Un-solved killings thread.

[lucas80]

I was driving through Waterloo last week and I am always reminded of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins when I see the signs for Evansdale. A few minutes later I took the turn to head north and saw the sign for Greenhill Road and was reminded of Micalla Rettinger. Laura Van Wyhe's murderer remains a mystery, and has been discussed here. The Vilsica murders remain unsolved, but discussed here.
This is not a focused thread, but as HROT's future is a bit cloudy I have wanted to revisit some topics, and this is fresh in my mind.
Even the killings in Maquoketa remain a bit of a mystery. We know who did it, but not why?
What killings tug at your memory as an Iowan, or even a Nole?
Side note, why does my laptop still auto correct to note over Nole after all these years?

 

[jamesvanderwulf]

The Summit street robbery murder of the Clover Leaf Farm Store. Owner shot dead on Sheridan Street in front of an acquaintance's home. Bakery there now I think...

Ronald Lipsius

Iowa City grocer Ronald Lipsius, 30, was shot to death May 16, 1966 as he chased a woman who'd just stolen $35 from his S. Summit Street store's cash register.

iowacoldcases.org

Georges Buffet. Pretty sure I worked with the guy who killed him...

Edward J. Kriz

Edward Kriz, 43, a WW II veteran, was shot outside the Hamburg Inn No. 2 in Iowa City on Nov. 10, 1962, after startling a would-be robber.

iowacoldcases.org

Paula Oberbroeckling

Paula Jean Oberbroeckling, 18, went missing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 11, 1970. Two young boys found her remains on Otis Road Nov. 29, 1970.

iowacoldcases.org

Sarah Ottens

University of Iowa student Sarah Ann Ottens, 20, was assaulted and suffocated in her Rienow Hall room in Iowa City on March 13, 1973.

iowacoldcases.org

Tom Mather

Tom Mather, 32, was slain in his rural Cedar County, Iowa home on Sept. 30, 1991, by what his newlywed wife, Dawn, called a naked robber.

iowacoldcases.org

Laura Van Wyhe | Iowa Cold Cases

Laura Van Wyhe, 21, died Oct. 26, 1996 of brain trauma, massive blood loss, and blunt force trauma to the legs after visiting her son's family in Bonaparte, IA.

iowacoldcases.org

 

[hooper56]

The Lyric Cook/Elisabeth Collins killings still bug me. They found their remains, so they have some physical evidence. Yet they never said what the cause of death was. Just amazing they were unable to solve this one.

 

[Colonoscopy]

I remember one night at the Deadwood the guy sitting next to me confessed to killing a bunch of people. We were both drunk and laughed it off, but sometimes I wonder.

 

[Thunderlips71]

The Summit street robbery murder of the Clover Leaf Farm Store. Owner shot dead on Sheridan Street in front of an acquaintance's home. Bakery there now I think...

Ronald Lipsius

Iowa City grocer Ronald Lipsius, 30, was shot to death May 16, 1966 as he chased a woman who'd just stolen $35 from his S. Summit Street store's cash register.

iowacoldcases.org

Georges Buffet. Pretty sure I worked with the guy who killed him...

Edward J. Kriz

Edward Kriz, 43, a WW II veteran, was shot outside the Hamburg Inn No. 2 in Iowa City on Nov. 10, 1962, after startling a would-be robber.

iowacoldcases.org

Paula Oberbroeckling

Paula Jean Oberbroeckling, 18, went missing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 11, 1970. Two young boys found her remains on Otis Road Nov. 29, 1970.

iowacoldcases.org

Sarah Ottens

University of Iowa student Sarah Ann Ottens, 20, was assaulted and suffocated in her Rienow Hall room in Iowa City on March 13, 1973.

iowacoldcases.org

Tom Mather

Tom Mather, 32, was slain in his rural Cedar County, Iowa home on Sept. 30, 1991, by what his newlywed wife, Dawn, called a naked robber.

iowacoldcases.org

Laura Van Wyhe | Iowa Cold Cases

Laura Van Wyhe, 21, died Oct. 26, 1996 of brain trauma, massive blood loss, and blunt force trauma to the legs after visiting her son's family in Bonaparte, IA.

iowacoldcases.org

Do tell on the George’s Buffet case, please.

Paula Oberbroeckling was a dead ringer for Sharon Stone.

This is the case that’s really bothered me for decades:

Rose Burkert and Roger Atkison

Rose Burkert, 22, and Roger Atkison, 32, were slain at the Amana Holiday Inn in Williamsburg, IA, Sept. 12, 1980. Both were killed by ax blows to the head.

iowacoldcases.org

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

If any of you haven't seen this footage, it's of Jerry Burns' first interview in regard to his cold case murder of Michelle Martinko. After almost four decades. It's nice to see reality weighing down on him.

 

[DooBi]

I went to school with Connie Ruddy right before she was murdered. I had a good friend that used to tell people that he did it but he was full of shit. No one was ever arrested.

I remember at the time she had a sleazy douchebag boyfriend that was mixed up with drugs and never thought twice about ripping people off. I'm pretty sure he was involved or his dealers were.

