Mapleton, ND Area Cold Cases

Name

Brianne Smith

Age

25

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Brianne smith, a 25-year-old mother of three, disappeared from omaha, neb., in april 2006. Her body was discovered in a mills county, iowa, roadside ditch west of glenwood on june 10, 2006. Mills county in iowa mills county in iowa glenwood in mills countyglenwood in mills county the mills county sheriff’s office and the iowa division of criminal investigation (dci) reported on july 18, 2006 that the human remains found were smith’s.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Debra Barajas

Age

44

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Debra (debbie) ann barajas was last seen on thursday afternoon, may 25, 2006, heading to the omaha vicinity of park avenue and leavenworth in omaha, neb. When she didn’t arrive, she was reported missing to the nebraska missing persons information clearinghouse. Mills county in iowa mills county in iowa glenwood in mills countyglenwood in mills county nearly six months later on tuesday, november 14, 2006, barajas’ remains were discovered in a pacific junction ravine northwest of glenwood, iowa, near the 54300 block of 195th street in mills county, iowa. The rural community’s population barely topped 500 people.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Evelyn Resh

Age

87

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Evelyn resh, 87, died tuesday, sept. 16, 1997 after someone deliberately set fire to the red oak apartment house where she lived alone. Her death is one from a group of “cold case” fire investigations resurrected in iowa in spring 2016. The cold cases became the focus in “arson awareness week,” as proclaimed by iowa gov. Terry branstad.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Gary Sebek

Age

20

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Gary eugene sebek, 20, spent the last day of his life going to work in the morning, being called away to witness the birth of his second child – a son – and leaving the hospital late that evening to return to his hamburg, iowa home, where he’d be slain that same night and his body removed from the premises.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Keara Coshow

Age

3

Cause of Death

Fire

Info

Keara lee coshow, a blind 3-year-old native american child living with her family in red oak, iowa, died thursday, july 12, 1979, in the hill top motel’s laundry room after her stepmother allegedly set the room afire. Keara, unconscious from an acute spinal cord injury sustained the previous evening (also allegedly at the hands of the stepmother), was carried into the laundry room shortly before the fire erupted.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Melvin Price

Age

26

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Around 4:30 a.M. Early sunday morning, november 17, 1974, a passing farragut truck driver discovered a body lying along iowa highway 42 near the foot of a hill about three miles west of riverton, iowa. He notified authorities, who identified the body as that of 26-year-old melvin price.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Julie Derrick

Age

19

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Julie derrick, 19, was last seen alive october 19, 1995. Her mother made a plea for her return. Julie’s body was found in o’fallon’s sand pit, weighted down. Forensic examination indicated she died shortly after her disappearance, but the cause of death was undetermined. Investigators believe it could have been a drug overdose.

Agency

Lincoln County Crimestoppers

Name

Leah Rowlands

Age

41

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Leah rowlands, 41, was shot and killed during an armed robbery at an amoco station. The suspect, a man in a red pontiac, killed rowlands and stole money and goods. Despite security footage aired on national tv, no suspect has been arrested.

Agency

Lincoln County Crimestoppers

Name

Jay Blockson

Age

23

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jay blockson, 23, was found dead in a stand of trees. An autopsy determined broken ribs caused internal damage leading to his death. Investigators believe the notorious freight train riders of america gang might be responsible for his death.

Agency

Lincoln County Crimestoppers

Name

Ray Green

Age

55

Cause of Death

Strangulation

Info

Ray "Sandy" green, 55, was found dead in an underground bunker, strangled. Investigators believe there was a struggle at the scene. The case remains open, but progress is slowed as one suspect in the case died of a heart attack.

Agency

Lincoln County Crimestoppers

Name

Anita Knutson

Age

18

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

On june 4, 2007, the body of 18 year old anita mae knutson was found in her apartment in the 2400 block of 4th street nw in minot, nd. Anita had been killed while lying in her bed; she died as a result of knife wounds to her upper body. Unknown suspect(s) appeared to have entered the apartment through a ground floor window and exited by the same route. The murder weapon was found at the scene.

Agency

North Dakota AG

Name

Adriel Ward

Age

33

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On saturday, feb. 11, 2017, adriel ward, 33, was shot at about 9:37 p.M. Before he crashed into a utility pole in the 1700 block of delaware avenue on des moines’ northeast side. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died the next day.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Alice Alstine

Age

28

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

On a cold friday night, march 26, 1976, alice van alstine — a 28-year-old former “minutemen” sympathizer who’d recently abandoned the right-wing paramilitary organization — tucked her children into bed at their 29th st. Des moines apartment and then vanished into thin air, never to be seen or heard from again. Her purse and money were found in the apartment, and despite the near-freezing 37º outside temperature, she’d also disappeared without her coat or shoes.

