Ontario, WI Area Cold Cases

Name

Benjamin Roseland

Age

19

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Around 10:30 p.M. Saturday, february 9, 2008, benjamin “ben” roseland left a friend’s house in the 400 block of 10th avenue south, clinton, iowa, to walk a few blocks to a hy-vee grocery store located in the 900 block of south 4th street. The 19-year-old never made it to the store.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Edwin Jacobs

Age

55

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Edwin harry jacobs, a 55-year-old veteran who served with the 1032 signal company during world war ii, was shot to death on sunday morning, january 2, 1972, near the izaak walton league clubhouse in clinton county, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

George Leonard

Age

53

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

George albert leonard, 53, a painting contractor and former elmwood dairy milkman, was shot to death in the early morning hours on saturday, november 28, 1981, while working his second part-time job at ‘the inn’ tavern in clinton, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Joshua Yoder

Age

4

Cause of Death

Hit And Run

Info

On may 3, 2005, 4-year-old josh yoder was struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 500 block of south 9th street in clinton, iowa. He died the following day at university hospitals in iowa city.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Judith Reed

Age

38

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Judith reed, 38, was engaged in an altercation outside the welcome inn tavern in goose lake, iowa, on thursday, december 26, 1974, at which time she was struck in the head. She was found dead in a friend’s home the following morning.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Louis Reed Sr

Age

53

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On thursday night, valentine’s day 1974, louis dale reed, sr., was killed by a 410 shotgun blast to the chest inside a shack at reed’s auto salvage, a salvage yard reed operated at 2800 liberty ave. On clinton’s south side. Reed also had a shotgun wound to his left arm.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Pamela Hinrichs

Age

19

Cause of Death

Shooting/Robbery

Info

Pamela rae hinrichs, 19, was shot during an apparent robbery of the amvets post no. 28 at 1317 s. 17th street in clinton, iowa, in the early morning hours on tuesday, january 13, 1981. According to reports at the time of the incident, the cash register and a nearby safe were cleaned out.There were no substantial leads, suspects or witnesses.The department of criminal investigation was called in to help solve the murder. John jutte, special agent in charge, said the case remains open until it reaches the courts.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Robert Clary

Age

48

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Robert m. Clary, 48, was shot in the chest at his clinton, iowa, mobile home sometime in the early morning hours on wednesday, september 29, 1982.Clary, a u.S. Army veteran who’d served in korea, was twice-divorced and lived alone at the rented 419-1/2 4th avenue south trailer parked next door to landlord jackie chadwick’s home.According to a clinton herald article published sept. 30, 1982, chadwick said she noticed clary’s door ajar early wednesday morning and went to check on him. Inside, she found clary’s fully-clothed body on the floor next to a blood-soaked chair and quickly notified the clinton police department.Clinton police said the death was reported about 7:30 a.M.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Steven Barrette

Age

20

Cause of Death

Undetermined

Info

Steven barrette, a 20-year-old army veteran, was killed on or around june 6, 1976 during a weekend camping trip. On tuesday evening, june 8, 1976, clinton police arrived at the barrette’s family doorstop to notify them steven’s body had washed ashore and been found near the mississippi river.Officials originally ruled barrette’s death an accidental drowning, though in late 2000 announced they’d developed new information that suggested foul play may have been involved. The hospital and barrette’s attending physicians hadn’t kept old x-rays or other medical records from his case, and the veteran’s autopsy records couldn’t be found.Armed with the new information, investigators exhumed barrette’s body in october 2000 from his grave at st. Irenaeus cemetery near eagle point park in clinton so a new autopsy could be performed. The second autopsy proved valuable and shed new light on barrette’s death.

