Mount Auburn, IA Area Cold Cases

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

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

Anthony Posley

Age

22

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Anthony “fat boy” posley, 22, of 333 pioneer ave. Se in cedar rapids, iowa, was shot in the 1600 block of sixth avenue se about 2:27 a.M. On sunday, july 23, 2006. He was taken by ambulance to mercy medical center and pronounced dead a short time later. According to cedar rapids police lt. Kenneth washburn, who investigated the case, those who spoke to the police indicated that posley was shot in self-defense.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Aubrey Young

Age

35

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Aubrey young, 35, was shot to death near redmond park in cedar rapids at 2 a.M. On sunday, june 15, 2008. Investigators found his body, lying face down on the ground, between two parked cars in the 200 block of 16th street se. Young had been shot once in the head.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Barbara Elms

Age

50

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Barbara lee elms was reported missing to the cedar rapids police department on august 25, 1993. She was last seen heading toward first avenue east, wearing white shorts, a multicolored blouse, black hose, hi-top sneakers, and a walkman with earphones.

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

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

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

Charles Gearhart

Age

89

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Charles rufus gearhart, an 89-year-old rock island railroad retiree, was stabbed to death in his cedar rapids apartment on wednesday, may 13, 1970, the victim of an apparent robbery. Gearhart, the landlord of an apartment building located at 422 first street sw, was discovered the following day by tenants charles frondle and willie harvey, who’d come to gearhart’s apartment to complain they had no water or heat; the apartment building’s basement had flooded, extinguishing the furnace’s pilot light. According to a cedar rapids gazette article dated may 15, 1970, frondle and harvey said they’d gone to gearhart’s apartment at approximately 6:35 p.M. Gearhart was found between the kitchen and bedroom lying in a hallway. Cedar rapids police told the gazette the suspect had broken the apartment’s rear door in order to gain entrance. A search of gearhart’s apartment failed to turn up the murder weapon. Tenants told police the elderly gearhart often flashed large sums of cash, though police were unable to locate any money in gearhart’s apartment or in his clothing.

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

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

Danny Baker

Age

28

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Danny baker, a 28-year-old father of four, was shot in the back monday night, nov. 28, 1983, in the driveway of his brother-in-law’s southwest cedar rapids home after an argument with another guest over a boxing match they’d been watching on television. Police said baker and willie b. Barney, 40, were inside paul galbreath’s 617 18th ave. Sw residence with several others — including baker’s 9-year-old son donyeal — prior to the shooting. The men had been drinking while watching the boxing match, and when baker and barney began arguing, baker went out the front door sometime before 8 p.M. And barney followed.

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

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

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

Name

Denise Fraley

Age

30

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Denise fraley was last seen alive in cedar rapids, iowa, in the early morning hours on sunday, september 12, 1982. Denise and her husband, david fraley, had played in a band saturday night at a private cedar rapids party. Once the couple left the event, denise was never seen alive again and foul play is suspected in her disappearance. David fraley never reported his wife as missing. And, for more than a month, he deterred his wife’s family from filing any missing persons report.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dennis Chaffee

Age

33

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Dennis chaffee of cedar rapids, iowa, spent the weekend of july 16 – 17, 1983, at home with his 1-1/2-year-old twins — son adam and daughter maria — and on monday, july 18, was to return them to their mother, mary hernandez, who resided in marion, iowa. When monday arrived, chaffee didn’t answer his phone when hernandez called, nor did he show up for work at wilson foods in cedar rapids where he’d been employed for the past 15 years. Concerned, hernandez called chaffee’s parents, harlon and betty chaffee, also of cedar rapids.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dennis Clougherty

Age

23

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On monday, august 12, 1974, sometime between the hours of 10:30 p.M. And midnight, someone shot 23-year-old dennis clougherty five times in the chest and left his body along union road, south of first street in cedar falls, iowa. A passing motorist discovered the body early the following morning about 100 yards off u.S. Route 20 in black hawk county.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dennis Stastny

Age

30

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On tuesday, august 9, 1977, mary white of cedar rapids, iowa, filed a missing persons report with the cedar rapids police department regarding the disappearance of her son, dennis stastny, 30. Two days later, stastny’s body was pulled from the cedar river near downtown cedar rapids after two young fishermen, steve halsor, 16, and john braumann, 15, discovered the body in the west spillway near the f avenue bridge about 11 a.M. According to an autopsy report by linn county medical examiner dr. Percy harris, stastny — a navy veteran who worked part-time as a shoe salesman — died from a “stab wound to the heart.”

