Appleton, MN Area Cold Cases

Name

Aaron Marr

Age

37

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Aaron marr, 37, died saturday night, sept. 22, 2007, after suffering several stab wounds to his back and neck in his ames, iowa, apartment. At approximately 9:53 p.M., ames police received a call for an ambulance assist regarding a man with a neck laceration. Officers found marr after arriving at the 210 s. Second st. Home.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Adrian Reuwsaat

Age

69

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Adrian charles reuwsaat, 69, was reported missing to the sioux city police department in sioux city, iowa, on november 3, 2002, and foul play has long been suspected in his disappearance.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Alicia Hummel

Age

29

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Alicia marie hummel, a 29-year-old preschool teacher from sioux city, iowa, was found dead in the missouri river monday afternoon, june 1, 2015, near the shore at a boat dock in myron grove, south dakota. The area — also known as the highline area — is about seven miles west of vermillion.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Allen Shoemaker

Age

36

Cause of Death

Hit And Run

Info

Allen f. Shoemaker — a police officer with the chicago and northwestern railroad police — was shot and killed on sunday, may 17, 1925, while conducting a railroad check in missouri valley, iowa.

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

Alta Braun

Age

12

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Twelve-year-old alta marie braun of le mars, iowa, was raped and strangled sometime monday evening, august 20, 1917, after going to the yankee robinson circus.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Andrew Hatges

Age

75

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Andrew “andy” hatges, 75, owner of the former west vu market located at 2601 fourth st. S.W. In mason city, was found dead in his home on friday, march 8, 1968, after he didn’t open the store that morning.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Angela Altman

Age

22

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Four-year-old jessica marie altman found her mother’s dead body saturday afternoon, jan. 24, 1981, in the fort dodge apartment where the two lived together. Angela marie altman, 22, lay partially nude on the kitchen floor — stabbed and strangled.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Anthony Evans

Age

5

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Five-year-old anthony evans was struck by a hit-and-run driver in the 1000 block of 21st street in sioux city, iowa, on june 20, 2000.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Arnold Sansgaard

Age

58

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

On saturday, july 21, 1984, authorities found 58-year-old arnold sansgaard’s unclothed body on the living room floor of his rural story city home in northeast boone county. Sansgaard had been stabbed multiple times and had been dead for about a week. His mother, delia, who lived with sansgaard, was away visiting her daughter in nashua at the time of the murder.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Barbara Brim

Age

53

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On wednesday afternoon, april 25, 2001, barbara kay brim, 53, was shot in her rural hamilton county, iowa home. Brim’s husband, robert “larry” brim, told officials he found his wife at the bottom of the basement stairs in their home near webster city after spending the afternoon moving farm equipment. He said his wife was fine when the two had shared lunch just hours earlier.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Bernadene Sealine

Age

67

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Bernadene sealine, 67, of dexter, iowa, was reported missing to the pottawattamie county sheriff’s office in council bluffs, iowa, on july 10, 1993 after flood waters swept away the family’s vehicle in carson, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Bertha Foy

Age

18

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Bertha mae foy was killed in fort dodge, iowa, on august 9, 1987. The young mother left behind three small children, ages 3, 2, and a 9-month-old baby. Two men were questioned in foy’s murder but no one was ever charged.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Elizabeth Swetnam

Age

73

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Betty swetnam, a 73-year-old grandmother who operated a massage business out of her 1610 west 19th st. Sioux city home’s basement, was brutally stabbed to death on friday december 31, 1993.

Agency

Iowa

Name

William Pruin

Age

43

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

William thomas “billy” pruin, 43, was shot at his rural mason city, iowa, home on tuesday, april 4, 1995. Cerro gordo county in iowa cerro gordo county in iowa mason city in cerro gordo countymason city in cerro gordo county two days before his death, he’d proposed to his girlfriend, gretchen tusler. Officials initially ruled his death a suicide, but later changed the status to undetermined.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brian Blachut

Age

30

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Brian richard blachut, 30, of lake mills, iowa, disappeared after leaving the blue moon saloon in scarville, iowa, about 2 a.M. On sunday, november 21, 1993. At approximately 10 a.M., blachut’s four-wheel drive datsun 1981 pickup truck was found partially submerged in a drainage ditch on the west side of winnebago county road a-16, about two miles east of scarville. Tracks indicated the vehicle had gone down into the ditch on the road’s east side, circled in the field, crossed back over the blacktop road and then gone back into the ditch on the road’s west side.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brenda Dailey