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

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

Charles Jaeger

Age

37

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On august 29, 1984, charles jaeger, 37, was found in a pool of blood in his bed at his dyersville, iowa home, a bullet lodged in his brain. He was transported to the university of iowa hospitals and clinics in iowa city, where he was pronounced dead. The following article, which details jaeger’s case, was written by m.D. Kittle and published in the dubuque telegraph herald on april 20, 2008.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Crystal Arensdorf

Age

20

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Crystal ann arensdorf, 20, of dubuque, iowa, was last seen at approximately 2 a.M. On july 4, 2001, at knicker’s saloon in dubuque, iowa. Arensdorf had gone to the 2186 central avenue bar with friends and tried to find a ride to east dubuque, ill. No one saw her leave the bar, and she left her car, her keys, and her money behind. She did not show up for work thursday morning. Steven and david peacock — two former dubuque brothers who resided in mount horeb, wisconsin — were at the bar on july 4 and questioned several times in arensdorf’s disappearance. The brothers agreed to polygraph exams in april 2002, and authorities also seized and searched david peacock’s vehicle. The brothers were never charged in connection with arensdorf’s case.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Francis Rafferty

Age

58

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Francis john rafferty — a 58-year-old millworker — died of asphyxiation after burglars entered his dubuque, iowa home saturday night, feb. 8, 1964, and taped his mouth shut with electrician’s tape. Dubuque police chief robert o’brien said rafferty was tied up with telephone wire and, because his mouth was covered with tape, apparently choked on food he’d eaten earlier.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Hulda Fischer

Age

84

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On february 25, 1975, hulda fischer, 84, was stabbed repeatedly with a butcher knife and strangled in her maquoketa, iowa, home located at 418 north fifth street. Neighbors discovered her body when they went to check on her.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jackie Shireman

Age

21

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

On saturday, jan. 4, 1975, at approximately 7:45 p.M., a customer at dubuque’s “marino’s meal on a bun” found waitress jackie shireman lying in a pool of blood in the walk-in cooler. The 21-year-old newlywed and sunday school teacher had been stabbed around 30 times with a pair of scissors. A trial returned no homicide conviction, and the case remains open. The following story about jackie’s murder aired on kwwl.Com channel 7 news on feb. 21, 2018. It details how jackie’s sister has never given up on solving her sister’s murder and how jackie’s death affected the family.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Kenneth Bouzard

Age

53

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

In the early morning hours on friday, april 23, 1971, kenneth marvin bouzard was clubbed to death and then stuffed beneath a freight car in downtown dubuque

Agency

Iowa

Name

Kenny Johnson

Age

14

Cause of Death

Strangulation

Info

On saturday, october 10, 1987 around 8:45 a.M., an elderly fisherman discovered the body of a young white male lying on the sandy beach area near a floodgate in dubuque, iowa’s isolated maus park

Agency

Iowa

Name

Kevin Griebel

Age

36

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Kevin lee griebel, 36, was reported missing to the jackson county sheriff’s office in maquoketa, iowa, on february 26, 2004. He was last seen in maquoketa

Agency

Iowa

Name

Lee Rolfe

Age

48

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Lee allan rolfe, a 48-year-old registered sex offender, disappeared from his rural garber, iowa home on april 13, 2008. He was reported missing to the clayton county sheriff’s office in elkader that same day. Lee allan rolfe (courtesy namus) lee allan rolfe (courtesy namus) officials described rolfe — aka “rolfey rolfe” — as a 5-foot-9 white male with blue eyes, brown hair, and weighing 230 pounds. Rolfe wears glasses, has a tattoo of yosemite sam on his upper left arm, and was on anti-depressant medication at the time of his disappearance.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Lyman Elledge

Age

65

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Lyman elledge, 65, was found bludgeoned to death on the front lawn of the barney wiskus home in colesburg, iowa, at about 7 a.M. On friday, september 28, 1951.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Marlene Padfield

Age

17

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On wednesday evening, february 18, 1959, marlene padfield, 17, went to the kozy inn restaurant in cedar rapids with arthur scott jr., an 18-year-old part-time coe college student involved in community theater.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Marlon Barber Jr

Age

15

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On oct. 20, 2012, marlon barber, jr., a 15-year-old dubuque teen, was shot in the chest and stomach as he and his friends walked away from a party. He died soon after in the hospital. Another teen was hit by gunfire but treated at a hospital and released.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Matthew Carter

