Crookston, MN 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

Adrian Reuwsaat

Age

69

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Adrian charles reuwsaat, 69, was reported missing to the sioux city police department in sioux city, iowa, on november 3, 2002, and foul play has long been suspected in his disappearance.

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

Chad White

Age

21

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Late friday night, may 21, 1993, chad william white, 21, was shot to death in the corning, iowa home he shared with his fiancée, dixie kinser.

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

Alicia Hummel

Age

29

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Alicia marie hummel, a 29-year-old preschool teacher from sioux city, iowa, was found dead in the missouri river monday afternoon, june 1, 2015, near the shore at a boat dock in myron grove, south dakota. The area — also known as the highline area — is about seven miles west of vermillion.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Allen Shoemaker

Age

36

Cause of Death

Hit And Run

Info

Allen f. Shoemaker — a police officer with the chicago and northwestern railroad police — was shot and killed on sunday, may 17, 1925, while conducting a railroad check in missouri valley, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Alonzo Beghtel

Age

81

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Alonzo “lon” beghtel, an 81-year-old retired farmer, was found beaten to death near his guthrie center, iowa, home on wednesday, january 18, 1950.

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

Alta Braun

Age

12

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Twelve-year-old alta marie braun of le mars, iowa, was raped and strangled sometime monday evening, august 20, 1917, after going to the yankee robinson circus.

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

Angela Altman

Age

22

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Four-year-old jessica marie altman found her mother’s dead body saturday afternoon, jan. 24, 1981, in the fort dodge apartment where the two lived together. Angela marie altman, 22, lay partially nude on the kitchen floor — stabbed and strangled.

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 Evans

Age

5

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Five-year-old anthony evans was struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 1000 block of 21st street in sioux city, iowa, on june 20, 2000.

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

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

Arlys Ponce

Age

42

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Arlys ponce — a 42-year-old mother of three — was found dead on the floor of her norwalk, iowa home on october 8, 1997. Ponce’s son had arrived at the residence at approximately 3:15 p.M., and when his mother failed to answer the door, he peered through a window and saw her body lying on the floor. The son contacted a neighbor, telling her he couldn’t get into the house but that he could see his mother lying on the floor. The neighbor contacted police, who entered the residence and discovered arlys ponce had been beaten and stabbed to death.

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

Ashley Downing

Age

77

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Barely a year after his wife’s death, ashley downing, a 77-year-old chicken farmer, was shot and killed wednesday, jan. 4, 1933, inside his rural westgate home. Downing lived alone on a 240-acre farm about eight miles northwest of oelwein. He owned a total of about 800 acres in fayette county, and also owned around 800 acres in minnesota.

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 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 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

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

Bernadene Sealine

Age

67

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Bernadene sealine, 67, of dexter, iowa, was reported missing to the pottawattamie county sheriff’s office in council bluffs, iowa, on july 10, 1993 after flood waters swept away the family’s vehicle in carson, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Bertha Foy

Age

18

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Bertha mae foy was killed in fort dodge, iowa, on august 9, 1987. The young mother left behind three small children, ages 3, 2, and a 9-month-old baby. Two men were questioned in foy’s murder but no one was ever charged.

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

Elizabeth Swetnam

Age

73

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Betty swetnam, a 73-year-old grandmother who operated a massage business out of her 1610 west 19th st. Sioux city home’s basement, was brutally stabbed to death on friday december 31, 1993.

Agency

Iowa

Name

James Wood

Age

79

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Late on saturday night, july 30, 2011, the home of bill and kay wood of rural norwalk, iowa, was destroyed by fire. Around midnight and into early sunday morning, five fire departments responded to 2698 highway r-63 in greenfield township just south of des moines’ city limits and the des moines international airport.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Kaidena Wood

Age

72

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Late on saturday night, july 30, 2011, the home of bill and kay wood of rural norwalk, iowa, was destroyed by fire. Around midnight and into early sunday morning, five fire departments responded to 2698 highway r-63 in greenfield township just south of des moines’ city limits and the des moines international airport.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Billy Clark

Age

43

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Sometime on friday, august 1, 1975, billy lee clark of ottumwa, iowa, was shot in the back in a rural wapello county pasture. The 43-year-old’s body, found lying next to his pick-up truck, was discovered the following day at approximately 2:23 p.M. On a farm owned by martin bergland, about seven miles west of ottumwa on route 4.

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

Boyd Novinger

Age

77

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Boyd george novinger, 77, was killed in his bedford, iowa home on saturday, december 27, 1997. Novinger’s son-in-law and business partner, h. Keith taylor, was first on scene and told officials he found his father-in-law’s body the following sunday afternoon. An autopsy concluded novinger died from gunshot wounds to the chest.

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

Brian Blachut

Age

30

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Brian richard blachut, 30, of lake mills, iowa, disappeared after leaving the blue moon saloon in scarville, iowa, about 2 a.M. On sunday, november 21, 1993. At approximately 10 a.M., blachut’s four-wheel drive datsun 1981 pickup truck was found partially submerged in a drainage ditch on the west side of winnebago county road a-16, about two miles east of scarville. Tracks indicated the vehicle had gone down into the ditch on the road’s east side, circled in the field, crossed back over the blacktop road and then gone back into the ditch on the road’s west side.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brian Burns

Age

55

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On november 5th, 2023, the delaware county sheriff’s office responded one mile south of the 1300 block of 180th street for a report that human remains had been located in a field just west of manchester by some pheasant hunters.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brian Dietrich

Age

30

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

He’d planned to take his new baby daughter out trick-or-treating that october night in 1993. Brian dietrich — the son of [then] Clayton county sheriff verdean dietrich — was known for his biker lifestyle and “living off the land” in rural garnavillo, iowa, but made regular trips across the mississippi river to prairie du chien, wis., to sell ginseng.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brianne Smith

Age

25

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Brianne smith, a 25-year-old mother of three, disappeared from omaha, neb., in april 2006. Her body was discovered in a mills county, iowa, roadside ditch west of glenwood on june 10, 2006. Mills county in iowa mills county in iowa glenwood in mills countyglenwood in mills county the mills county sheriff’s office and the iowa division of criminal investigation (dci) reported on july 18, 2006 that the human remains found were smith’s.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brenda Dailey

Age

53

Cause of Death

Beaten

Info

Brenda dailey, 53, was badly beaten in her mapleton, iowa, home on monday, aug. 24, 2015, before being pushed down her basement stairs. According to a press release issued tuesday by the iowa department of public safety, the mapleton police department received a 911 call for an unresponsive female at 702 monona street in mapleton on monday, aug. 24, at approximately 10:30 a.M.

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