La Farge, WI Area Cold Cases

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

Robert Simmons

Age

31

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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 Lyons

Age

46

Cause of Death

Beaten/Strangulation

Info

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 Martinez

Age

32

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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 Bergman

Age

18

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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 Burton

Age

21

Cause of Death

Beaten

Info

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 Greco

Age

21

Cause of Death

Beaten

Info

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

Anthony Posley

Age

22

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Anthony “fat boy” posley, 22, of 333 pioneer ave. Se in cedar rapids, iowa, was shot in the 1600 block of sixth avenue se about 2:27 a.M. On sunday, july 23, 2006. He was taken by ambulance to mercy medical center and pronounced dead a short time later. According to cedar rapids police lt. Kenneth washburn, who investigated the case, those who spoke to the police indicated that posley was shot in self-defense.

Agency

Iowa

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

Aubrey Young

Age

35

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Aubrey young, 35, was shot to death near redmond park in cedar rapids at 2 a.M. On sunday, june 15, 2008. Investigators found his body, lying face down on the ground, between two parked cars in the 200 block of 16th street se. Young had been shot once in the head.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Barbara Elms

Age

50

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Barbara lee elms was reported missing to the cedar rapids police department on august 25, 1993. She was last seen heading toward first avenue east, wearing white shorts, a multicolored blouse, black hose, hi-top sneakers, and a walkman with earphones.

Agency

Iowa

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

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 Gearhart

Age

89

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Charles rufus gearhart, an 89-year-old rock island railroad retiree, was stabbed to death in his cedar rapids apartment on wednesday, may 13, 1970, the victim of an apparent robbery. Gearhart, the landlord of an apartment building located at 422 first street sw, was discovered the following day by tenants charles frondle and willie harvey, who’d come to gearhart’s apartment to complain they had no water or heat; the apartment building’s basement had flooded, extinguishing the furnace’s pilot light. According to a cedar rapids gazette article dated may 15, 1970, frondle and harvey said they’d gone to gearhart’s apartment at approximately 6:35 p.M. Gearhart was found between the kitchen and bedroom lying in a hallway. Cedar rapids police told the gazette the suspect had broken the apartment’s rear door in order to gain entrance. A search of gearhart’s apartment failed to turn up the murder weapon. Tenants told police the elderly gearhart often flashed large sums of cash, though police were unable to locate any money in gearhart’s apartment or in his clothing.

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

Danny Baker

Age

28

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Danny baker, a 28-year-old father of four, was shot in the back monday night, nov. 28, 1983, in the driveway of his brother-in-law’s southwest cedar rapids home after an argument with another guest over a boxing match they’d been watching on television. Police said baker and willie b. Barney, 40, were inside paul galbreath’s 617 18th ave. Sw residence with several others — including baker’s 9-year-old son donyeal — prior to the shooting. The men had been drinking while watching the boxing match, and when baker and barney began arguing, baker went out the front door sometime before 8 p.M. And barney followed.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Denise Fraley

Age

30

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Denise fraley was last seen alive in cedar rapids, iowa, in the early morning hours on sunday, september 12, 1982. Denise and her husband, david fraley, had played in a band saturday night at a private cedar rapids party. Once the couple left the event, denise was never seen alive again and foul play is suspected in her disappearance. David fraley never reported his wife as missing. And, for more than a month, he deterred his wife’s family from filing any missing persons report.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dennis Chaffee

Age

33

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Dennis chaffee of cedar rapids, iowa, spent the weekend of july 16 – 17, 1983, at home with his 1-1/2-year-old twins — son adam and daughter maria — and on monday, july 18, was to return them to their mother, mary hernandez, who resided in marion, iowa. When monday arrived, chaffee didn’t answer his phone when hernandez called, nor did he show up for work at wilson foods in cedar rapids where he’d been employed for the past 15 years. Concerned, hernandez called chaffee’s parents, harlon and betty chaffee, also of cedar rapids.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dennis Stastny

Age

30

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

On tuesday, august 9, 1977, mary white of cedar rapids, iowa, filed a missing persons report with the cedar rapids police department regarding the disappearance of her son, dennis stastny, 30. Two days later, stastny’s body was pulled from the cedar river near downtown cedar rapids after two young fishermen, steve halsor, 16, and john braumann, 15, discovered the body in the west spillway near the f avenue bridge about 11 a.M. According to an autopsy report by linn county medical examiner dr. Percy harris, stastny — a navy veteran who worked part-time as a shoe salesman — died from a “stab wound to the heart.”

