Stella, WI Area Cold Cases
Name
Phillip ChristensenAge
Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Found deceased on stouffer roadAgency
Illinois State Police
Name
Carmen CharnecoAge
Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Murdered on interstate 90Agency
Illinois State Police
Name
Leanne TaylorAge
Cause of Death
MurderInfo
Found by idot workersAgency
Illinois State Police
Name
Juan CarreraAge
35Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Juan carrera was found shot to death inside his truck. The truck was parked behind a speedway gas station at lake street and route 83 in addison.Agency
DuPage County Sheriff
Name
Debbie FijanAge
10Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Debbie fijan was reported missing when she did not return from an after school activity. Her body was found a few hours later in the area of fair oaks and lies road in what is now carol stream.Agency
DuPage County Sheriff
Name
Kristina WesselmanAge
15Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Kristina wesselman was reported missing by her mother on july 21, 1985. Her body was found the next day in glen ellyn, just off a dirt path located between a jewel food store on route 56 and route 53 and the valley view subdivision. It is believed she was on her way home from the jewel food store when she was attacked.Agency
DuPage County Sheriff
Name
Ryan PlimptonAge
8Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
The body of 8 month-old ryan plimpton was found unresponsive in his home at 8808 leslie lane.Agency
Cook County Sheriff
Name
Ismael SernaAge
34Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Ismael serna was heard screaming in the rear of his apartment. He asked his roommate to call the police and fell down. Ismael serna suffered multiple injuries (stab wounds) and was later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.Agency
Cook County Sheriff
Name
Dennis BraunAge
43Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Dennis braun’s body was discovered in a vehicle near 1644 algonquin rd. The victim had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The victim had been reported missing earlier in the week by family members.Agency
Cook County Sheriff
Name
Charles MerriamAge
52Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Charles e. Merriam was discovered inside his home, when concerned employees had gone to check on him after he failed to show up for work. He had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.Agency
Cook County Sheriff
Name
Luis JimenezAge
35Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
The body of luis jimenez was discovered by a passing motorist near harms road and old orchard road. The victim suffered a gunshot wound. The victim was from chicago and was last seen by his wife on 3/29/1982.Agency
Cook County Sheriff
Name
Beverly GritzmakerAge
46Cause of Death
TraumaInfo
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 NoahAge
Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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 ScullyAge
61Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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 HounsellAge
65Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
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 AmayaAge
52Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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 DelgagoAge
17Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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
Name
Sandra DanielsAge
56Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On sunday january 7, 2007 winnebago county sheriff's deputies were sent to rawley road, north of yale bridge road regarding skeletal remains found in the wooded area. The remains were identified as being those of sandra m. Daniels, 56 of elm grove village, wisconsin. Mrs. Daniels had been reported missing by her husband june 8, 2000. Information developed by wisconsin authorities is that mrs. Daniels had left of her own free will. Mrs. Daniels vehicle was located on june 29, 2000 in bellwood, illinois.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
LeAnn TaylorAge
29Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
29 year old leann taylor was found deceased monday december 6, 2004 off the side of the road on bypass 20 near montague road. Ms. Taylor was a know prostitute who frequented the southeast side of rockford. The investigation was conducted jointly by the winnebago county sheriff's department and the illinois state police.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Lottie FlowersAge
71Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
On february 23, 2002 winnebago county sheriff's deputies were dispatched to 730 newport for a medical assist call. Upon arrival they found the victim, lottie flowers, 71 years old in the living room on the home with multiple stab wounds. Mrs. Flowers was transported to the hospital where she later died. Mrs. Flowers was very active in her church and also delivered newspapers at rockford memorial hospital. She had been at the hospital earlier that morning. Mrs. Flowers lived in the house with her husband, son and grandson. She was very well know and loved by all who knew her.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Daniel MyersAge
32Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
32 year old daniel myers, a carpenter, was last seen with friends at rocky's tap in loves park on april 29, 1998. Daniel's body was found shortly after 10 a.M. On april 30, 1998 lying in the parking lot of monticello liquor store, 2001 cunningham street. He had been shot to death. Daniel's pick-up truck was missing but later found abandoned in the driveway of 411 stanley street.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
David FranksAge
36Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
The body of david e. Franks, age 36 was found at the dead end of 1300 collingswood on december 5, 1995. mr. Franks had been shot multiple times and the investigation determined that he was encountered at another location and battered and subsequently brought to the collingswood location. It is believed that david was killed as a result of a drug dispute.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Connie HeerdtAge
Cause of Death
StrangulationInfo
Connie r. Heerdt of rockford was found murdered on tuesday january 15, 1991 at 10:44 a.M. In the parking lot behind doyle's circle k lounge, 3911 sandy hollow road. The winnebago county coroner concluded the cause of death to be asphyxia due to manual strangulation. An investigation by the winnebago county sheriff's department determined that connie worked as a prostitute in the area.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Cheryl GriffinAge
Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
Cheryl jean griffin was found on saturday october 25, 1986 at approximately 8:00 a.M. In the kishwaukee gorge forest preserve, 4701 blackhawk road, rockford, illinois. Her body was found in a grassy area approximately 40 feet from the gated entrance of the forest preserve. The cause of death was a stab wound. An investigation into her death by the winnebago county sheriff's department determined ms. Griffin occasionally worked as a prostitute in the area.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Robert SimmonsAge
31Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
The victim robert l. Simmons, age 31 was shot near the preston street liquor store, 3912 preston street on april 8, 1982. Simmons' father robert simmons had ben involved in a confrontation at the liquor store with another subject when shots were fired and his son was hit. He transported his son to his residence at 801 vista terrace where sheriff's deputies and medical were called. Investigation determined that the confrontation started inside the liquor store and that the shooting of robert simmons, jr. Was a result of the initial dispute.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Loretta LyonsAge
46Cause of Death
Beaten/StrangulationInfo
On june 9, 1966 loretta lyons, age 46 was found deceased inside her home on latham road. Mrs. Lyons husband found her on the floor in a pool of blood when he arrived home. There were signs of a struggle in the home; however there was no forced entry. Mrs. Lyons appeared to have been beaten and strangled. It did not appear as though anything was missing from the home. A witness had seen a red ford galaxy near the home.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Octavio MartinezAge
32Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On august 8, 1962 octavio "Chico" martinez, age 32 and ann emily bergman, age 18 had been at the town lounge, 600 west state street and had won a dance contest. They left at approximately 12:55 a.M. And were walking to their car when they were picked up by an unknown suspect or suspects. Octavio martinez was found shot to death on beltline road near rockford airport about two hours later. Ann bergman's body was found six days later, also shot to death, in ogle county.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Ann BergmanAge
18Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On august 8, 1962 octavio "Chico" martinez, age 32 and ann emily bergman, age 18 had been at the town lounge, 600 west state street and had won a dance contest. They left at approximately 12:55 a.M. And were walking to their car when they were picked up by an unknown suspect or suspects. Octavio martinez was found shot to death on beltline road near rockford airport about two hours later. Ann bergman's body was found six days later, also shot to death, in ogle county.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Donald BurtonAge
21Cause of Death
BeatenInfo
On may 2, 1959 the bodies of donald burton, aged 21 and joseph greco, aged 21 were found in the trunk of a vehicle parked on the side of the road on montague, 1/4 mile east of meridian. Mr. Burton and mr. Greco were known to frequent illegal gambling operations in the northern illinois area. Both mr. Burton and mr. Greco were beaten to death and evidence of gambling paraphernalia was found in the car.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Joseph GrecoAge
21Cause of Death
BeatenInfo
On may 2, 1959 the bodies of donald burton, aged 21 and joseph greco, aged 21 were found in the trunk of a vehicle parked on the side of the road on montague, 1/4 mile east of meridian. Mr. Burton and mr. Greco were known to frequent illegal gambling operations in the northern illinois area. Both mr. Burton and mr. Greco were beaten to death and evidence of gambling paraphernalia was found in the car.Agency
Winnebago County Sheriff
Name
Benjamin RoselandAge
19Cause of Death
MissingInfo
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
Brian BurnsAge
55Cause of Death
MissingInfo
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 DietrichAge
30Cause of Death
MissingInfo
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 JaegerAge
37Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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 ArensdorfAge
20Cause of Death
MissingInfo
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
Edwin JacobsAge
55Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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
Francis RaffertyAge
58Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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
George LeonardAge
53Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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
Harold DoerringAge
66Cause of Death
MissingInfo
Sixty-six-year-old harold doerring was reported missing to the winneshiek county sheriff’s office in decorah, iowa, on february 16, 1997. Authorities found harold doerring’s truck abandoned on highway 218 south of mount pleasant in henry county on february 23, 1997. When they tried to contact him about the vehicle but could not find him, they discovered no one had seen doerring since february 16 in cedar falls, iowa.Agency
Iowa
Name
Hulda FischerAge
84Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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 ShiremanAge
21Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
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
Joshua YoderAge
4Cause of Death
Hit And RunInfo
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 ReedAge
38Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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
Kenneth BouzardAge
53Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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 dubuqueAgency
Iowa
Name
Kenny JohnsonAge
14Cause of Death
StrangulationInfo
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 parkAgency
Iowa
Name
Kevin GriebelAge
36Cause of Death
MissingInfo
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 maquoketaAgency
Iowa
Name
Lee RolfeAge
48Cause of Death
MissingInfo
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
Louis Reed SrAge
53Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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
Lyman ElledgeAge
65Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
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
Marlon Barber JrAge
15Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
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