Searsboro, IA Area Cold Cases

Name

Denease Latham

Age

24

Cause of Death

Suspicious

Info

On sunday, oct. 5, 1986 — just 15 days before her 25th birthday — denease (monson) latham of what cheer, iowa, suffered blunt force trauma injuries to her head before coming to rest face-down in two feet of water beneath a bridge about a half mile north of rose hill in mahaska county. One of latham’s young sons remembers the fight between his mother and father the last night he ever saw his mom alive. She’d taken off on her bicycle, he said, and his father, robin latham, later went after her.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Donald Murphy

Age

39

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

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

Edward Schmidt

Age

85

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

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

Lloyd Patrick

Age

85

Cause of Death

Murder

Info

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 Green

Age

59

Cause of Death

Stabbing

Info

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 Sr

Age

35

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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 Franklin

Age

22

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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 Davis

Age

36

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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

Dr William Hamilton

Age

33

Cause of Death

Shooting

Info

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

Helen Bown

Age

61

Cause of Death

Homicide

Info

Mrs. Helen mae bown, a 61-year-old widow, was last seen alive in her marshalltown, iowa, home on monday, oct. 2, 1973, and reported missing on sunday, oct. 7. Marshall county, iowa marshall county in iowa three weeks later on halloween day, state agents discovered her body on the bank of the iowa river northwest of montour in tama county, about seven miles east of marshalltown and two miles northeast of le grand. Investigators on scene included tama and marshall county sheriff’s officers, marshalltown police, dci agents, tama county medical examiner dr. C.W. Maplethorpe, and tama county attorney jared bauch.

Agency

Iowa

Name

Rita Papakee

Age

41

Cause of Death

Missing

Info

Rita papakee, a 41-year-old mother of four, vanished january 16, 2015, after leaving the meskwaki bingo casino hotel near tama, iowa. Family members reported her missing to the meskwaki nation police in tama on february 18, 2015.The police are asking for assistance to help locate her.After she first went missing, police said they believed she may be in the des moines or cedar rapids area.

Agency

Iowa