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

Anna Miller

Age

57

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Fifty-seven-year-old anna t. Miller — a secretary at the pittsburgh-des moines steel company (pdm) — was discovered deceased in her des moines home on monday, july 10, 1978, after failing to report to work.Miller’s brother, merle miller, discovered his sister’s body in the living room of her home at 3531 54th street after following up on a phone call from his sister’s co-worker.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Annamarie Rittman

Age

46

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Annamarie rittman, a 46-year-old employee at the lowe’s store in altoona, iowa, was struck down by a pickup that swerved into her on december 27, 2005. The mother of three was walking through the store’s parking lot just before 5:30 a.M. When video cameras captured on tape a red four-door ford pickup truck running her down and hitting her from behind

Agency

Iowa

Name

Anthony Williams

Age

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

Anthony williams was killed in des moines, iowa, on january 8, 1998. If you have any information about this unsolved murder please contact the des moines police department at (515) 283-4864.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Arlys Ponce

Age

42

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Arlys ponce — a 42-year-old mother of three — was found dead on the floor of her norwalk, iowa home on october 8, 1997. Ponce’s son had arrived at the residence at approximately 3:15 p.M., and when his mother failed to answer the door, he peered through a window and saw her body lying on the floor. The son contacted a neighbor, telling her he couldn’t get into the house but that he could see his mother lying on the floor. The neighbor contacted police, who entered the residence and discovered arlys ponce had been beaten and stabbed to death.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Ashley Okland

Age

27

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Ashley okland, a 27-year-old iowa realty agent, was shot twice and killed shortly before 2 p.M. On friday, april 8, 2011, while working inside a west des moines model townhouse. A rottlund homes employee heard a commotion inside the model townhouse at 558 stone creek court — part of the stone creek villas subdivision near 84th st. And e.P. True parkway in des moines developed by rottlund homes — and went to investigate. Inside, the worker discovered okland on the floor and called 911.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Barbara Perry

Age

61

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Barbara perry, 61, was struck in the head by a stray bullet at 3:23 p.M. On friday, sept. 2, 2016, while waiting for her 10-year-old granddaughter in the parking lot of the family dollar at 1251 university ave. In des moines.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Becky Palmer

Age

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Becky palmer was killed in des moines, iowa, on november 16, 1990.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Beth Ricketts

Age

31

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Beth ann ricketts, a 31-year-old military veteran and mother of three young children, vanished from des moines, iowa, on monday, dec. 22, 1997, under suspicious circumstances.

Agency

Iowa

Name

James Wood

Age

79

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Late on saturday night, july 30, 2011, the home of bill and kay wood of rural norwalk, iowa, was destroyed by fire. Around midnight and into early sunday morning, five fire departments responded to 2698 highway r-63 in greenfield township just south of des moines’ city limits and the des moines international airport.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Kaidena Wood

Age

72

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Late on saturday night, july 30, 2011, the home of bill and kay wood of rural norwalk, iowa, was destroyed by fire. Around midnight and into early sunday morning, five fire departments responded to 2698 highway r-63 in greenfield township just south of des moines’ city limits and the des moines international airport.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Billy Clark

Age

43

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Sometime on friday, august 1, 1975, billy lee clark of ottumwa, iowa, was shot in the back in a rural wapello county pasture. The 43-year-old’s body, found lying next to his pick-up truck, was discovered the following day at approximately 2:23 p.M. On a farm owned by martin bergland, about seven miles west of ottumwa on route 4.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Boyd Novinger

Age

77

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Boyd george novinger, 77, was killed in his bedford, iowa home on saturday, december 27, 1997. Novinger’s son-in-law and business partner, h. Keith taylor, was first on scene and told officials he found his father-in-law’s body the following sunday afternoon. An autopsy concluded novinger died from gunshot wounds to the chest.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Brandy Ratliff Jr

Age

31

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Brandy ratliff, jr. Was killed in a drive-by shooting while sitting on a couch inside his cousin’s home at 1608 e. Capitol ave. In des moines on sunday, october 19, 2008. Jesus garcia, 35, and his nephew, alfredo garcia, 13, were arrested and charged with first-degree murder shortly after the shooting, but police later determined witnesses lied to them and charges were dropped.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Bryan Howser

Age

33

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Bryan ashley howser, 33, was reported missing to the des moines police department on april 4, 2001. He was last seen wearing black jeans and a black hawkeye sweatshirt. Polk county in iowa polk county in iowa des moines in polk countydes moines in polk county howser married anne marie mathes, 18, in december 1998, and both were later charged with conspiracy to commit theft. Howser served time in prison, but vanished after his release.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Bryan Pence