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dennis Washburn

Age

69

Cause of Death

Trauma

Info

Dennis dwaine washburn — a 69-year-old united states navy and vietnam war veteran who didn’t have a vehicle and walked with the assistance of a walker — was found unconscious with head injuries near longfellow elementary school in waterloo, iowa, on memorial day, may 26, 2014. Washburn sustained blunt force trauma injuries and a broken neck, and died from his injuries early thursday, june 5, 2014.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Diane Courbat

Age

34

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Diane courbat, 34, was shot in the head in the early morning hours on tuesday, august 3, 1993. Two waterloo police officers on routine patrol found courbat lying in the northwest parking lot of the cedar river exchange park about 2:30 a.M. Courbat, who resided at 538 montero drive, was described as a 5-foot-5 black female weighing about 130 pounds and dressed in a red tank top, cutoff blue jean shorts, red socks and black shoes. She died three days later at university of iowa hospitals in iowa city. Black hawk county in iowa black hawk county in iowa waterloo in black hawk countywaterloo in black hawk county courbat reportedly was breathing when officers found her, and underwent brain surgery that same day. She remained in critical condition at university hospitals until her death at 9:08 p.M. Friday.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Diane Martin

Age

48

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Diane martin, 48, was shot in her waterloo home around 9:45 p.M. On monday, sept. 10, 2018. She was later pronounced dead at unitypoint health-allen hospital. Police investigators returned to 84 ricker st. On tuesday, sept. 11, 2018, after a woman had been shot and killed at the home the night before. Jeff reinitz | jeff.Reinitz@wcfcourier.Com on september 12th, 2018 an autopsy was conducted by the iowa state medical examiner’s office and determined diane martin died as the result of a single gunshot wound, police announced in a press release. Police records show martin had reported gunfire at her home multiple times in the past few years, but no injuries were reported.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dominique Mosby

Age

22

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Twenty-two-year-old dominique mosby was shot in the head on friday, june 26, 2009 as he sat outside on an apartment deck playing dice for money with a group of men. According to witnesses, mosby and several other men were playing dice on the patio of cedarwood hills apartment number 105 in cedar rapids at 2030 glass rd. Ne when an unknown assailant walked up to mosby and shot him several times. The shooter then walked away. Police responded to shots fired at the complex at approximately 6:35 p.M., where they found mosby lying on the ground outside the ground floor apartment. Emergency medical technicians performed cpr on mosby before taking him to st. Luke’s hospital, where the victim died.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dorothy Rose

Age

43

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Dorothy j. Rose, 43, was found dead in her 206 12th st. Se cedar rapids, iowa apartment on tuesday night, november 28, 2006. The building’s landlord — who’d gone to check on rose — discovered her body and called police.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Erin Pospisil

Age

15

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Erin pospisil was reported missing to the cedar rapids police department on june 3, 2001. The [then] 15-year-old was last seen leaving her home with curtis padgett and hasn’t been seen since. According to padgett — a friend of erin’s older brother — he was leaving the pospisil home at the same time as erin and agreed to give her a ride to her friend brit’s home, where erin and brit planned to watch movies or go to the movie theater. Padgett later told officials that when they arrived at brit’s home in the 1500 block of second avenue se late sunday, june 3, 2001, that erin went up to the door and knocked but no one answered.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Frederick Coste

Age

47

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Frederick “fred” leonard coste, the 47-year-old manager of the family finance corporation in cedar rapids, iowa, was stabbed to death inside his loan interview cubicle on thursday morning, oct. 15, 1959. Two customers found coste — lying on his back in a pool of blood — shortly before noon at the 312-1/2 second ave. Se cedar rapids business.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Friedrich Widmann

Age

30

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Patrolman fred p. Widmann was shot and killed by burglars on wednesday, october 11, 1908, while walking his beat. Widmann was the first waterloo officer to die in the line of duty. Widman was 30 years old and had served with the waterloo police department for two years. No suspect was ever apprehended and his murder remains unsolved.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Fredrick Webber

