Reading, MN Area Cold Cases

Name

Town Joseph Kaschmitter

Age

53

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On saturday, march 25, 1911, town marshal joseph kaschmitter (last name sometimes spelled kashmetter or kashmitter) was shot at approximately 1 a.M. As he walked near the alton, iowa depot

Agency

Iowa

Name

Lisa Vander Esch

Age

19

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Darwin vander esch, an expert marksman who said he “accidentally” shot his wife in the head in september 1982, was arrested by the idaho county sheriff’s office on sunday, dec. 1, 2024, and charged with several domestic violence-related charges, including felony attempted strangulation and domestic battery, according to a lewiston tribune article dated dec. 2, 2024.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Mervin Walvatne

Age

53

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Mervin leo walvatne, 53, went missing from spencer, iowa, on july 18, 1990. Walvatne’s sister, who lives in spencer and had regular contact with her brother, became concerned after not seeing her brother since july 18 and reported him missing to the spencer police department.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Wilma Nissen

Age

23

Cause of Death

Robbery/Murder

Info

Lyon county chief deputy jerry birkey announced may 2, 2016, a major development in the 38-year-old cold case of wilma june nissen, the woman found in a country road ditch in october 1978.Investigators released a photo of one of the women they believe is responsible for wilma nissen’s death.“our suspect was an escort, a prostitute, a dancer, who liked to rob other escorts, prostitutes and dancers,” birkey said in a ksfy story that aired may 2, describing the motive for wilma nissen’s murder as robbery.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Wilma Nissen

Age

23

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Agency

Lyon County Sheriff's Department

Name

Michael Carr

Age

19

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

At approximately 10 p.M. Friday, the day after christmas 1975, michael edward carr was struck by a vehicle on the west edge of estherville, iowa, while walking home. The hit-and-run happened near the intersection of iowa highway 9 and emmet county blacktop a-22.

Agency

Iowa