Age

21

Cause of Death

Hit And Run

Info

Eight days after a new iowa hit-and-run law went into effect, matthew adam carter, 21, was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver in the early morning hours on sunday, july 9, 2006, while walking home from a camping outing with friends and family members near monticello, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Nathaniel Carnagey

Age

36

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

He moved to marion late in 1846. In early 1847, he was murdered. Nathaniel carnagy will forever be known as linn county’s first murder victim. The murder may have been the best thing that ever happened to carnagy – from a purely historical perspective, of course. Otherwise, there would be little, if anything, about his life in the local history books. One cannot tell what he might have accomplished later in life had he survived, but there are no indications that he was anything but a farmer or laborer. Probably hardworking. Quite possibly a good father. But about the only thing we know for sure about him was that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nathaniel carnagy is one of the mysteries in marion history.As with anything else of passing interest that occurred at that time, some guesses have to be made about the circumstances of carnagy’s death.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Nels Louvring

Age

51

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Sometime between 11 and 11:30 p.M. On saturday, july 29, 1933, nels pedersen louvring, 51, was shot at his fayette, iowa home shortly after arriving home from work. Louvring, owner of dixie oil co. (aka nels louvring filling station), left the filling station at approximately 11 p.M. He parked his car in the family’s 315 water street garage, and was shot just as he was leaving the garage. A .38 caliber bullet — which entered louvring’s left side just above his waist and exited near his right shoulder — indicated the perpetrator had been kneeling and/or sitting low in wait to ambush louvring. Louvring staggered from the yard towards his home’s kitchen door, where he finally collapsed.Officials found him dead in a pool of blood, the cigar cash box and keys still near the victim’s hands. A .38 caliber shell casing was found embedded in the wood near the garage door.Louvring’s [second] Wife amy, and his stepdaughter’s family found him collapsed over the kitchen threshold — cash and receipts scattered around him — shortly after they heard the shot. The entire family — including louvring’s wife, his stepdaughter, stepson, and their respective spouses — had been at the store that night and departed the main st. Business just half an hour before louvring left the business to return home.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Paul Knockel

Age

53

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On thursday, oct. 12, 2023, dubuque police responded to a report of a submerged vehicle in the mississippi river. Officials identified the vehicle as a 1981 mercury zephyr and stated the car belonged to paul joseph knockel, who’d been reported missing from dubuque on nov. 26, 1990. N november 1990, the dubuque telegraph herald reported that knockel last had contact with family members on monday, november 12 and that knockel’s car was last seen by a family member the morning of november 13, parked along u.S. Route 151 less than one mile east of the dubuque-wisconsin bridge near the “welcome to wisconsin” sign on the roadway’s south side.Knockel, a lifelong bachelor with no children, missed his usual thanksgiving dinner with relatives and they reported him missing the following monday after he failed to show up at a job at the swiss colony mail-order gift warehouse in monroe, wisconsin, dubuque police told the telegraph herald. Police also said knockel was last seen friday, november 17, driving along a highway in grant county, wisconsin.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Pitt Doxsie

Age

34

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On tuesday, october 26, 1897, patrolman pitt mcclellan doxsie, 34, was shot and killed in independence, iowa during a gunfight with two thieves. Patrolman doxsie had been patrolling the city’s downtown area on horseback when he stumbled on a burglary in progress.His body was discovered in an alley, and neither of the two thieves were ever apprehended.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Ronald Novak

Age

24

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

In a special kcrg-tv report on dec. 26, 2013, col. John stuelke of the linn county sheriff’s office revealed the steps his department has taken to show the latest layer in ron novak’s 30-year-old homicide investigation. Stuelke told channel 9’s chris earl:ron novak stayed home on the deadly cold night. With the gusting winds, wind chills plummeted toward 40 degrees below zero on friday, december 23, 1983. Christmas eve would arrive the following day, and novak hoped to spend some time with his large family and girlfriend.His girlfriend, along with his best friend, dale laver, were supposed to stop by later in the evening, and the 24-year-old bachelor — who usually thrived on privacy — found himself looking forward to their visit.Both knew novak rarely left his home for long, and while troubled about not being able to reach him, they felt certain that if something happened, ron would be able to fend for himself. Nicknamed “tarzan,” novak stood 6 feet tall and weighed more than 200 pounds. He also kept three guns in his home.Novak would never know why the two failed to arrive.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Scott Althoff

