Sleepy Eye, MN Area Cold Cases
Name
Angela AltmanAge
22Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
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
Bertha FoyAge
18Cause of Death
MurderInfo
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
Douglas NielsenAge
17Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
In the early morning hours on friday, october 18, 1974, douglas a. Nielsen was shot and killed during a house party at the home of mr. And mrs. Earl garrison in humboldt, iowa. Nielsen, 17, was shot in the kidney area of the lower back with a .22-caliber firearm. Nielsen’s body was found at approximately 1 a.M. In the garrison’s basement game room, where investigators said they also seized several other weapons.Agency
Iowa
Name
Gregory HowellAge
44Cause of Death
MissingInfo
But his family says he never deserved what he got. “we used to snowmobile race. We used to go to minnesota every sunday. Race drag sleds. I mean we just had a blast,” says greg’s brother frank. Frank howell remembers the good times. But he knows his brother had a dark side, the drugs that played jekyll and hyde with his personality, and probably led to his death. “I told him, I said you need to slow down,” frank says. “you got a family. You got a good family. You need to grow up. He wanted to be a kid. He lived a fast life.”Agency
Iowa
Name
Lisa McCuddinAge
23Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On october 2, 2004 — just four days before her 24th birthday — lisa ann mccuddin was shot while riding with a friend on the way to breakfast at the holiday inn in fort dodge, iowa. Webster county in iowa webster county in iowa fort dodge in webster countyfort dodge in webster county officers initially responded to a call from trinity regional medical center, also in fort dodge, where a man had gone after suffering a gunshot wound at the holiday inn. When police went to the hotel to investigate the shooting, another car pulled into the parking lot, driven by a man who said he and a female passenger had just been shot while driving to the hotel.Agency
Iowa
Name
Lorri AlexanderAge
50Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Lorri lynn alexander, 50, of fort dodge, iowa, was found deceased in the early morning hours on thursday, dec. 29, 2016, inside an empty apartment at the cadwell building in fort dodge. Fort dodge police and medical personnel found alexander’s remains after a report of an unresponsive woman was called in to the webster county law enforcement center. Webster county in iowa webster county in iowa fort dodge in webster countyfort dodge in webster county officials determined alexander had died before their arrival.Agency
Iowa
Name
Mamie SimeAge
74Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Shortly after 4 a.M. On tuesday, march 31, 1981, a fire broke out in the home of mamie sime on the outskirts of rolfe, iowa. Firemen answered the alarm at 4:30 a.M., and arrived to find the house fully engulfed in flames.Agency
Iowa
Name
Marvin BrandlandAge
69Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Marvin brandland, 69, and his wife, ethel, had spent saturday evening, oct. 30, 1982, handing out candy to trick-or-treaters when another person knocked on their fort dodge home’s door. Someone wearing a pillowcase with holes cut out for eyes stood outside.Agency
Iowa
Name
Pamela ShadleAge
48Cause of Death
Suicide/MurderInfo
For two years prior to her death, pamela shadle insisted someone was trying to kill her. She told her family she “knew too much” about local political corruption, and said if she ended up dead or shot, it wouldn’t be because she’d taken her own life. Under normal circumstances, it may have seemed odd talk for the dakota city, iowa, wife and mother of two who enjoyed caring for her pets, attending garage sales and auctions, or visiting with friends and enjoying music. But in the seven years before her death – particularly the last two – pamela shadle’s life had become anything but normal.Shortly after graduating from ft. Dodge high school in 1978, pam married her “best friend,” dorman “dean” shadle, and the couple had made their home in the thor and bode areas before moving to dakota city. For many years pam was employed in the chantland’s south plant, and later worked for casey’s general store in dakota city.Agency
Iowa
Name
Sandra VanderhoefAge
42Cause of Death
MissingInfo
Sandra vanderhoef was reported missing to the webster county sheriff’s office in fort dodge, iowa, on september 22, 1986.She wears glasses, has a scar on her abdomen, scars on both knees and a mole on her back.She is described as an american indian or alaskan native, 5’07” and weighing approximately 210 pounds.The iowa department of public safety classifies vanderhoef’s disappearance as “endangered / physical,” which includes a person of any age who is missing under circumstances indicating his/her physical safety is in danger.Agency
Iowa
Name
Elna PetersonAge
8Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On thursday, may 6, 1971, 8-year-old valerie peterson was killed by a hit-and-run driver around 4 p.M. While riding her bicycle off the side of the road in front of the manson augustana lutheran church. One other girl — the friend with whom valerie was riding bikes — was riding up ahead of valerie and said she saw a blue-green pickup truck with two or three men inside traveling north at a high rate of speed. They appeared to have long hair, and the girl believed the truck had some sort of equipment in the flatbed.Agency
Iowa
Name
Wendel ClarkAge
30Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Wendel clark, 30, of fort dodge, iowa, died wednesday, oct. 7, 2015, of two gunshot wounds after being shot in the driver’s seat of his car about a block from his home.The state medical examiner’s office ruled his death a homicide.The following stories and reports detail the information about this unsolved murder.Agency
Iowa
Name
William FreimuthAge
71Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
William h. Freimuth, a 71-year-old fort dodge service station attendant, was shot in the back of the head around 9 p.M. On thursday, february 16, 1961, by a gunman who took $140 from the cash register.The elderly freimuth had been working alone in the fawkes standard service station — located on highway 20 about six blocks east of the fort dodge business district — while another employee was away from the station for between 10 and 15 minutes.After the second employee returned to the gas station around 9:10 p.M., he found freimuth on the floor in the station’s grease rack and notified police.Agency
Iowa
Name
Yerlanin GarciaAge
12Cause of Death
MissingInfo
