Whitten, IA Area Cold Cases

Name

Aaron Marr

Age

37

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Aaron marr, 37, died saturday night, sept. 22, 2007, after suffering several stab wounds to his back and neck in his ames, iowa, apartment. At approximately 9:53 p.M., ames police received a call for an ambulance assist regarding a man with a neck laceration. Officers found marr after arriving at the 210 s. Second st. Home.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Adriel Ward

Age

33

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On saturday, feb. 11, 2017, adriel ward, 33, was shot at about 9:37 p.M. Before he crashed into a utility pole in the 1700 block of delaware avenue on des moines’ northeast side. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died the next day.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Alex Bullerman

Age

18

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Waterloo, iowa, was shot in the college hill commercial district adjacent to the university of northern iowa campus in cedar falls early on saturday, november 11, 2017.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Alice Alstine

Age

28

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On a cold friday night, march 26, 1976, alice van alstine — a 28-year-old former “minutemen” sympathizer who’d recently abandoned the right-wing paramilitary organization — tucked her children into bed at their 29th st. Des moines apartment and then vanished into thin air, never to be seen or heard from again. Her purse and money were found in the apartment, and despite the near-freezing 37º outside temperature, she’d also disappeared without her coat or shoes.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Alonzo Quinn

Age

27

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On friday, january 3, 2003, waterloo police discovered the bodies of alonzo nakia quinn, 27, and rhiannon marie olsen, 22, inside quinn’s home at 1001 hartman avenue in waterloo. Olsen was nine months pregnant with quinn’s child

Agency

Iowa

Name

Rhiannon Olsen

Age

22

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On friday, january 3, 2003, waterloo police discovered the bodies of alonzo nakia quinn, 27, and rhiannon marie olsen, 22, inside quinn’s home at 1001 hartman avenue in waterloo. Olsen was nine months pregnant with quinn’s child

Agency

Iowa

Name

Amos Jellison

Age

74

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Amos jellison, a 74-year-old former railroad employee, was bludgeoned to death in his blairstown, iowa, mobile home either late sunday night, aug. 2, 1981 or in the early morning hours of monday, aug. 3, 1981, during an alleged robbery.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Andrew Hatges

Age

75

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Andrew “andy” hatges, 75, owner of the former west vu market located at 2601 fourth st. S.W. In mason city, was found dead in his home on friday, march 8, 1968, after he didn’t open the store that morning.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Anna Miller

Age

57

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Fifty-seven-year-old anna t. Miller — a secretary at the pittsburgh-des moines steel company (pdm) — was discovered deceased in her des moines home on monday, july 10, 1978, after failing to report to work.Miller’s brother, merle miller, discovered his sister’s body in the living room of her home at 3531 54th street after following up on a phone call from his sister’s co-worker.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Annamarie Rittman

Age

46

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Annamarie rittman, a 46-year-old employee at the lowe’s store in altoona, iowa, was struck down by a pickup that swerved into her on december 27, 2005. The mother of three was walking through the store’s parking lot just before 5:30 a.M. When video cameras captured on tape a red four-door ford pickup truck running her down and hitting her from behind

Agency

Iowa

Name

Anthony Williams

Age

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Anthony williams was killed in des moines, iowa, on january 8, 1998. If you have any information about this unsolved murder please contact the des moines police department at (515) 283-4864.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Arnold Sansgaard

Age

58

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

On saturday, july 21, 1984, authorities found 58-year-old arnold sansgaard’s unclothed body on the living room floor of his rural story city home in northeast boone county. Sansgaard had been stabbed multiple times and had been dead for about a week. His mother, delia, who lived with sansgaard, was away visiting her daughter in nashua at the time of the murder.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Ashley Okland

Age

27

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Ashley okland, a 27-year-old iowa realty agent, was shot twice and killed shortly before 2 p.M. On friday, april 8, 2011, while working inside a west des moines model townhouse. A rottlund homes employee heard a commotion inside the model townhouse at 558 stone creek court — part of the stone creek villas subdivision near 84th st. And e.P. True parkway in des moines developed by rottlund homes — and went to investigate. Inside, the worker discovered okland on the floor and called 911.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Barbara Brim

Age

53

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On wednesday afternoon, april 25, 2001, barbara kay brim, 53, was shot in her rural hamilton county, iowa home. Brim’s husband, robert “larry” brim, told officials he found his wife at the bottom of the basement stairs in their home near webster city after spending the afternoon moving farm equipment. He said his wife was fine when the two had shared lunch just hours earlier.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Barbara Perry

