Knoxville, IA Area Cold Cases
Name
Annamarie RittmanAge
46Cause of Death
MurderInfo
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 behindAgency
Iowa
Name
Donald MurphyAge
39Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On friday, july 20, 1984, donald murphy was reported missing from a knoxville hospital. In november 1984 hunters found his skeletal remains in northern polk county just a few days prior to what would have been murphy’s 40th birthday. Donald john murphy was born november 9, 1944, at knoxville, the son of james francis and catherine bingaman murphy. He spent most of his life in the knoxville area. He graduated from knoxville high school in the class of 1963 and later entered the coast guard.Agency
Iowa
Name
Dorothy CoonAge
38Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On monday evening, august 29, 1960, dorothy coon was found dead in a ditch alongside a county road in lucas county, iowa, about 12 miles north of chariton. Her body — clad in a dark green dress and white shoes — was discovered by a farmer mowing weeds. Her purse was found one mile away. The gravel road was a shortcut to coon’s parents’ farm east of chariton, and in the vicinity of albia, iowa.Agency
Iowa
Name
Edward SchmidtAge
85Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Edward arthur schmidt, an 85-year-old oskaloosa attorney, was beaten about the head and face and then stabbed to death in his spartan-like basement law office on thursday, january 13, 1972.Agency
Iowa
Name
Fred SandersAge
43Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On november 11, 1966, hunter richard thorne found a man’s skeletal remains in a brushy area under the rock island railroad viaduct across the chariton river one and three quarters of a mile south of chariton, iowa, in lucas county. Papers and a wallet adjacent to the remains identified him as fred sanders, a u.S. Army veteran who served during world war ii with the 745th american anti-aircraft artillery gun battalion.Agency
Iowa
Name
Gregory DickeyAge
23Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
On february 18, 1975, iowa state trooper charles black discovered a 1966 green ford van on interstate 80 at the eastbound “on” ramp at altoona. The van bore a 1973 washington license plate number l84590 and, apparently abandoned, was impounded. On april 7, 1975, the father of 23-year-old gregory dickey contacted authorities and stated the van belonged to his son. The younger dickey had left davenport, iowa, on february 11 — just one week before black found the vehicle.Agency
Iowa
Name
Harry MilliganAge
21Cause of Death
MissingInfo
Light the night charity event and fun ride” is set for saturday, july 9 on the albia square. The day will begin with the harry milligan charity bike ride organized by alex weldon. A car show organized by john carter begins at 2 p.M. With live music from nashville artist jake mcvey to follow. There will also be a live auction and vendors will be set up on the square’s west side.Agency
Iowa
Name
James Bailey JrAge
32Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
On thursday, august 14, 1975, james m. “beetle” bailey, jr., of mentor, ohio, and two friends were riding their motorcycles westbound on interstate 80 on their way to the hell’s angels motorcycle club annual run in yankton, south dakota, when bailey was shot near a colfax, iowa overpass. Bailey, 32, was riding with friends “paul philemon” (pseudonym), 27, and richard vesey, 31, when he was shot at the I-80 colfax ramp in jasper county. All three men belonged to cleveland’s “dirty 30” hell’s angels chapter, where bailey served as treasurer. Bailey allegedly had a number of receipts with him, which he’d planned to present to chapter officers.Agency
Iowa
Name
Joseph PayneAge
72Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
During the great depression, joseph payne happened to be in a chariton, iowa, grocery store where a woman and child stood ahead of him in line. The woman had lost her husband, had no job, and needed food to feed her child. She tried to purchase a few basic grocery items. She didn’t have enough money, the store clerk told her, and would have to put some of the items back. Payne did not hesitate to act; he not only paid for all the woman’s groceries, but handed her some additional cash — “to be used for her and the child,” he said. Payne was not a wealthy man, but had never married, had no children of his own, and didn’t drink; he owned his own home at 15th and armory, where he’d lived alone 40 years, and used what extra money he had to help others.Agency
Iowa
Name
Lloyd PatrickAge
85Cause of Death
MurderInfo
On wednesday, oct. 27, 1982, retired oskaloosa farmer lloyd john patrick, 85, was murdered in his rural mahaska county home before someone set the house ablaze. Patrick was shot to death early on wednesday before his house was set on fire, presumably by his assailant, said iowa division of criminal investigation (dci) chief gerald shanahan in an announcement on friday, oct. 29, 1982.Agency
Iowa
Name
Mary GreenAge
59Cause of Death
StabbingInfo
On september 27, 1987, mary ann green was found stabbed to death in her oskaloosa, iowa, mobile home, located in the spring creek mobile park on highway 23 south in mahaska county. Mary ann’s murder fell under the jurisdiction of the mahaska county sheriff’s office, whose solid investigative skills quickly led to the arrest of green’s stepson, richard lee green, and his acquaintance, david kelly yant.Agency
Iowa
Name
John Franklin SrAge
35Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
John franklin, sr., 35, a central iowa factory worker, and his 22-year-old wife michelle were shot to death in their eddyville, iowa, home some time between 10 p.M. And midnight on tuesday, january 3, 1978, in what officials called a double homicide.Agency
Iowa
Name
Michelle FranklinAge
22Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
John franklin, sr., 35, a central iowa factory worker, and his 22-year-old wife michelle were shot to death in their eddyville, iowa, home some time between 10 p.M. And midnight on tuesday, january 3, 1978, in what officials called a double homicide.Agency
Iowa
Name
Rick DavisAge
36Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Rick lynne davis, 36, died july 20, 1986, at his oskaloosa residence from a gunshot wound to the head. Police ruled the death a suicide, but while reviewing police and autopsy records, his daughter, monica speaks, began to ask questions.The following information about davis’ case and the new law denying his daughter access to the records is reported below by des moines register reporter jason clayworth.Agency
Iowa
Name
Timothy EarneyAge
29Cause of Death
HomicideInfo
Timothy c. Earney, 29, was found dead in his 322 n. Eighth st. Albia home on thursday, feb. 2, 1984, by his live-in girlfriend, dorothy lee kempf, 45. According to kempf, earney drove her to work at kendall school at 7 a.M. And was supposed to pick her up at 1 p.M. When he didn’t show up, kempf said she walked home and found earney lying on the living room floorAgency
Iowa
Name
Dr William HamiltonAge
33Cause of Death
ShootingInfo
Dr. William orson hamilton, 33, was shot to death in marysville, iowa, on november 26, 1900.According to a knoxville journal article by l.A. Gee published september 25, 1930, a knoxville contractor building marysville’s new school was the first to know the tragedy occurred.K.L. Bush saw dr. Hamilton stagger and fall at the door of the vanskiver home, and was dead before dr. Hughes could arrive.Domestic trouble, the journal reported, was said to have been brewing for some time in the fred ahn family and rumor had it that dr. Hamilton was involved.Agency
Iowa
Name
Timothy EarneyAge
29Cause of Death
Gun/FirearmInfo
Agency
Monroe County Sheriff's Office