Age

23

Cause of Death

Hit And Run

Info

Scott m. Althoff, 23, was killed in a hit-and-run homicide west of la motte near zwingle, iowa, on july 21, 2002.Althoff, a lifelong baseball player, had graduated just one year earlier from the university of dubuque with a degree in sports management.Althoff, who lived in eldridge but grew up in la motte, was walking on 300th street near zwingle when an unidentified vehicle struck him and then drove away. A passerby found althoff’s body early sunday morning, july 21, 2002.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Sherrie Martin

Age

8

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Sisters sherrie lee martin, 8, and victoria lynne martin, 4, were killed in an early morning fire on saturday, march 6, 1965, when someone set fire to the family’s dubuque, iowa two-story frame house.The girls’ mother, janet, escaped from the burning home about 3:30 a.M. But said she was unable to save her daughters. The girls were asleep on the home’s second floor when the fire broke out.Janet’s husband, donald c. Martin, a former national guardsman and marine corps corporal employed by the united states postal service, also had a second job and worked the second shift. After the fire, both he and his wife were admitted to the hospital for shock.Martin requested his daughters’ bodies be exhumed to prove his estranged wife had provided the accelerant that led to their deaths. Further investigation determined the fire had indeed been deliberately set and ruled it arson. Both girls’ deaths were then ruled homicides.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Victoria Martin

Age

4

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Sisters sherrie lee martin, 8, and victoria lynne martin, 4, were killed in an early morning fire on saturday, march 6, 1965, when someone set fire to the family’s dubuque, iowa two-story frame house.The girls’ mother, janet, escaped from the burning home about 3:30 a.M. But said she was unable to save her daughters. The girls were asleep on the home’s second floor when the fire broke out.Janet’s husband, donald c. Martin, a former national guardsman and marine corps corporal employed by the united states postal service, also had a second job and worked the second shift. After the fire, both he and his wife were admitted to the hospital for shock.Martin requested his daughters’ bodies be exhumed to prove his estranged wife had provided the accelerant that led to their deaths. Further investigation determined the fire had indeed been deliberately set and ruled it arson. Both girls’ deaths were then ruled homicides.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Theodore Hoerstman

Age

45

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Theodore anthony “ted” hoerstman, a 45-year-old disabled adult, was reported missing to the dubuque police department in dubuque, iowa, on december 6, 1982. Hoerstman, initially listed on the iowa department of public safety’s missing person information clearinghouse, was removed from the site in 2011 and he is now presumed deceased. Date of date is listed as the same day he went missing.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Ronald Novak

Age

24

Cause of Death

Gun/Firearm

Info

Agency

Linn County Sheriff's Office

Name

Kenny Johnson

Age

14

Cause of Death

Ligature/Strangulation

Info

Agency

Dubuque Police Department

Name

Amos Mortier

Age

27

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Went missing from the rental home he lived in while attending madison area technical college. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the fitchburg police department at (608) 270-4300.

Agency

Fitchburg Police Department

Name

Lofton Sprouls

Age

27

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Outside an apartment building in the nob hill complex, near 1116 moorland road on madison's south side.Deleon d. Harland, 22, of chicago, who prosecutors say is the "Prime suspect" in sprouls' death, is being held in dane county jail on a charge of obstructing police investigating the homicide and could be charged at a later date.

Agency

Dane County

Name

Brittany Zimmermann

Age

21

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

An autopsy report said zimmermann died of "Complex homicidal violence including multiple stab wounds and strangulation." her downtown apartment at 517 w. Doty st., madison.Police are investigating but have no suspect.