Age

61

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Barbara perry, 61, was struck in the head by a stray bullet at 3:23 p.M. On friday, sept. 2, 2016, while waiting for her 10-year-old granddaughter in the parking lot of the family dollar at 1251 university ave. In des moines.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Becky Lawless

Age

59

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Becky simpson lawless, 59, of waterloo, was apparently walking home from a tavern in the early morning hours on monday, april 9, 2012, when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver in the area of washington street and west mullan avenue.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Becky Palmer

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Becky palmer was killed in des moines, iowa, on november 16, 1990.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Beth Ricketts

Age

31

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Beth ann ricketts, a 31-year-old military veteran and mother of three young children, vanished from des moines, iowa, on monday, dec. 22, 1997, under suspicious circumstances.

Agency

Iowa

Name

William Pruin

Age

43

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

William thomas “billy” pruin, 43, was shot at his rural mason city, iowa, home on tuesday, april 4, 1995. Cerro gordo county in iowa cerro gordo county in iowa mason city in cerro gordo countymason city in cerro gordo county two days before his death, he’d proposed to his girlfriend, gretchen tusler. Officials initially ruled his death a suicide, but later changed the status to undetermined.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brandy Ratliff Jr

Age

31

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Brandy ratliff, jr. Was killed in a drive-by shooting while sitting on a couch inside his cousin’s home at 1608 e. Capitol ave. In des moines on sunday, october 19, 2008. Jesus garcia, 35, and his nephew, alfredo garcia, 13, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder shortly after the shooting, but police later determined witnesses lied to them and charges were dropped.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Celestina Payano

Age

22

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Her 22-year-old daughter, celestina payano, had been found sept. 12, 2002, in a home on des moines’ north side along with emanuel burgs jr. Ii, 21, of des moines, both bound and shot to death.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Bryan Howser

Age

33

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Bryan ashley howser, 33, was reported missing to the des moines police department on april 4, 2001. He was last seen wearing black jeans and a black hawkeye sweatshirt. Polk county in iowa polk county in iowa des moines in polk countydes moines in polk county howser married anne marie mathes, 18, in december 1998, and both were later charged with conspiracy to commit theft. Howser served time in prison, but vanished after his release.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Bryan Pence

Age

21

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Bryan eugene pence, a 21-year-old sinclair service station employee, was shot in the back around 10 p.M. On thursday, may 29, 1986, during a store robbery at 3725 frederick m. Hubbell ave. In des moines. Des moines police detective charles soderquist discovered pence’s body after driving by the service station and seeing, through the glass, three individuals walking toward the gas station’s restroom inside the facility.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Martavious Robinson

Age

20

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Rash died that same evening. Robinson died the following tuesday, september 24, at allen hospital. By march, waterloo police announced they were mounting simultaneous, coordinated investigations to crack two unsolved murder cases in the previous six months that left four people and a near-term unborn child dead, in addition to a march 6, 2003 shooting that left two men critically injured.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Calvin Rash

Age

29

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Rash died that same evening. Robinson died the following tuesday, september 24, at allen hospital. By march, waterloo police announced they were mounting simultaneous, coordinated investigations to crack two unsolved murder cases in the previous six months that left four people and a near-term unborn child dead, in addition to a march 6, 2003 shooting that left two men critically injured.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Camille Njus

Age

20

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On wednesday, october 18th — 74 days after her disappearance — a city employee discovered her partially clad body buried beneath some brush and logs near the des moines river in a deserted area known as the flint access.Due to decomposition, an autopsy failed to determine cause of death but officials said they believed foul play was involved. The body was identified through dental records.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cartha Pearson

Age

26

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Cartha “jack” pearson, 26, of 714 south view drive in waterloo, iowa, was found dead in his car thursday, july 29, 1993, from bullet wounds to his stomach and chest, and cedar valley crime stoppers is asking witnesses in the decades-old unsolved murder to come forward with any known information about the case. A waterloo cedar falls courier article dated august 16, 1993, said pearson was shot to death in an alley between the 100 block of sumner and cottage streets after he allegedly cheated some drug dealers by not paying them or only partially paying them for drugs.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cecil DuBois

Age

73

Cause of Death

Injury

Info

Cecil dubois, 73, was robbed and then beaten in his 1322 23rd street home in des moines, iowa, on november 15, 1974. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. Polk county medical examiner dr. R.C. Wooters ruled dubois’s cause of death as heart and liver failed resulting from injuries sustained during the beating.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Emanuel Burgs Jr II