 

[lonestar50]

I'm kind of surprised the Tammy Zywicki case has gone unsolved.

Tammy Jo Zywicki

Tammy Jo Zywicki, 21, disappeared Aug. 23, 1992 while returning to Grinnell College in Iowa. Her body was found Sept. 1 along a Missouri highway.

iowacoldcases.org

 

[noleclone2]

These are all so sad. Life’s snuffed out and no closure for the victims. And Paula Oberbroeckling was gorgeous. Damn.

 

[noleclone2]

Bit of a famous one here in Tallahassee. Lot of people know who did it just never had enough to arrest.

 

[Cougar63]

If any of you haven't seen this footage, it's of Jerry Burns' first interview in regard to his cold case murder of Michelle Martinko. After almost four decades. It's nice to see reality weighing down on him.

View embedded media

Murder of Michelle Martinko - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I just watched this with my fiancee (no pics) a few days ago (last week, I think?). I remember hearing about it growing up but still chilling to know I went to Westdale a bunch as a kid before it got deserted. Probably parked where she did when she was killed. Incredible.

 

[Kinnick.At.Night]

I just watched this with my fiancee (no pics) a few days ago (last week, I think?). I remember hearing about it growing up but still chilling to know I went to Westdale a bunch as a kid before it got deserted. Probably parked where she did when she was killed. Incredible.

I did too. It was a lot of fun to go there just to walk around with friends.

 

[lonestar50]

Not an Iowa case, but my mom (no pics) is a cousin or second cousin or somehow related to Timmothy's father. His family believes it has to be the mother who was involved somehow.

It had to be crushing when that fraud came forward a few years ago claiming to be him

New Information Emerges on Timmothy Pitzen's 18th Birthday

New information is coming to light as October 18, 2022, marks Timmothy Pitzen’s 18th birthday.

www.nbcchicago.com

 

[Cougar63]

I did too. It was a lot of fun to go there just to walk around with friends.

I went to Kennedy so I usually went to Lindale, but when I was bowling at May City or Westdale Bowl, we went there for the food court and a movie across the street.

 

[VodkaSam]

I remember one night at the Deadwood the guy sitting next to me confessed to killing a bunch of people. We were both drunk and laughed it off, but sometimes I wonder.

Things that never happened to me for $400, Alex

 

[Cougar63]

Also, I don't want to get too personal but a couple who were some of my mom's closest friends while I was growing up had a daughter go missing when she was 15, and I was 14. They're still searching for her. I'm not sure if I'd rather her be extinguished or alive at this point, considering what probably comes with her being alive but missing for 21 years now. I've grown to love this couple as my aunt and uncle, and her step-mom calls me her kid that's not her kid because of our relationship being so close.

I hope she's just ran away and is living the dream on some island, but know that probably isn't the case.

Erin Kay Pospisil | Iowa Cold Cases

Erin Pospisil, 15, was last seen in front of a friend's home in the 1500 block of 2nd avenue SE in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, June 3, 2001.

iowacoldcases.org

 

[Colonoscopy]

Things that never happened to me for $400, Alex

Pretty sure it was just some drunk idiot. I was drunk

 

[Cougar63]

I was in a jail cell with a young guy who says he'd been incarcerated with another guy previously who admitted to the murder I was in prison for. When I told the warden about this (I had a connection to the guy because I did everyone's taxes in the prison), they had my cellmate unceremoniously executed and claimed he was trying to escape. Had to hatch a plan to escape, ended up digging a tunnel over the course of a couple decades, swam through the sewage of the prison and came out the other side a free man. Met my buddy I met in prison down in Mexico a few years later.

 

[Legend12]

Murder of Michelle Martinko - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I just watched this with my fiancee (no pics) a few days ago (last week, I think?). I remember hearing about it growing up but still chilling to know I went to Westdale a bunch as a kid before it got deserted. Probably parked where she did when she was killed. Incredible.

And you didn't see anything??

 

[Cougar63]

And you didn't see anything??

I aint no snitch

 

[Scott559]

I was in a jail cell with a young guy who says he'd been incarcerated with another guy previously who admitted to the murder I was in prison for. When I told the warden about this (I had a connection to the guy because I did everyone's taxes in the prison), they had my cellmate unceremoniously executed and claimed he was trying to escape. Had to hatch a plan to escape, ended up digging a tunnel over the course of a couple decades, swam through the sewage of the prison and came out the other side a free man. Met my buddy I met in prison down in Mexico a few years later.

You should write a screenplay about your story, Ehhh, probably wouldn’t be a good movie, Never mind.

 

[Cougar63]

You should write a screenplay about your story, Ehhh, probably wouldn’t be a good movie, Never mind.

Sounds like something TNT would show every day for months on end LOL

 

[ZachJump]

Not necessarily classified as murder, but Johnny Gosch. Seemed to be the first time something like that actually put parents on edge. Can still remember them talking about it.

40 years later and still no answers.

 

[HawkOptimist]

Ashley Okland, West Des Moines realtor. Shot dead in 2011.

Ashley Okland Murder

 

[lucas80]

I'm kind of surprised the Tammy Zywicki case has gone unsolved.