Agency

Dane County

Name

Larry Gardner

Age

56

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Oakridge apartments, 2209 cypress way, on madison's south side.Last june, a judge dismissed a felony murder charge against a 16-year-old boy accused of taking part in a robbery in which gardner was shot to death. Prosecutors said the state no longer could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the boy was an accomplice to an unidentified man who shot gardener.

Agency

Dane County

Name

George Thomas

Age

65

Cause of Death

Trauma

Info

Thomas suffered multiple forms of trauma, but authorities have not said how he was killed.King's inn, 915 w. Beltline, on madison's south side.Under investigation.

Agency

Dane County

Name

Kelly Nolan

Age

22

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Authorities have not said how she died.Unknown. Nolan's body was found in a wooded area off schneider road in the town of dunn on july 9, 2007.Police are investigating but have no suspect.

Agency

Dane County

Name

Amos Mortier

Age

27

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Date unknown. He was last seen at his rural fitchburg home nov. 8, 2004 and is presumed to have been murdered. His body has not been found.Jacob r. Stadfeld, 33, who is in jail awaiting trial in an alleged large-scale marijuana distribution scheme, is considered a suspect in mortier's disappearance but has not been charged.

Agency

Dane County

Name

Gregory Bray

Age

26

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

His duplex at 6403 raymond road on madison's southwest side.John high, 36, who is serving a federal prison sentence for gun possession, is considered a suspect in bray's death but has not been charged.

Agency

Dane County

Name

Beverly Gritzmaker

Age

46

Cause of Death

Trauma

Info

On sunday april 20, 2014 the body of 46 year old beverly janet gritzmaker was found in the kishwaukee river, near the kishwaukee gorge forest preserve, 4643 blackhawk road. An autopsy determined that ms. Gritzmaker had sustained trauma to her upper body.

Agency

Winnebago County Sheriff

Name

Baby Noah

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On friday july 13, 2012 winnebago county sheriff's deputies were sent to one source recycle (total waste), 12125 n. 2nd street in reference to a deceased infant. Upon arrival it was deterined that a newborn infant male had been found dead on a conveyor belt line by employees of the firm. The company employees immediately called 911 after finding the infant. Garbage was recycled at the plant after having been brought there by multiple regional garbage companies. The winnebago county coroner's office named the infant "Baby noah".

Agency

Winnebago County Sheriff

Name

Michael Scully

Age

61

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On december 11, 2011 at approximately 12:45 a.M. The body of michael scully, age 61, was found in his vehicle parked on the side of the road in the 7800 block of clikeman road in rural northwest winnebago county. Mr. Scully had been shot to death. Michael scully had been the victim of two prior violent crimes. On november 2, 2011 mr. Scully was struck with a tire iron by two unknown suspects when he arrived home from work. On november 9, 2011 mr. Scully was shot in the arm, also outside his home in machesney park.

Agency

Winnebago County Sheriff

Name

Constance Hounsell

Age

65

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Mrs. Hounsell, age 65, was found murdered in her home at 6441 alice lane in rockton, illinois on december 27, 2008. She was found in the basement with a stab wound to the neck. The home is in a rural area and there was no sign of forced entry. Mrs. Hounsell was a widow and lived alone in the home. Family members described mrs. Hounsell as a very likable person with a generous spirit.

Agency

Winnebago County Sheriff

Name

Marcario Amaya

Age

52

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On november 20, 2008 the body of 52 year old marcario amaya was found stuffed into a large plastic garbage bag in the parking lot of mi casa bar, 1103 s. Pierpont avenue. Mr. Amaya had been shot to death. Mr. Amaya was known to frequent the el-navagante bar at 612 7th street.

Agency

Winnebago County Sheriff

Name

Alexander Delgago

Age

17

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

The body of 17 year old alexander delgado was found at west state and garver avenue at approximately 12:51 a.M. On sunday july 22, 2007. Alexander was shot to death.

Agency

Winnebago County Sheriff