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Her 22-year-old daughter, celestina payano, had been found sept. 12, 2002, in a home on des moines’ north side along with emanuel burgs jr. Ii, 21, of des moines, both bound and shot to death.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Charles Plucar

Age

74

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Plucar’s estimated date of death was sometime either late june 21 or early june 22, 1977. According to interviews with neighbors, plucar was a good man who didn’t bother anybody. Benton county sheriff kenneth popenhagen and an iowa bureau of criminal investigation agent worked the case.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Charles Sanders

Age

67

Cause of Death

Injury

Info

On saturday, april 17, 1954, two des moines youth fishing along a river bank spotted a body floating in the water and notified police. Thomas spagnola, 14, of 924 second avenue, and harry piagentini, 15, of 4200 s.E. Sixteenth street, discovered the body caught in an obstruction near the des moines river’s west bank beneath the court avenue bridge. The body, clothed in long underwear, a t-shirt and socks, was taken to dunn’s funeral home where fingerprints were taken to establish the victim’s identity.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Christopher Stewart

Age

36

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Christopher stewart was last seen after 10:30 p.M. On august 17, 2003, outside his apartment in the vicinity of the 600 block of 18th street in des moines, iowa. He has never been heard from again. He has been described as a 5-foot-9 white male weighing about 185 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. His classification is listed as being physically endangered.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Colleen Wright

Age

53

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Colleen wright, 53, was reported missing to the des moines police department in des moines on july 21, 2011. She is described as a 5-foot-6 white female weighing about 200 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a flowered blouse, blue jean shorts and red flip flops. She has a tattoo on her left shoulder.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Connie Bodensteiner

Age

24

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On tuesday, august 8, 1995, connie jo choate bodensteiner was found locked in a basement storage bin at a south-side des moines apartment complex. An autopsy showed the 24-year-old had been strangled. A maintenance worker discovered bodensteiner’s body, which had a strap or belt around the young mother’s neck.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cordell Kirby

Age

46

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Cordell r. Kirby — also known as ameer-hassan mateen — was killed in des moines, iowa, on august 2, 1999. Kirby, while incarcerated at the iowa state penitentiary in december 1980, was a member of the islamic faith and one of seven appellees who filed a complaint pursuant to 42 u.S.C. § 1983, alleging numerous claims against officials of the penitentiary for violation of the inmates’ rights to exercise their religion. The inmates sought money damages and injunctive relief. The district court found “the plaintiffs have not been discriminated against because of their religious beliefs.” nevertheless, the court ordered various forms of equitable relief against the prison officials.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Robert Poffenberger

Age

30

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Robert “corey” poffenberger was shot and killed early friday morning october 24, 2003, in the driveway of his 2211 east 37th st. Home in des moines. The 30-year-old mediacom employee had been shot several times in the chest, and was found outside the open door of his vehicle, the car still idling. Poffenberger’s wallet was left untouched, and officials found nothing missing from his home.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cyrus Hicks

Age

24

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On thursday, march 3, 2011, cyrus james “c.J.” hicks, 24, became des moines’ first 2011 homicide when he was shot in the head and killed outside an apartment building near 29th street and boston avenue. Two 911 calls about a shooting prompted police to be dispatched just after midnight. Officers found hicks on a sidewalk between two buildings at the oakview terrace apartments on the city’s northwest side.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Da’Bryan Smith

Age

20

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Just hours after having thanksgiving dinner with his 1-year-old son, girlfriend, and grandmother, da’bryan smith, 20, of des moines, was struck by gunfire while hanging out with friends in a gas station parking lot. At about 6:50 p.M. On nov. 24, 2016, des moines police responded to git-n-go, 816 e. Euclid ave., where several gunshots had been fired at the group of people standing outside the convenience store, according to a des moines police news release. While investigating the scene, officers learned that smith had been struck by the gunfire and taken by his friends in a private vehicle to broadlawns medical center, where he later died. Sandra smith, of des moines, said she raised da’bryan smith as his adoptive grandmother. In a des moines register article dated nov. 25, 2016, she called him a hard worker, a good person, and a loving father to his 1-year-old son.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Keith Clayborne Ii

Age

20

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On wednesday, march 27, 1991, keith anthony clayborne ii, 20, and jerry f. Cooper, 23, were shot execution style at 3205 kingman blvd. #208 in des moines, iowa. The deaths were believed to be drug-related.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Daniel Andersen