Age

21

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Bryan eugene pence, a 21-year-old sinclair service station employee, was shot in the back around 10 p.M. On thursday, may 29, 1986, during a store robbery at 3725 frederick m. Hubbell ave. In des moines. Des moines police detective charles soderquist discovered pence’s body after driving by the service station and seeing, through the glass, three individuals walking toward the gas station’s restroom inside the facility.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Camille Njus

Age

20

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On wednesday, october 18th — 74 days after her disappearance — a city employee discovered her partially clad body buried beneath some brush and logs near the des moines river in a deserted area known as the flint access.Due to decomposition, an autopsy failed to determine cause of death but officials said they believed foul play was involved. The body was identified through dental records.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cecil DuBois

Age

73

Cause of Death

Injury

Info

Cecil dubois, 73, was robbed and then beaten in his 1322 23rd street home in des moines, iowa, on november 15, 1974. He was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. Polk county medical examiner dr. R.C. Wooters ruled dubois’s cause of death as heart and liver failed resulting from injuries sustained during the beating.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cecil Gaddy

Age

19

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

He worked as a farm hand and repaired small engines. He taught himself to play guitar and enjoyed writing songs. He had a keen interest in computers, and routinely fixed problems for those who came to him for help. Clarke county in iowa clarke county in iowa osceola iowa osceola in clarke county life took its first cruel turn when the 16-year-old teen, his pregnant sister and her husband and another friend were passengers in a van and the driver lost control. When the vehicle started to roll, cecil used his body to protect his sister, but eventually was thrown through the windshield and left with a broken back. Paralyzed from the waist down, cecil struggled to regain his independence and keep up with his favorite activities. Though he couldn’t walk, he could still use his hands, and his trusty wheelchair could take him nearly anywhere he wanted to go

Agency

Iowa

Name

Emanuel Burgs Jr II

Age

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Her 22-year-old daughter, celestina payano, had been found sept. 12, 2002, in a home on des moines’ north side along with emanuel burgs jr. Ii, 21, of des moines, both bound and shot to death.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Celestina Payano

Age

22

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Her 22-year-old daughter, celestina payano, had been found sept. 12, 2002, in a home on des moines’ north side along with emanuel burgs jr. Ii, 21, of des moines, both bound and shot to death.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Chad White

Age

21

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Late friday night, may 21, 1993, chad william white, 21, was shot to death in the corning, iowa home he shared with his fiancée, dixie kinser.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Charles Sanders

Age

67

Cause of Death

Injury

Info

On saturday, april 17, 1954, two des moines youth fishing along a river bank spotted a body floating in the water and notified police. Thomas spagnola, 14, of 924 second avenue, and harry piagentini, 15, of 4200 s.E. Sixteenth street, discovered the body caught in an obstruction near the des moines river’s west bank beneath the court avenue bridge. The body, clothed in long underwear, a t-shirt and socks, was taken to dunn’s funeral home where fingerprints were taken to establish the victim’s identity.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Christopher Axiotis

Age

16

Cause of Death

Undetermined

Info

The 16-year-old osceola youth’s incarcerated father had been in prison most of the teen’s life. His mother had left town to stay with a boyfriend, and even his little brother was locked up in a detention center. Clarke county in iowa clarke county in iowa osceola in clarke countyosceola in clark county axiotis had begun staying with friends, most recently with deb barringer in osceola. He’d dated angie ruth for a few years, and the two were working on getting back together. On tuesday, november 16, 1999, ruth sat in a classroom when word trickled into school about a body being found at the q pond park on osceola’s northwest edge. It was somebody from school, she heard, but at the time no one knew the victim’s identity. After school, ruth went home and got the call. Officials had identified the body as that of her longtime friend, chris axiotis.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Christopher Stewart

Age

36

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Christopher stewart was last seen after 10:30 p.M. On august 17, 2003, outside his apartment in the vicinity of the 600 block of 18th street in des moines, iowa. He has never been heard from again. He has been described as a 5-foot-9 white male weighing about 185 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. His classification is listed as being physically endangered.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Chuck Deatsch Jr

Age

52

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On april 28, 2008 at approximately 9:50 p.M., chuck deatsch, 52, was shot and killed at his residence in rural mystic, iowa. Authorities said the bullet that hit and killed deatsch came from a single shot outside his home that came in through the home’s front window.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Colleen Simpson

Age

14

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Colleen simpson, 14, of clearfield, iowa, was reported missing to the taylor county sheriff’s office in bedford, iowa, on october 5, 1975. She was last seen at her clearfield home where she disappeared sometime during the night. Colleen was born december 5, 1960, and has a scar on her right forearm.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Colleen Wright

