Chester, NE Area Cold Cases

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

Debra Barajas

Age

44

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Debra (debbie) ann barajas was last seen on thursday afternoon, may 25, 2006, heading to the omaha vicinity of park avenue and leavenworth in omaha, neb. When she didn’t arrive, she was reported missing to the nebraska missing persons information clearinghouse. Mills county in iowa mills county in iowa glenwood in mills countyglenwood in mills county nearly six months later on tuesday, november 14, 2006, barajas’ remains were discovered in a pacific junction ravine northwest of glenwood, iowa, near the 54300 block of 195th street in mills county, iowa. The rural community’s population barely topped 500 people.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Evelyn Resh

Age

87

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Evelyn resh, 87, died tuesday, sept. 16, 1997 after someone deliberately set fire to the red oak apartment house where she lived alone. Her death is one from a group of “cold case” fire investigations resurrected in iowa in spring 2016. The cold cases became the focus in “arson awareness week,” as proclaimed by iowa gov. Terry branstad.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gary Sebek

Age

20

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Gary eugene sebek, 20, spent the last day of his life going to work in the morning, being called away to witness the birth of his second child – a son – and leaving the hospital late that evening to return to his hamburg, iowa home, where he’d be slain that same night and his body removed from the premises.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Keara Coshow

Age

3

Cause of Death

Fire

Info

Keara lee coshow, a blind 3-year-old native american child living with her family in red oak, iowa, died thursday, july 12, 1979, in the hill top motel’s laundry room after her stepmother allegedly set the room afire. Keara, unconscious from an acute spinal cord injury sustained the previous evening (also allegedly at the hands of the stepmother), was carried into the laundry room shortly before the fire erupted.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Melvin Price

Age

26

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Around 4:30 a.M. Early sunday morning, november 17, 1974, a passing farragut truck driver discovered a body lying along iowa highway 42 near the foot of a hill about three miles west of riverton, iowa. He notified authorities, who identified the body as that of 26-year-old melvin price.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Julie Derrick

Age

19

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Julie derrick, 19, was last seen alive october 19, 1995. Her mother made a plea for her return. Julie’s body was found in o’fallon’s sand pit, weighted down. Forensic examination indicated she died shortly after her disappearance, but the cause of death was undetermined. Investigators believe it could have been a drug overdose.

Agency

Lincoln County Crimestoppers

Name

Leah Rowlands

Age

41

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Leah rowlands, 41, was shot and killed during an armed robbery at an amoco station. The suspect, a man in a red pontiac, killed rowlands and stole money and goods. Despite security footage aired on national tv, no suspect has been arrested.

Agency

Lincoln County Crimestoppers

Name

Jay Blockson

Age

23

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jay blockson, 23, was found dead in a stand of trees. An autopsy determined broken ribs caused internal damage leading to his death. Investigators believe the notorious freight train riders of america gang might be responsible for his death.

Agency

Lincoln County Crimestoppers

Name

Ray Green

Age

55

Cause of Death

Strangulation

Info

Ray "Sandy" green, 55, was found dead in an underground bunker, strangled. Investigators believe there was a struggle at the scene. The case remains open, but progress is slowed as one suspect in the case died of a heart attack.

Agency

Lincoln County Crimestoppers

Name

Dawn Allen

Age

50

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Dawn marlene allen, 50, was reported missing to the carroll police department in carroll, iowa, on may 4, 2011, after she failed to show up for work as a manager for a local subway. Carroll county in iowa carroll county in iowa carroll in carroll countycarroll in carroll county allen’s boss said she had worked at the carroll subway for 21 years and had never been late or missed work.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Elna Peterson

Age

8

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

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

Virgil Untied

Age

33

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Town marshal virgil untied was shot five times thursday, july 23, 1931, by three assailants in minburn, iowa, who were looting a local grocery store.The 33-year-old marshal — married and a father of three daughters — was summoned to the gootschalk grocery around 3:30 a.M. When the thieves awakened miss lena west, a telephone operator, as they tried breaking into the safe.Untied and two other men located the trio in the shaw grocery store, but the robbers opened fire as the marshal crossed the railroad tracks. While his companions returned fire, untied crawled to the station platform where he collapsed, the the daily iowan reported on friday, july 24, 1931.More than 10 shots were exchanged in the gunfire, with five slugs hitting untied and one of the bullets piercing his eye and lodging in his brain.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Denise Eberly

Age

3

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On thursday morning, october 15, 1964, dixie lynne eberly, 13 months old, and her 3-year-old sister, denise diane eberly, died after an arson fire in the family’s rural new market, iowa home in taylor county. Taylor county in iowa taylor county in iowa officials said 13-month-old dixie burned alive in her crib. Denise died of smoke inhalation a short time later at the municipal hospital.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dixie Eberly