Age

53

Cause of Death

Beaten

Info

Brenda dailey, 53, was badly beaten in her mapleton, iowa, home on monday, aug. 24, 2015, before being pushed down her basement stairs. According to a press release issued tuesday by the iowa department of public safety, the mapleton police department received a 911 call for an unresponsive female at 702 monona street in mapleton on monday, aug. 24, at approximately 10:30 a.M.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Connie Ruddy

Age

21

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Connie ruddy, a 21-year-old mother of two, was reported missing from her ida grove, iowa home on monday, february 10, 1997. Her 2-year-old daughter and 3-month-old son were found alone inside the residence, unharmed. Ruddy had last been seen by her sister around 11 p.M. Saturday, february 8, in ruddy’s home. About 10:30 a.M. Monday, a friend stopped by and discovered ruddy gone and her children alone. Ruddy’s car was still at the house and she hadn’t taken her purse.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dale Robinson

Age

84

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

The moville police department is asking the public for help in locating dale robinson, who was reported missing on saturday, august 3, 2013. He was 84 years old at the time he disappeared. He was last seen aug. 3 while getting gas in moville at the 4-way stop shop. He left the service station driving his maroon and gray 2000 ford f-150 single cab pickup — iowa license plate number 870zcf, expiry date may 2014 — heading westbound on u.S. Highway 20 toward sioux city, and may have been en route to santa ana or paramount, california, or st. Joseph, missouri, according to initial reports. Robinson, described as 5-foot-6 and weighing between 90 and 116 pounds, suffered from early onset alzheimer’s. Dozens of people searched for the well-known robinson, a retired welder and fabricator who’d operated r&r sheet metal in moville for about 30 years. After retiring from the sheet metal business, robinson did voluntarily jobs all over the siouxland area, including mowing the grass at the woodbury county fairgrounds in moville and giving others rides to doctor appointments. Moville in woodbury county, ia moville in woodbury county, ia

Agency

Iowa

Name

Daniel Harden

Age

61

Cause of Death

Trauma

Info

The sioux city police department is seeking information on the murder of pastor daniel harden — sometimes referred to as “preacher” by friends — whose body was discovered around 4 a.M. Dec. 1, 2020, in a park place apartment at 2601 douglas street on the city’s north side. Harden had been dead for about a week and his body showed signs of blunt force trauma.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Daniel Hieber

Age

58

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Aniel “dan” hieber, 58, of castana, iowa, was found unresponsive and near death at the bottom of a staircase in a mapleton residence early on sunday, sept. 20, 2015. An ambulance transported hieber to mercy medical center in sioux city, where he was pronounced dead. Mapleton police were summoned to the 823 main street home around 1:25 a.M. By the woman who owned the home, who told officers hieber had “fallen down the stairs.”

Agency

Iowa

Name

David Redowl Sr

Age

27

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

At approximately 2:00 a.M. On april 26, 1997, 27-year-old david redowl and his 24-year-old sister, sonja, had a physical altercation in the back yard of their mother’s residence at 610 west 3rd street in sioux city, iowa. Both redowl and his sister listed

Agency

Iowa

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

Dennis Addlesberger

Age

46

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Dennis ray addlesberger, 46, was reported missing to the pottawattamie county sheriff’s office in council bluffs, iowa, on march 16, 1999. At the time of his disappearance, dennis was described as a 5-foot-7 white male weighing 165 pounds. His eyes are hazel, and he may have been completely bald. Officials have classified his case as “endangered / physical,” which refers to a person of any age who is missing under circumstances indicating his/her physical safety is in danger.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Donna Davis

Age

21

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Donna sue davis hadn’t yet reached her second birthday. The 21-month-old 21-pound blue-eyed girl with the mass of dark blond curly hair was the youngest of james (“don”) and mary davis’s three children, and her three prized possessions included her teddy bear, a rubber doll and a red purse. Eleven-year-old mary claire, the eldest of the siblings, had friends who resided in the same west side neighborhood in sioux city, ia, and they often could be seen pushing strollers and buggies around the block with donna sue and the other girls’ young siblings in tow. Timothy, 7, also had ample playmates within safe walking distance from the family’s 715 isabella street home. Everyone knew and loved donna sue, though seldom used her name. To them, she was simply “the darling of the neighborhood.”