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dominique Mosby

Age

22

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Twenty-two-year-old dominique mosby was shot in the head on friday, june 26, 2009 as he sat outside on an apartment deck playing dice for money with a group of men. According to witnesses, mosby and several other men were playing dice on the patio of cedarwood hills apartment number 105 in cedar rapids at 2030 glass rd. Ne when an unknown assailant walked up to mosby and shot him several times. The shooter then walked away. Police responded to shots fired at the complex at approximately 6:35 p.M., where they found mosby lying on the ground outside the ground floor apartment. Emergency medical technicians performed cpr on mosby before taking him to st. Luke’s hospital, where the victim died.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Dorothy Rose

Age

43

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Dorothy j. Rose, 43, was found dead in her 206 12th st. Se cedar rapids, iowa apartment on tuesday night, november 28, 2006. The building’s landlord — who’d gone to check on rose — discovered her body and called police.

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

Erin Pospisil

Age

15

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Erin pospisil was reported missing to the cedar rapids police department on june 3, 2001. The [then] 15-year-old was last seen leaving her home with curtis padgett and hasn’t been seen since. According to padgett — a friend of erin’s older brother — he was leaving the pospisil home at the same time as erin and agreed to give her a ride to her friend brit’s home, where erin and brit planned to watch movies or go to the movie theater. Padgett later told officials that when they arrived at brit’s home in the 1500 block of second avenue se late sunday, june 3, 2001, that erin went up to the door and knocked but no one answered.

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

Frederick Coste

Age

47

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

Frederick “fred” leonard coste, the 47-year-old manager of the family finance corporation in cedar rapids, iowa, was stabbed to death inside his loan interview cubicle on thursday morning, oct. 15, 1959. Two customers found coste — lying on his back in a pool of blood — shortly before noon at the 312-1/2 second ave. Se cedar rapids business.

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

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

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

Jamar Magett

Age

19

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

Jamar magett, 19, of chicago, ill., was shot in the forehead and chest while standing in the 1400 block of fifth avenue se in cedar rapids, iowa, on may 10, 1999. Paul gilbert, 18, of cedar rapids — the younger brother of cold case victim tyrone gilbert — was arrested and charged in magett’s murder. Des moines defense attorneys matthew boles and robert montgomery said no physical evidence linked gilbert to the crime. Cedar rapids pathologist dr. Peter stephens testified wednesday, sept. 22, 1999, that magett suffered two bullet wounds, each of which could have been fatal.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jay Grahlman

Age

38

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jay grahlman, 38, and his 6-year-old daughter, jaymie, died from injuries suffered in a late-night fire set at their cedar rapids home on saturday, april 5, 2003. Jaymie — whose autopsy report included a number of pathologic diagnoses — died sunday, april 6, after being removed from life support. Jay died the following wednesday, april 9, from complications due to burns he sustained in the fire.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Jaymie Grahlman

Age

6

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Jay grahlman, 38, and his 6-year-old daughter, jaymie, died from injuries suffered in a late-night fire set at their cedar rapids home on saturday, april 5, 2003. Jaymie — whose autopsy report included a number of pathologic diagnoses — died sunday, april 6, after being removed from life support. Jay died the following wednesday, april 9, from complications due to burns he sustained in the fire.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Joshua Wellman

Age

35

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Joshua r. Wellman, a 35-year-old vinton native, was reported missing to the cedar rapids police department on monday, november 16, 2015. His mother, teresa walton, and sister, shawna hunziker, last saw him around 11 a.M. Thursday, november 12, 2015, when they dropped him off at the cedar rapids area substance abuse center

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

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