 4 N. Madison Ave. in Mason City, Iowa. Medical Examiner David Sloan said the 50-year-old’s throat had […]

Rhonda Knutson

On December 15, 2010, in , by Jody Ewing

Rhonda Anette Knutson Homicide Rhonda Anette Knutson 22 YOA Phillips 66 Convenience Store U.S. Highway 63 Williamstown / New Hampton, IA Chickasaw County (Jurisdiction) DCI Case Number: 92-07040 September 7, 1992   Case Summary compiled by Jody Ewing   Early on Monday, September 7, 1992, Rhonda Anette Knutson was murdered while working the 9 p.m. […]

Andrew Hatges

On December 15, 2010, in , by Jody Ewing

Courtesy photo Joanna Hatzis Andrew “Andy” Hatges Andrew “Andy” Hatges Homicide Andrew Hatges 75 YOA 108 Virginia Ave. SE Mason City, IA Cerro Gordo County March 8, 1968     Case Summary compiled by Jody Ewing   Andrew “Andy” Hatges, 75, owner of the former West Vu Market located at 2601 Fourth St. S.W. in […]