Age

13

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On thursday morning, october 15, 1964, dixie lynne eberly, 13 months old, and her 3-year-old sister, denise diane eberly, died after an arson fire in the family’s rural new market, iowa home in taylor county. Taylor county in iowa taylor county in iowa officials said 13-month-old dixie burned alive in her crib. Denise died of smoke inhalation a short time later at the municipal hospital.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Doris Konecne

Age

38

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Doris “elaine” konecne, 38, the legal secretary for union county attorney robert rolfe, was found deceased on the kitchen floor of her apartment at the ken-lee apartments on north cherry street in creston, iowa, early sunday morning, october 28, 1973. Ms. Konecne’s brother, who discovered his sister’s body, immediately contacted authorities.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Floyd Alborn

Age

76

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Floyd william alborn, a 76-year-old bachelor, was found shot to death in his rural panora, iowa, home on friday evening, november 8, 1974. Alborn lived alone at his farm on the guthrie and dallas county line one-fourth mile north of highway 44. His sister and brother-in-law, freda and lawrence mills, discovered his body, the guthrian reported on monday, november 25, 1974.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gregg Nimmo

Age

44

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Gregg andrew nimmo, 44, of adel, iowa, was found with severe head injuries on a gravel road in dexter, iowa, on sunday, aug. 28, 2011. Nimmo lay bleeding from head wounds on a gravel road just outside beaver lake campground in dallas county. Several individuals allegedly witnessed the manner in which a known female killed nimmo. Tire tracks ran up and down both ditch sides as the driver attempted to throw nimmo from the truck and then deliberately ran him over.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Myrtle Cumpston

Age

60

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Myrtle zelda cumpston, 60, was shot and killed in the display area of her rural dallas county business — c & k aqualand, incorporated — on tuesday, march 9, 1965. Cumpston co-owned the tropical fish aquarium near adel, iowa, with business partner and neighbor, mrs. Robert king.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Pansy Turnbull

Age

17

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On thursday afternoon, august 26, 1926, pansy may turnbull, the 17-year-old daughter of mr. And mrs. Arizona turnbull of diagonal, iowa, went to the street fair in clearfield, iowa, accompanied by her sister and mr. And mrs. Cleve bunker. When the other members were ready to return home, pansy was nowhere to be found and a search was instituted.Turnbull was found one block east of the main street business district, “insensible and apparently injured” and in the company of a strange man, according to an august 1926 article published in the mount ayr record-news. Turnbull was taken to a physician but was unable to make any statement, and on the physician’s advice was then taken to her diagonal home, where she died a few hours later without ever regaining consciousness.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Paul Scheel

Age

45

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On valentine’s day 2018, paul allen scheel, 45, was found dead in his creston, iowa, apartment. Officers with the creston police department conducted a welfare check at 300 east montgomery street, apartment 3, at approximately 8:17 p.M. Wednesday night and found scheel deceased. The apartment is located in the basement of the eagles lodge #1398.The body was transported to the office of the iowa state medical examiner’s office in ankeny for an autopsy.Creston officers and agents with the dci’s major crime unit have worked to find the person or persons responsible for scheel’s death.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Roscoe Harris

Age

46

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On july 6, 1963, 46-year-old roscoe donnel harris was shot in the left chest with a single shot .22 caliber rifle.When the iowa division of criminal investigation (dci) established a cold case unit in 2009, harris’ murder was one of approximately 150 cases listed on the cold case unit’s new website as those the dci hoped to solve using latest advancements in dna technology.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

Josiah Moore

Age

43

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Sometime around midnight between sunday, june 9, and monday, june 10, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in villisca, iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12. The killings became known as the “villisca axe murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in iowa history.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Sarah Moore

Age

39

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Sometime around midnight between sunday, june 9, and monday, june 10, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in villisca, iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12. The killings became known as the “villisca axe murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in iowa history.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Herman Moore

Age

11

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Sometime around midnight between sunday, june 9, and monday, june 10, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in villisca, iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12. The killings became known as the “villisca axe murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in iowa history.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Katherine Moore

Age

10

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Sometime around midnight between sunday, june 9, and monday, june 10, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in villisca, iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12. The killings became known as the “villisca axe murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in iowa history.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Boyd Moore

Age

7

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Sometime around midnight between sunday, june 9, and monday, june 10, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in villisca, iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12. The killings became known as the “villisca axe murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in iowa history.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Paul Moore

Age

5

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Sometime around midnight between sunday, june 9, and monday, june 10, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in villisca, iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12. The killings became known as the “villisca axe murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in iowa history.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Lena Stillinger

Age

12

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Sometime around midnight between sunday, june 9, and monday, june 10, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in villisca, iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12. The killings became known as the “villisca axe murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in iowa history.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Ina Stillinger

Age

8

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Sometime around midnight between sunday, june 9, and monday, june 10, 1912, a person or persons entered a modest house in villisca, iowa, and bludgeoned to death eight people sleeping there, including two adults and six children aged 5 through 12. The killings became known as the “villisca axe murders,” and are easily the most notorious murders in iowa history.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Ryan Bradley