Age

53

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Colleen wright, 53, was reported missing to the des moines police department in des moines on july 21, 2011. She is described as a 5-foot-6 white female weighing about 200 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a flowered blouse, blue jean shorts and red flip flops. She has a tattoo on her left shoulder.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Connie Bodensteiner

Age

24

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On tuesday, august 8, 1995, connie jo choate bodensteiner was found locked in a basement storage bin at a south-side des moines apartment complex. An autopsy showed the 24-year-old had been strangled. A maintenance worker discovered bodensteiner’s body, which had a strap or belt around the young mother’s neck.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cordell Kirby

Age

46

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Cordell r. Kirby — also known as ameer-hassan mateen — was killed in des moines, iowa, on august 2, 1999. Kirby, while incarcerated at the iowa state penitentiary in december 1980, was a member of the islamic faith and one of seven appellees who filed a complaint pursuant to 42 u.S.C. § 1983, alleging numerous claims against officials of the penitentiary for violation of the inmates’ rights to exercise their religion. The inmates sought money damages and injunctive relief. The district court found “the plaintiffs have not been discriminated against because of their religious beliefs.” nevertheless, the court ordered various forms of equitable relief against the prison officials.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Robert Poffenberger

Age

30

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Robert “corey” poffenberger was shot and killed early friday morning october 24, 2003, in the driveway of his 2211 east 37th st. Home in des moines. The 30-year-old mediacom employee had been shot several times in the chest, and was found outside the open door of his vehicle, the car still idling. Poffenberger’s wallet was left untouched, and officials found nothing missing from his home.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Corinne Perry

Age

17

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

The creston high school senior had just earned a scholarship to college and planned to double major in psychology and acting. She belonged to the school’s mime troop, acted in several school plays, and also participated in speech contests. She was last seen sunday, april 17, 1983 at a coin-operated laundromat in creston, iowa. According to authorities, a man walked out of the laundromat right behind the teen sometime between 8:30 and 9 p.M. The night she disappeared. The following day, her car — with the clothes neatly folded and lying on the seat — was found parked at the laundromat. Her purse turned up on a highway bridge seven miles away between kent and lenox, iowa.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Crystal Hunt

Age

21

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Crystal sue hunt was reported missing to the wayne county sheriff’s office in corydon, iowa, on feb. 24, 1998. Corydon in wayne county corydon in wayne county crystal, who’d celebrated her 21st birthday just six days earlier and was pregnant, was last seen leaving her parents’ residence in centerville on feb. 24, 1998, with her boyfriend. He said they argued and she got out of the car. Crystal has not been seen nor heard from since. She is described as 5-foot-9 , 140-142 pounds, with blue eyes and blonde hair. She was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, white sweatshirt, black and white checked stirrup pants and nike tennis shoes with blue spots on the tops.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Cyrus Hicks

Age

24

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

On thursday, march 3, 2011, cyrus james “c.J.” hicks, 24, became des moines’ first 2011 homicide when he was shot in the head and killed outside an apartment building near 29th street and boston avenue. Two 911 calls about a shooting prompted police to be dispatched just after midnight. Officers found hicks on a sidewalk between two buildings at the oakview terrace apartments on the city’s northwest side.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Da’Bryan Smith

Age

20

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Just hours after having thanksgiving dinner with his 1-year-old son, girlfriend, and grandmother, da’bryan smith, 20, of des moines, was struck by gunfire while hanging out with friends in a gas station parking lot. At about 6:50 p.M. On nov. 24, 2016, des moines police responded to git-n-go, 816 e. Euclid ave., where several gunshots had been fired at the group of people standing outside the convenience store, according to a des moines police news release. While investigating the scene, officers learned that smith had been struck by the gunfire and taken by his friends in a private vehicle to broadlawns medical center, where he later died. Sandra smith, of des moines, said she raised da’bryan smith as his adoptive grandmother. In a des moines register article dated nov. 25, 2016, she called him a hard worker, a good person, and a loving father to his 1-year-old son.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Darleen Fitchett

Age

28

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Darleen may fitchett (first name oftentimes spelled darlene), a 28-year-old mother of three young children, was stabbed to death in her 608 east pleasant view drive home in des moines on tuesday night, january 19, 1960.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Darnell Lee

Age

26

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Darnell lee, 26, and jason a. Smith, 30, were killed in a shooting in the 1800 block of easton boulevard in des moines on saturday, june 17, 2017. At the time, police said the shooting, which occurred in the martin luther king jr. Park neighborhood, apparently stemmed from a fight at an after-hours gathering. No one has been arrested in the double homicide. The deaths marked the 17th and 18th homicides in des moines for 2017. More information on the shootings follows.

Agency

Iowa