South Gifford, MO Area Cold Cases

Name

Arnold Hayes

Age

50

Cause of Death

Gun/Firearm

Info

Cold case spotlight arnold hayes was running for maries county sheriff in july, 1972 when he was ambushed, shot and killed while sitting outside his home in south central missouri. Authorities arrested 2 men in connection with mr. Hayes' murder but the charges were later dropped "Pending further investigation". No charges have been filed since. If you have any information on the 1972 murder of arnold hayes, you are asked to please contact the maries county sheriff's office at (573) 422-3381.

Agency

Maries County Sheriff's Office

Name

Arthur Ransford

Age

36

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Arthur leon ransford, a 36-year-old vietnam veteran, went missing from his keokuk, iowa home in lee county on tuesday, november 22, 1983. His wife reported him missing thanksgiving day. Montrose in lee county montrose in lee county on sunday, may 13, 1984, ransford’s body was found about two miles south of montrose, enclosed in a large yellow bag and buried under cement blocks in a wooded area overlooking the mississippi river. The father of two had been shot in the head before being bagged and buried on the river bluff.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brandy Shepherd

Age

29

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Brandy mae shepherd-margita, 29, of anamosa, iowa, was found dead in a henry county farm field west of wayland near highway 78 on friday, august 9, 2019. Wayland in henry county (wikipedia) the mother of four young children had been missing since august 2. The henry county sheriff’s office said a farmhand found her body around noon while checking on livestock and the property’s fence line.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cecil Paris

Age

31

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Police believed cecil was shot when he ordered someone off the premises. His own .32 caliber revolver was missing and believed stolen. Money had also been removed but a cheap watch was untouched. Three charcoal tablets had been wrapped in a paper that they think the murderer mistook for a bill and were found on the ground along with the paper.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dolores Hornung

Age

48

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Dolores a. “toni” (martinez) hornung, 48, was shot to death in her keokuk, iowa home with a 30-30 rifle early sunday morning on valentine’s day, 1999. Lee county in iowa lee county in iowa keokuk in lee countykeokuk in lee county hornung’s daughter called emergency officials about 5:25 p.M. Saying she could not wake her mother, police said in a statement released monday, february 15, 1999. Investigators determined hornung hadn’t died of natural causes and scheduled an autopsy for the following day.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dorothy Miller

Age

48

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Dorothy h. Miller, a 48-year-old bolick realty saleswoman and grandmother of two, was killed on monday evening, august 18, 1969, in an unoccupied, two-story frame house at 118 grand street in burlington, iowa. Des moines county in iowa des moines county in iowa burlington in des moines countyburlington in des moines county dorothy reportedly had an appointment to show a house in burlington that day to a man who identified himself as robert clark. When she didn’t return home that evening, her husband reported her missing the following morning

Agency

Iowa

Name

Eric Redinbo

Age

18

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Eric scott redinbo, 18, died friday night, february 12, 1999, from a single blast to the head from a 12-gauge shotgun at a keokuk, iowa home. Officers said they were called to susan anderson’s house on keokuk’s west side around 8:40 p.M. Friday, where they found redinbo’s body. Police said the 12 gauge had accidentally gone off inside the home, hitting redinbo once in the head.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jackie Douthart

Age

24

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Jackie leigh douthart, the mother of a small child, was reported missing to the mount pleasant police department on may 22, 2011, when she didn’t return home after a night out with friends. When last seen, jackie was wearing a zebra-striped shirt, a black vest, blue jeans and flip flops. Douthart’s disappearance, along with that of elizabeth syperda — a 22-year-old mount pleasant woman who went missing july 17, 2000 — frustrated both investigators and residents of mount pleasant, a city of about 8,700 people in southeastern iowa

Agency

Iowa

Name

James Harsch

Age

31

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On saturday afternoon, may 13, 1978, the burlington police department received a call about a dead body in a trailer home on mill dam road north of burlington on the city-county line. The anonymous caller phoned the burlington police dispatch center at 11:42 a.M. Saturday, saying that a body would be found in the trailer

Agency

Iowa

Name

James Poggemiller

Age

62

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

James keith poggemiller, 62, was found dead friday, may 24, 2019, inside his 1127 s. 13th street home in burlington, and officials are treating his death as suspicious

Agency

Iowa

Name

Near Reservoir

Age

27

Cause of Death

Fire

Info

On labor day, september 1, 1975, two young motorcyclists discovered the charred bodies of two persons inside a scorched pickup truck near the coralville reservoir in johnson county, iowa. The victims were later identified as karen ann christensen, 27, of cedar rapids, ia, and her cousin, larry gordon wells, 25, of marathon, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Lisa Miller

Age

15

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On sunday, oct. 9, 1977, six days after her parents reported her as a runaway, lisa elaine miller, 15, was found dead in a wooded area off lower sullivan slough road near the iowa southern utilities generating station 3-1/2 miles southeast of burlington, iowa. The area, about 1-1/4 miles east of summer street road, is a popular recreation spot. The teen had been reported missing oct. 3, 1977.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Willard Woodring