Age

33

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Fredrick “dewayne” webber, a 33-year-old passenger in a sport utility vehicle, died after being struck by gunfire around 3:55 p.M. Friday, july 14, 2017, in waterloo, iowa. An autopsy was scheduled for july 17, 2017.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gladys Held

Age

83

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Gladys d. Held, an 83-year-old retired personal secretary, was beaten and strangled at a waterloo senior citizens home around 11 p.M. On wednesday, december 8, 1993. Held resided alone in a third-floor apartment at the walnut court retirement community complex at 315 walnut street. A senior home companion became concerned when held didn’t show up for an in-house worship service thursday, and went to held’s apartment to check on her at approximately 11 a.M.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gregory Walker Jr

Age

33

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Gregory kent walker jr., a 33-year-old father of four and lifelong waterloo resident, was shot during an attempted robbery in the early morning hours on saturday, may 19, 2018, at a waterloo home. Relatives said he was supposed to travel to des moines to referee a basketball game that day. Paramedics with waterloo fire rescue took him to unitypoint-allen hospital, where he later was pronounced dead.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jacob Biretz

Age

48

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jacob “jake” biretz, an 87-year-old retired mechanic, was found dead in his apartment at a waterloo retirement home on friday, december 10, 1993. The following day, waterloo police said they were investigating the death as a homicide. Biretz was found on his sofa, his arms crossed over his chest. He’d been suffocated with a pillow. According to his death certificate, it took several minutes for him to die

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jamar Magett

Age

19

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Jamar magett, 19, of chicago, ill., was shot in the forehead and chest while standing in the 1400 block of fifth avenue se in cedar rapids, iowa, on may 10, 1999. Paul gilbert, 18, of cedar rapids — the younger brother of cold case victim tyrone gilbert — was arrested and charged in magett’s murder. Des moines defense attorneys matthew boles and robert montgomery said no physical evidence linked gilbert to the crime. Cedar rapids pathologist dr. Peter stephens testified wednesday, sept. 22, 1999, that magett suffered two bullet wounds, each of which could have been fatal.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jay Grahlman

Age

38

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jay grahlman, 38, and his 6-year-old daughter, jaymie, died from injuries suffered in a late-night fire set at their cedar rapids home on saturday, april 5, 2003. Jaymie — whose autopsy report included a number of pathologic diagnoses — died sunday, april 6, after being removed from life support. Jay died the following wednesday, april 9, from complications due to burns he sustained in the fire.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jaymie Grahlman

Age

6

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jay grahlman, 38, and his 6-year-old daughter, jaymie, died from injuries suffered in a late-night fire set at their cedar rapids home on saturday, april 5, 2003. Jaymie — whose autopsy report included a number of pathologic diagnoses — died sunday, april 6, after being removed from life support. Jay died the following wednesday, april 9, from complications due to burns he sustained in the fire.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jeffery Zolliecoffer

Age

23

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On friday, september 15, 1989, a child playing by the cedar river told nearby adults he had found a mannequin or body in the river. When police were notified at 6:40 p.M. That day, they discovered the body of jeffery “jo jo” howard zolliecoffer about a half-mile north of waterloo’s business district.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Joshua Wellman

Age

35

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Joshua r. Wellman, a 35-year-old vinton native, was reported missing to the cedar rapids police department on monday, november 16, 2015. His mother, teresa walton, and sister, shawna hunziker, last saw him around 11 a.M. Thursday, november 12, 2015, when they dropped him off at the cedar rapids area substance abuse center

Agency

Iowa

Name

Justin Dollen

Age

27

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Justin montravious dollen, 27, was shot early sunday morning, aug. 30, 2015 outside the porsches theater of arts located at 1850 w. Airline highway in waterloo, iowa. Authorities said the shooting happened around 3:30 a.M. Sunday and that dollen sustained multiple gunshot wounds. He was transferred to iowa city from an area hospital and died a short time later from his injuries