Agency

Iowa

Name

Douglas Nielsen

Age

17

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

In the early morning hours on friday, october 18, 1974, douglas a. Nielsen was shot and killed during a house party at the home of mr. And mrs. Earl garrison in humboldt, iowa. Nielsen, 17, was shot in the kidney area of the lower back with a .22-caliber firearm. Nielsen’s body was found at approximately 1 a.M. In the garrison’s basement game room, where investigators said they also seized several other weapons.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dung Truong

Age

37

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On monday, sept. 22, 1997, dung kim truong, a 37-year-old female vietnamese legal alien authorized to work in the united states, left the omaha home she shared with her boyfriend and went to the recently opened ameristar riverboat casino across the missouri river in council bluffs, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Earl Thelander

Age

25

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

The thieves had stripped propane gas lines from a country home — a house formerly owned by my grandparents — where earl and my mother, hope thelander, had been working and readying for a renter. Earl was life-flighted to the clarkson burn center at the university of nebraska hospital in omaha, where he died four days later on september 1. He and my mother would have celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary four months later on december 30. Also left behind were earl’s six children and five stepchildren, 22 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, four sisters and three brothers, and countless in-laws, loved ones and friends.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Edward Hickson

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On february 15, 1978 at 4:14 a.M., council bluffs police department officers responded to a fire call in the 1500 block of south 6th street, where the fire department advised them there was an unresponsive person inside the rock island bunkhouse #27. The unresponsive male was taken by ambulance to mercy hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival and identified as edward leroy hickson. A witness to the incident advised police that on the same night as the fire at 4:05 a.M., he had observed a white male, 6’3 to 6’4 and wearing a brown stocking hat and black jacket, enter the rock island bunkhouse #27. The witness said the individual immediately came back out and went to a 1975 or 1976 buick or monte carlo, burgundy over white in color, removed something from inside the vehicle and then re-entered the building. The witness said he saw a green shirt hanging inside the car, and that a few minutes later the man exited the building and left in the same vehicle.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Edward Uhlenhopp

Age

85

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Edward r. “ed” uhlenhopp, 85, was killed on friday, june 29, 2001, when the honda moped he was driving in ackley, iowa, was struck by an unidentified truck that did not stop. The iowa state patrol and hardin county sheriff’s office reported that uhlenhopp died at the scene. Uhlenhopp, a wwii us army veteran, was driving southbound on butler street and attempting to make a left turn into a private driveway on fourth avenue when the truck, following closely behind the moped, made an attempt to pass on the left. The vehicles collided and the truck kept on going.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Effie Bell

Age

46

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

At the end of the day on friday, march 18, 1966, effie bell (known as “cupie” to her family) got off work from her job at mcray cosmetics factory in madrid, iowa, just as she’d done since 1958 when first hired by the cosmetics manufacturer. There was no telling what the weekend had in store for the wife and mother of three, or what her husband, frank bell, sr., 49, might have in mind. He’d just quit his job at the john deere des moines works plant the previous day.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Ethan Kazmerzak

Age

22

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Ethan kazmerzak, 22, was reported missing to the hampton police department in hampton, iowa, on sept. 15, 2013. Hampton in franklin county hampton in franklin county franklin county in iowa franklin county in iowa he was last seen in rural hampton around 12 a.M. Sunday, sept. 15, 2013, and wore a teal/white printed shirt and peach/orange shorts. According to findethan.Com, kazmerzak was seen in several area pubs on sept. 14, including pit row and the red moose in hampton as well as duck’s in aredale. He reportedly was last seen at a party at a gravel pit pond located behind a house in the 1400 block of 190th street. Police say kazmerzak’s cell phone was last used around 12:30 a.M. On sept. 15 at the intersection of 190th street and olive avenue, and that his atm card has reportedly not been used since sept. 14.

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

Frank Eckels

Age

73

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Frank johnston eckels, 73, was shot and wounded during a holdup at his motel and café in oakland, iowa, on wednesday, december 3, 1958. Eckels died three days later on saturday, december 6, at a council bluffs hospital

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gary Lack

Age

58

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Cause of death: drowning (in own blood) after a hospice nurse illegally administered a fatal dosage of an unprescribed drug she’d stolen from another client original investigating agency: medicare, iowa board of nursing, and iowa department of inspection and appea

Agency

Iowa

Name

George Dean Jr

Age

55

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On wednesday evening, june 29, 1966, george earl dean, jr. Was found deceased in the street in front of his mapleton, iowa home. Dean had suffered fractured facial bones and fractured ribs on the left side, leading officials to believe he had been struck by a car. According to a 2009 report by the iowa division of criminal investigation cold case unit, the investigation into dean’s death revealed he likely had been having an affair with a woman known as “mrs. Carley,” who also resided in mapleton.

