Crime at 1200 BLOCK OF 1ST AVE SE on 04/21/2026 12:33 PM

Name

Joshua Wellman

Missing Age

35

Est. Current Age

45

Last Seen

Cedar Rapids, IA on 11/11/2015

Physical Description

Race: White Ethnicity: Caucasian Gender: Male Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Height: 5'5" Weight: 175 lbs

Case Number

MP55642

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