Wonewoc, WI Area Cold Cases

Name

Phillip Christensen

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Found deceased on stouffer road

Agency

Illinois State Police

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

Harold Doerring

Age

66

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

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

Linda Wegner

Age

31

Cause of Death

Knife/stabbing

Info

Agency

La Crosse Police Department

Name

Angelina Wall

Age

22

Cause of Death

Undisclosed

Info

Agency

Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Office

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

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

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

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

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

Leanne Taylor

Age

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Found by idot workers

Agency

Illinois State Police

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

Name

Sandra Daniels

Age

56

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

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 Taylor

Age

29

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

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 Flowers

Age

71

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

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 Myers

Age

32

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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 Franks

Age

36

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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 Heerdt

Age

Cause of Death

Strangulation

Info

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 Griffin

Age

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

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