Age

42

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Willard c. Woodring, the 42-year-old owner of the former hawkeye hotel in keokuk, iowa, and richard g. Buchanan, 42, of colona, illinois, were taken into the hotel’s kitchen on sunday, october 9, 1960, where they were bound, gagged, and then shot in the back of the head when they tried to flee.Keokuk police discovered the bodies that evening after someone phoned authorities to report a shooting at the well-known house of prostitution.Police chief george jones said police immediately launched a 3-state search for a youthful-looking man and woman.Witnesses described the man as about 25 years old with black hair and clad in a black leather jacket. The woman, about 22-23 years old, was described as having short red hair and wearing a lavender dress.According to the gazette, authorities said they thought the pair were armed with an automatic pistol and driving a car with illinois license plates.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Richard Buchanan

Age

49

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Willard c. Woodring, the 42-year-old owner of the former hawkeye hotel in keokuk, iowa, and richard g. Buchanan, 42, of colona, illinois, were taken into the hotel’s kitchen on sunday, october 9, 1960, where they were bound, gagged, and then shot in the back of the head when they tried to flee.Keokuk police discovered the bodies that evening after someone phoned authorities to report a shooting at the well-known house of prostitution.Police chief george jones said police immediately launched a 3-state search for a youthful-looking man and woman.Witnesses described the man as about 25 years old with black hair and clad in a black leather jacket. The woman, about 22-23 years old, was described as having short red hair and wearing a lavender dress.According to the gazette, authorities said they thought the pair were armed with an automatic pistol and driving a car with illinois license plates.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Steven Leasure

Age

52

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Steven leasure, 52, went missing from burlington, iowa, on saturday, may 2, 2015, and was reported missing to the burlington police department.Relatives said they last saw leasure alive saturday at a house in the 1400 block of gnahn street. Others reported seeing leasure later that day at the circle k convenience store at 1012 maple street, putting air into his blue gt bicycle tires.A passerby found the bicycle at lake west on tuesday, june 9, 2015, and officials verified it as leasure’s bike via the serial number.Investigators searched the lake with a sonar-equipped boat, but found no trace of leasure.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Terry Page

Age

36

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Terry lee page, 36, of burlington, iowa, was shot and killed outside his 1205 franklin street residence on the edge of north hill in the early morning hours tuesday, june 25, 2013.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Desirea Ferris

Age

19

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Agency

Liberty Police Department

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

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

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

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

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 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 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

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

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

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

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

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

Cecil Gaddy

Age

19

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

He worked as a farm hand and repaired small engines. He taught himself to play guitar and enjoyed writing songs. He had a keen interest in computers, and routinely fixed problems for those who came to him for help. Clarke county in iowa clarke county in iowa osceola iowa osceola in clarke county life took its first cruel turn when the 16-year-old teen, his pregnant sister and her husband and another friend were passengers in a van and the driver lost control. When the vehicle started to roll, cecil used his body to protect his sister, but eventually was thrown through the windshield and left with a broken back. Paralyzed from the waist down, cecil struggled to regain his independence and keep up with his favorite activities. Though he couldn’t walk, he could still use his hands, and his trusty wheelchair could take him nearly anywhere he wanted to go

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

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

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 Axiotis

Age

16

Cause of Death

Undetermined

Info

The 16-year-old osceola youth’s incarcerated father had been in prison most of the teen’s life. His mother had left town to stay with a boyfriend, and even his little brother was locked up in a detention center. Clarke county in iowa clarke county in iowa osceola in clarke countyosceola in clark county axiotis had begun staying with friends, most recently with deb barringer in osceola. He’d dated angie ruth for a few years, and the two were working on getting back together. On tuesday, november 16, 1999, ruth sat in a classroom when word trickled into school about a body being found at the q pond park on osceola’s northwest edge. It was somebody from school, she heard, but at the time no one knew the victim’s identity. After school, ruth went home and got the call. Officials had identified the body as that of her longtime friend, chris axiotis.

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

Chuck Deatsch Jr

Age

52

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On april 28, 2008 at approximately 9:50 p.M., chuck deatsch, 52, was shot and killed at his residence in rural mystic, iowa. Authorities said the bullet that hit and killed deatsch came from a single shot outside his home that came in through the home’s front window.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Colleen Simpson

Age

14

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Colleen simpson, 14, of clearfield, iowa, was reported missing to the taylor county sheriff’s office in bedford, iowa, on october 5, 1975. She was last seen at her clearfield home where she disappeared sometime during the night. Colleen was born december 5, 1960, and has a scar on her right forearm.

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

Corinne Perry

Age

17

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

The creston high school senior had just earned a scholarship to college and planned to double major in psychology and acting. She belonged to the school’s mime troop, acted in several school plays, and also participated in speech contests. She was last seen sunday, april 17, 1983 at a coin-operated laundromat in creston, iowa. According to authorities, a man walked out of the laundromat right behind the teen sometime between 8:30 and 9 p.M. The night she disappeared. The following day, her car — with the clothes neatly folded and lying on the seat — was found parked at the laundromat. Her purse turned up on a highway bridge seven miles away between kent and lenox, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Crystal Hunt

Age

21

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Crystal sue hunt was reported missing to the wayne county sheriff’s office in corydon, iowa, on feb. 24, 1998. Corydon in wayne county corydon in wayne county crystal, who’d celebrated her 21st birthday just six days earlier and was pregnant, was last seen leaving her parents’ residence in centerville on feb. 24, 1998, with her boyfriend. He said they argued and she got out of the car. Crystal has not been seen nor heard from since. She is described as 5-foot-9 , 140-142 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, white sweatshirt, black and white checked stirrup pants and nike tennis shoes with blue spots on the tops.

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