Age

4

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Four-year-old daniel j. Andersen was reported missing to the black hawk county sheriff’s office in waterloo, iowa, on january 25, 1992. The toddler was last seen wearing blue snow-pants and a blue jacket near finchford, iowa, about five miles north of cedar falls. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a 3-foot tall white male with brown hair, brown eyes, and weighing about 50 pounds. According to a cedar rapids gazette article published january 27, 1992, the black hawk county sheriff’s department said the boy was visiting at a house on newell road with his father, david andersen.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dariusz Szczeponek

Age

25

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Dariusz “darek” szczeponek, a 25-year-old university of northern iowa student, was shot to death wednesday night, september 29, 1993, at annie’s launderette on 819 sycamore st. In waterloo, iowa, during an apparent robbery attempt. Szczeponek, a young polish immigrant who worked at the launderette to earn money for college, was shot about 7:47 p.M. By a gunman wearing a ski mask and pronounced dead a half-hour later at allen memorial hospital. Officials believe keith trenell taylor is likely responsible for szczeponek’s homicide; taylor currently is incarcerated at the michigan reformatory in ionia, mich.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Darleen Fitchett

Age

28

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Darleen may fitchett (first name oftentimes spelled darlene), a 28-year-old mother of three young children, was stabbed to death in her 608 east pleasant view drive home in des moines on tuesday night, january 19, 1960.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Darnell Lee

Age

26

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Darnell lee, 26, and jason a. Smith, 30, were killed in a shooting in the 1800 block of easton boulevard in des moines on saturday, june 17, 2017. At the time, police said the shooting, which occurred in the martin luther king jr. Park neighborhood, apparently stemmed from a fight at an after-hours gathering. No one has been arrested in the double homicide. The deaths marked the 17th and 18th homicides in des moines for 2017. More information on the shootings follows.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jason Smith

Age

30

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Darnell lee, 26, and jason a. Smith, 30, were killed in a shooting in the 1800 block of easton boulevard in des moines on saturday, june 17, 2017. At the time, police said the shooting, which occurred in the martin luther king jr. Park neighborhood, apparently stemmed from a fight at an after-hours gathering. No one has been arrested in the double homicide. The deaths marked the 17th and 18th homicides in des moines for 2017. More information on the shootings follows.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Darrell Lanier

Age

22

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

The 22-year-old lifelong waterloo resident was about three blocks from home when he was shot and collapsed. He lingered unconscious at unitypoint health-allen hospital for three days and underwent two surgeries before dying early friday from internal injuries associated with the bullet wounds, police said.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Darrell Lewis Sr

Age

39

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Darrell r. Lewis sr., 39, was found shot to death in des moines, iowa, around 12:40 a.M. On sunday morning, december 24, 1995. Police said lewis — who had a lengthy police record — was found between two parked cars in the 2100 block of carpenter avenue on the city’s northwest side. Lewis was found clutching two small bags of a substance, which police said proved to be crack cocaine. In a des moines register article dated christmas day 1995, lewis’ mother, rosa lee brown, said her son had been living at home with her and that she’d spoken to him around midnight, just 40 minutes before his body was found. He’d sounded lonely, she said.

Agency

Iowa

Name

David Marchan

Age

18

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

David marchan was reported missing to the des moines police department in des moines on january 1, 2001. He usually wears docker-type pants and button-down collared shirts. His left ear is pierced. He has tattoos on his chest (hands), and the words “en memoria de mi jefecito” and the word “dice.”

Agency

Iowa

Name

David Morris

Age

68

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On thursday evening, february 22, 1973, david “dave” morris, 68, was shot in the back of the head behind the meat counter at morris foods, the supermarket he owned at 2550 maury street in des moines. Two empty .32-caliber shell casings lay near his body.

Agency

Iowa

Name

David Shumpert

Age

27

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

David l. Shumpert, a 27-year-old us navy veteran and father of two young sons, was shot in the chest in the 400 block of e. Locust street in des moines shortly after 10 p.M. On thursday, december 2, 1999. Earlier that evening, shumpert — who resided at 1447 e. 19th st. In des moines — had borrowed a friend’s pontiac and been involved in a collision with a cadillac close to where the shooting later took place. Shumpert also had allegedly engaged in an argument with another man inside the hotspot nightclub, located at 430 e. Locust street, shortly before the shooting occurred.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Denelius Nesby

Age

55

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Denelius nesby, 55, was shot multiple times in a waterloo, iowa, parking lot on sunday, january 22, 2017. Officers were called to the 700 block of logan avenue for a report of gunfire around 5:05 a.M. Sunday, and found nesby on the ground near a car parked in the lot to the south of greer funeral home.

Agency

Iowa