Agency

Iowa

Name

George Massouris

Age

30

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

George james massouris, a 30-year-old union pacific railroad carman who worked part-time as a taxicab driver, was found dead in a ditch on the old orchard road two miles east of council bluffs, iowa, on sunday morning, nov. 19, 1950. He’d been shot three times at the base of his skull with a .22 caliber automatic pistol.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gloria Slump

Age

24

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On monday, march 6, 1967, burlington railroad employees found the frozen body of 24-year-old gloria fay slump under a trestle over pony creek three miles south of council bluffs, iowa. Pottawattamie county in iowa pottawattamie county in iowa council bluffs in pottawattamie countycouncil bluffs in pottawattamie county a trail of blood showed she was dragged to the site from a county road 150 yards away.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gregory Howell

Age

44

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

But his family says he never deserved what he got. “we used to snowmobile race. We used to go to minnesota every sunday. Race drag sleds. I mean we just had a blast,” says greg’s brother frank. Frank howell remembers the good times. But he knows his brother had a dark side, the drugs that played jekyll and hyde with his personality, and probably led to his death. “I told him, I said you need to slow down,” frank says. “you got a family. You got a good family. You need to grow up. He wanted to be a kid. He lived a fast life.”

Agency

Iowa

Name

Henry Chavis

Age

55

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On nov. 8, 1948, henry chavis, the owner and operator of ames canning company, was shot to death near the rear door steps of his farm home. His body was found at around 7 a.M. By nellie alber, his maid, and “red” dinamore, a cab driver who had taken her to the chavis home. Physicians estimated chavis had been dead between three and four hours before he was found.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Humberto Cortez

Age

31

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On june 21, 1996, a partially decomposed male body was discovered in a rail car by a paxton & vierling steel co. Employee. The body was identified in december 2009 as that of humberto cortez.

Agency

Iowa

Name

James Morris

Age

58

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Four days before halloween in 1991, james wesley “jimmy” morris — a.K.A. James morise and jimmy morise — was found beaten to death in his ames, iowa apartment. Morris rented an apartment on the second floor at 203 e. Lincoln way, a building next door to the tip top lounge in ames.

Agency

Iowa

Name

James Nicoll

Age

52

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

James clark nicoll, a 52-year-old baker from perth, scotland, who emigrated to council bluffs, iowa with his wife and five children in 1871, was found dead tuesday morning, march 17, 1885, lying frozen in about 15 inches of water in a tenth avenue council bluffs ditch that led into indian creek. A successful businessman, nicoll was known as a well respected community member.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jesse Nimajapol

Age

18

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

The denison police department is asking for the public’s help in finding 18-year-old jesse govani nimajapol, of denison, who was last seen on july 14, 2017, and reported missing to the denison police department

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jimmy Bremmers

Age

8

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

After dinner on tuesday, august 31, 1954, 8-year-old jimmy bremmers went to his friend joey hamel’s house two doors down from the bremmers home on sioux city’s west side. Jimmy’s parents had gone to lay brick for the basement of their new home, and though jimmy usually helped, this night he’d stayed behind to go visit his friend.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jodi Huisentruit

Age

27

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Today marks the 25th anniversary of jodi huisentruit’s disappearance in mason city. We pause today to stand with jodi’s family as they remember her and remain hopeful for answers about her disappearance. The investigation into her disappearance continues and is an active case being worked by the mason city police department and the iowa division of criminal investigation. We appreciate the work the media has done to keep jodi’s story in the public eye in support of our investigative efforts

Agency

Iowa

Name

Joseph Floyd

Age

42

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

World war ii veteran joseph j. Floyd jr., 42, was shot in the head in the early morning hours on saturday, july 1, 1967, in council bluffs, iowa. Union pacific railroad switchman edward l. Stephen, 1000 cathy lane, contacted authorities around 10:30 a.M. Saturday after finding the body

Agency

Iowa

Name

John Adams Jr

Age

23

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

John p. Adams, jr., 23, of omaha died from a single gunshot to the head on july 11, 1982, after an altercation in council bluffs, iowa, with two men riding motorcycles. A witness told police the fight started in omaha after a traffic confrontation. Witnesses said the two motorcyclists had been arguing in the street by 25th and west broadway and that when the victim approached one of the two men, the offender shot the victim in the face. Adams fell to the ground in the 2400 block of west broadway street

Agency

Iowa

Name

John Conaway

Age

36

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

John steven “steve” conaway, 36, of council bluffs, iowa, went missing sometime on monday night, february 9, 1998. He was reported missing to the council bluffs police department on february 11, 1998. Conaway was last seen between 10 and 10:30 p.M. On feb. 9 at buffalo joe’s food & spirits, located near rosenblatt stadium in downtown omaha, nebraska. Conaway had gone there with a friend and had a few beers, and seemed to be in good spirits at the time

Agency

Iowa

Name

John Erickson

Age

48

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On wednesday, april 30, 1997, vietnam veteran john lee erickson, 48, of council bluffs was shot in the head near mondamin, iowa, in harrison county. His killer or killers then dumped his body in a ditch off I-29 south of onawa in monona county

Agency

Iowa