Yerlanin garcia was reported missing to the eagle grove police department in eagle grove, iowa, on january 15, 2010.At the time of her disappearance, yerlanin was described as a 12-year-old white female, 4-foot-3 and weighing approximately 100 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.Agency
Iowa
Name
Town Joseph KaschmitterAge
53Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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 depotAgency
Iowa
Name
Mervin WalvatneAge
53Cause of Death
MissingInfo
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 NissenAge
23Cause of Death
Robbery/MurderInfo
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 NissenAge
23Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Lyon County Sheriff's Department
Name
Andrew HatgesAge
75Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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
William PruinAge
43Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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
Brian BlachutAge
30Cause of Death
MissingInfo
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
Jodi HuisentruitAge
27Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Today marks the 25th anniversary of jodi huisentruit’s disappearance in mason city. We pause today to stand with jodi’s family as they remember her and remain hopeful for answers about her disappearance. The investigation into her disappearance continues and is an active case being worked by the mason city police department and the iowa division of criminal investigation. We appreciate the work the media has done to keep jodi’s story in the public eye in support of our investigative effortsAgency
Iowa
Name
Lowell StumoAge
48Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Lowell stumo, 48, a former u.S. Army sgt. Who served in vietnam, was shot to death sometime on sunday, december 7, 1997, near his farmhouse southwest of northwood, iowa.Agency
Iowa
Name
Lucille DeVriesAge
22Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Lucille elaine devries, a 22-year-old insurance firm secretary and restaurant waitress, was found dead early wednesday, oct. 10, 1962, in the back seat of her fire-gutted auto outside her mason city, iowa home.Agency
Iowa
Name
Michael CarrAge
19Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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
Name
Mildred ClemensonAge
81Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Mildred adaline “millie” clemenson, 81, was brutally slain on monday, nov. 9, 1998, inside her rural kensett, iowa, mobile home — a home about seven miles west of kensett and directly attached to the family farmhouse clemenson owned at 3926 ironwood avenue.Agency
Iowa
Name
Norma HorgenAge
18Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Around 8:15 p.M. On saturday, september 10, 1966, a fisherman found 18-year-old norma jean horgen’s body near clear lake’s northwest shore. The st. Ansgar teen — a student at the mason city school of cosmetology — was discovered in about four feet of water. Officials determined cause of death as drowning, though did not rule out foul play.Dr. A.J. Kerlitzka, the county medical examiner, said alcohol was found in the teen’s blood, but said the alcoholic content did not indicate intoxication and that horgen had not consumed an excessive amount.In an austin (mn) daily herald news article dated saturday, sept. 17, 1966, cerro gordo county attorney b. Michael dunn said 75 to 80 people had been questioned in the case and would be reinterviewed in efforts to clarify some discrepancies — particularly the time element in horgen’s death.Agency
Iowa
Name
Rodney OlsenAge
32Cause of Death
MissingInfo
Rodney olsen, a 32-year-old rural mason city farmer, left his farm around 1 a.M. Saturday, oct. 18, 1986, with intentions of visiting someone and was never seen alive again. Olsen had a young son and farmed northeast of mason city. He had moved from his native britt area not too long before he disappeared.He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a brown shirt, and is described as a 6-foot white male with brown hair, brown eyes, and weighing about 210 pounds. He has dark shoulder-length curly hair and usually is clean shaven.Several months later, olsen’s car, a black 1978 pontiac sunbird, was found in a forest city trailer park. No clues were found to indicate what happened to olsen, according to reports at that time.Myrlen olsen said he keeps in contact with the cerro gordo county sheriff’s department, in hopes new information about the case can be developed.Agency
Iowa
Name
Roger JoyntAge
26Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On friday, september 29, 1978, the body of roger joynt, 26, was found in a ditch 2.5 miles east of interstate-35 on county road b-20 around the mason city area in cerro gordo county, iowa.Joynt, who resided at 509 n. Jefferson avenue in mason city, had been shot eight times with a small-caliber weapon.Although federal grant funding for the dci cold case unit was exhausted in december 2011, the dci continues to assign agents to investigate cold cases as new leads develop or as technological advances allow for additional forensic testing of original evidence.The dci remains committed to resolving iowa’s cold cases and will continue to work diligently with local law enforcement partners to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to justice for the victims and their families.Agency
Iowa
Name
Glennis SorensonAge
41Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
St. Paul Police Department
Name
George JensenAge
61Cause of Death
Knife/StabbingInfo
Agency
Bloomington Police Department
Name
Candice HackettAge
45Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Kamani DavisAge
24Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
William IrvinAge
35Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Walter HaynesAge
30Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Anthony Stubbs JrAge
23Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Michael WhitelawAge
50Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Gavin SpiekerAge
21Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Jaquan OatisAge
28Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Crystal CollinsAge
36Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Andre Riley JrAge
24Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Coshaye BrownAge
19Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Birdell BeeksAge
58Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Derrick RodgersAge
25Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Jimmy StanbackAge
25Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Victoria DayAge
23Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department
Name
Darnell WilkesAge
25Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Agency
Minneapolis Police Department