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Ryan bradley went missing from his home in olathe, kansas on october 9, 2011. He had a scar on his left forearm and ankle, a bump below his left knee, and his left arm is "Bowed." he walked with a slight limp. His remains were found in the wooded area of 213th street and gardner road.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Tawnya Knight

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Tawnya was reported missing on december 8, 1996. Her remains were found in a farmer's field in spring hill, kansas on june 7, 1997. The case was ruled a homicide by the johnson county coroner following an autopsy.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Alexuas Acord

Age

21

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Alexuas acord (21) was found deceased in a vehicle. She was a mother, leaving behind her parents and siblings. A cash reward of up to $2,000 is available for anonymous information leading to an arrest.

Agency

KC CrimeStoppers

Name

Christina Brandolese

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Christina's body was found at the end of a driveway in rural johnson county, kansas on may 30, 1989. She was last seen in kansas city, missouri on may 29, 1989. The person responsible for her death may be linked to the candice fisher homicide.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Beverly Douthit

Age

Cause of Death

Blunt Force Trauma

Info

Beverly's body was found in the little blue river at the bridge of 69 highway. She was last seen on august 18, 1985. Cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Candice Fisher

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Candice was last seen on may 29, 1989, in kansas city, missouri. Her body was found on june 2, 1989, in rural johnson county, kansas. Detectives believe her homicide is related to christina brandolese's homicide.

Agency

Johnson County Sheriff

Name

Mary Drake

Age

79

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Agency

Kansas Bureau of Investigation

Name

Jose Macias

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Kansas city, mo --- the greater kansas city crime stoppers tips hotline and the kansas city, kansas police department continue to seek information on the 9th anniversary of the homicide of jose macias which occurred at 13th and ridge in kansas city, kansas on march 28, 2008.

Agency

KC CrimeStoppers

Name

Tammy Cochran (Hopper)

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On march 5th, 2008 at approximately 10:30 a.M., the body of tammy k. Cochran (hopper), wf, was discovered near the cedar creek boat ramp located at 8255 s. Gardner road. The victim’s body had been burned. The victim has been reported to be in multiple cities throughout the kansas city metropolitan area. The victim was last seen wearing a light green shirt, black shoes, blue jeans with some type of design on the back pockets and a dark blue or black jacket with a fuzzy collar. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the tips hotline at 816-474-tips (8477). A reward of up to $18,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

Agency

KC CrimeStoppers

Name

Marco Lugo

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On august 12th, 2007, just before 3:00 in the morning, kansas city police were called to 18th and baltimore on a report of a shooting. When they arrived they found 19 year-old marco m. Lugo in the back seat of a white gmc yukon suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a hospital where he died shortly after arriving. Other occupants of the car in which the victim had been riding told police that as they were driving away from a nightclub suspects in a blue ford taurus began shooting into the yukon for no apparent reason. The suspect vehicle was said to have a gray roof where the paint had peeled off.

Agency

KC CrimeStoppers

Name

Vonzall Temple

Age

17

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Just before 5:30 p.M. On may 29th, 2007, kansas city police were called to the 2500 block of kensington on a shooting. When they arrived they found 17 year-old vonzall temple slumped over in the seat of his car that had come to rest against a pole. Witnesses said the victim was shot by unknown black males who walked up as he sat in his car in a driveway in the 2400 block of kensington. After being shot he tried to drive away but only made it one block. He died a short time later of his wounds. A total reward of up to $9,000 is available for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Agency

KC CrimeStoppers

Name

Darmon Parker

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

56 year-old darmon parker was apparently preparing to enter the rear of his house in the 400 block of east gregory in kansas city around 11:00 on the night of february 12th, 2006 when someone approached him with robbery in mind. Witnesses reported hearing shots in the area at that time. The next morning at about 5:00 his body was found near his car. He had died of gunshots wounds. His pockets were turned out and it appeared his house key might have been used to gain access to the home. A reward of $25,000 is available for information leading to an arrest in this case.

Agency

KC CrimeStoppers

Name

Gary Scott

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On october 23rd, 2005, kansas city police were called to 75th and troost on a disturbance. At the scene officers found about 60 spect shell casings. At about the same time officers walking out of the metro patrol station near 63rd and woodland saw a car pull into the parking lot and the occupants called to them for help. In the car police found 22 year-old gary g. Scott dead from a gunshot wound to the head. The other three people in the car had sustained non life threatening wounds. They told the officers they had been in the lot of a gas station at 75th and troost where they had a verbal argument with a woman. A male with her pulled out a handgun and opened fire on the victims’ car, striking all four occupants and killing mr. Scott. The case remains unsolved. If you can help call, email or text your tip to crime stoppers. A cash reward of up to $1,000 is available for information leading to an arrest.

Agency

KC CrimeStoppers