Agency

Iowa

Name

L matlock

Age

37

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On july 5, 2004, josephine matlock watched her 37-year-old brother l.C. Matlock walk across the mullan avenue bridge in waterloo, iowa, and disappear into the distance. L.C. Was never seen nor heard from again.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Louis Chambers Jr

Age

32

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Louis h. Chambers jr., a 32-year-old waterloo man, was shot in the stomach in the 1400 block of 5th ave se in cedar rapids in the pre-dawn hours on monday, feb. 7, 1994. He died that afternoon at a local hospital of the single shot to his belly.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Lynn Schuller

Age

25

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

When keith schuller reported his wife lynn schuller missing in august 1972, police suspected murder from the very beginning. Linn county in iowa linn county in iowa cedar rapids in linn countycedar rapids in linn county more than four decades later, they still believe schuller is responsible for her death, but don’t ever expect to find her body. Why? The suspicions surrounding her disappearance sounded so much like that of local folklore that even police were reluctant to acknowledge keith schuller could have committed such an abhorrent act.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Marquavion Brown

Age

19

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Marquavion d. Brown, 19, was shot to death in waterloo, iowa, on saturday, nov. 23, 2019, while sitting in a car with a friend. Black hawk county in iowa black hawk county in iowa waterloo in black hawk countywaterloo in black hawk county also injured in the shooting was 21-year-old quintorey farshawn d’quan kemp, who, along with brown, was transported to unitypoint-allen hospital, where brown was pronounced dead. Kemp was then transferred to university of iowa hospitals and clinics in iowa city for further treatment.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Martavious Johnson

Age

17

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Martavious taveros “tay tay” johnson, a 17-year-old former football player for east high school in waterloo, was shot in the back on thursday, january 5, 2012, after cracking a joke.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Matthew Pusateri

Age

26

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Cab driver matt pusateri, 26, was shot in the head about 3 a.M. Saturday, nov. 12, 1988, while sitting in a cedar rapids parking lot. Pusateri, who worked for the “yellow cab” company, sat parked in the 800 block of sixth street sw when two men approached the cab. Linn county in iowa linn county in iowa cedar rapids in linn countycedar rapids in linn county police speculate the two assailants tried to rob pusateri, and then shot him after he refused to hand over any money.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Matthew Owen

Age

90

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Matthew john owen, who went by the name m. John owen, was found dead on the kitchen floor of his 107 gas light ct. Sw home in cedar rapids on friday morning, january 18, 2013. Linn county in iowa linn county in iowa cedar rapids in linn countycedar rapids in linn county police discovered the 90-year-old’s body after a neighbor called to report owen’s front door open. According to chief state medical examiner dr. Julia goodin, owen died of multiple blunt-force injuries. Police chief wayne jerman said authorities believe owen knew the person who killed him. “our investigators firmly believe that this was not a random act,” jerman said in news release issued the wednesday after owen’s death.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Mattie Zabel

Age

45

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Mattie lou zabel, a 45-year-old teacher’s aide who worked at river hills school in cedar falls, iowa, was reported missing to the cedar falls police department on march 21, 1978. Black hawk county in iowa black hawk county in iowa cedar falls in black hawk countycedar falls in black county zabel was last seen by her family on march 21, 1978, in her hometown of cedar falls. She left behind not only her husband, jack, and three children, but also a frozen chicken thawing in the kitchen sink that was to be the family’s dinner. No clothing was taken, and she would not have had the assets to just walk away. There was no indication that she just got frustrated and left.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Melvin Gallagher

Age

22

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

His young adult life had started out with a few uncertainties, but 22-year-old melvin james gallagher was finding his footing and making plans for what he hoped would be a bright future. He’d been deeply in love with two different women — gloria and patricia — and wanted to settle down with a good job and start raising a family. He’d first been engaged to patricia, but after much soul searching, realized it was gloria with whom he wanted to spend his life. He and patricia broke off their engagement, and a short time after they went their separate ways, patricia discovered she was pregnant with gallagher’s child.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Micalla Rettinger

Age

25

Cause of Death

Injury

Info

Micalla a. Rettinger, a 25-year-old former star uni softball player, was driving south on highway 218 near the brinker lake and cedar river bridges in waterloo when a single bullet pierced through her driver’s side window and hit her in the neck early sunday, april 28, 2019.

Agency

Iowa