Tammy Jo Zywicki

Tammy Jo Zywicki, 21, disappeared Aug. 23, 1992 while returning to Grinnell College in Iowa. Her body was found Sept. 1 along a Missouri highway.

iowacoldcases.org

I’ve posted this before, but I met her at a party in Grinnell. I knew some volleyball players and they were having a party for several of the teams on campus. My GF and I sat next to her on a couch for quite awhile talking. The next Summer I looked at the front page of the DMR and saw her picture on the cover and wondered why she was in it. She was a joyful person, even meeting her and talking for just a few hours she stuck out.

 

[Hawgk]

Ashley Okland, West Des Moines realtor. Shot dead in 2011.

Ashley Okland Murder

Hard to believe this one was never solved. Did they ever even have a suspect?

 

[Cougar63]

Hard to believe this one was never solved. Did they ever even have a suspect?

link said a couple but they had alibis.

 

[win4jj]

I’ve posted this before, but I met her at a party in Grinnell. I knew some volleyball players and they were having a party for several of the teams on campus. My GF and I sat next to her on a couch for quite awhile talking. The next Summer I looked at the front page of the DMR and saw her picture on the cover and wondered why she was in it. She was a joyful person, even meeting her and talking for just a few hours she stuck out.

Pic of GF.

 

[SeaPA]

Florida Cold Case: The Unsolved Murder of Jennifer Odom - 29 Years Later

On February 19th, 1993, twelve-year-old Jennifer Renee Odom had just gotten home from school and stepped off her school..

www.tampafp.com

In 1993, 12-year old Jennifer Odom disappeared after getting off her school bus; her body was found a week or so later in a nearby orange grove.

This happened in my small hometown; I know her parents & a lot of her family quite well. Her murder has never been solved, and likely never will be.

 

[the24fan]

The Jodi Huisentruit case still baffles me 25 years ago as far as Iowa cases go.
Also nationally I would have to say the Zodiac killings in SFO in 1968-1969 were always something that intrigued me.

 

[HawkOptimist]

Hard to believe this one was never solved. Did they ever even have a suspect?

There was no sign of a struggle, assault or robbery, so the theory is it was someone she knew or a professional hit. Some guy, a fellow realtor I believe, who allegedly had a romantic interest in her was found dead of an apparent suicide months later, but there was never any evidence he was the killer.

A wild theory going around was that the guy’s suicide wasn’t actually a suicide. Rather, he too was murdered but it was staged to look like a suicide so that people would connect the dots and assume he killed her. The tinfoil hat crowd believed Ashley (and perhaps the guy) knew or saw something they shouldn’t have known or seen. Ashley was dating a member of the prominent Grubb family.

 

[Hwkfn1]

Also, I don't want to get too personal but a couple who were some of my mom's closest friends while I was growing up had a daughter go missing when she was 15, and I was 14. They're still searching for her. I'm not sure if I'd rather her be extinguished or alive at this point, considering what probably comes with her being alive but missing for 21 years now. I've grown to love this couple as my aunt and uncle, and her step-mom calls me her kid that's not her kid because of our relationship being so close.

I hope she's just ran away and is living the dream on some island, but know that probably isn't the case.

Erin Kay Pospisil | Iowa Cold Cases

Erin Pospisil, 15, was last seen in front of a friend's home in the 1500 block of 2nd avenue SE in Cedar Rapids on Sunday, June 3, 2001.

iowacoldcases.org

My parents are really good friends with her grandparents. Such a sad deal.

 

[Cougar63]

My parents are really good friends with her grandparents. Such a sad deal.

Carolyn’s parents are amazing. I’ve never met Jim’s or Erin’s bio mom’s outside of balloon and lantern releases.

 

[soybean]

A couple of years ago a young farmer up in Tama County was shot dead in his own home in the early morning - I wonder if it will ever be solved.

 

[fredjr82]

Also nationally I would have to say the Zodiac killings in SFO in 1968-1969 were always something that intrigued me.

I thought they identified him? Some dude named Poste?

 

[fredjr82]

A couple of years ago a young farmer up in Tama County was shot dead in his own home in the early morning - I wonder if it will ever be solved.

If this was just Unsolved Mysteries and not Unsolved Killings, your medallion story would be right up there!!

 

[soybean]

If this was just Unsolved Mysteries and not Unsolved Killings, your medallion story would be right up there!!

It was a money clip not a medallion, and I know who it belonged to.

 

[the24fan]

I thought they identified him? Some dude named Poste?

Im not sure they ever positively ID the guy. Poste was a potential suspect I believe
I always thought the main suspect was a guy named Leigh Allen?
Either way it was quite the story

 

[Red Hills Nole]

I was driving through Waterloo last week and I am always reminded of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins when I see the signs for Evansdale. A few minutes later I took the turn to head north and saw the sign for Greenhill Road and was reminded of Micalla Rettinger. Laura Van Wyhe's murderer remains a mystery, and has been discussed here. The Vilsica murders remain unsolved, but discussed here.
This is not a focused thread, but as HROT's future is a bit cloudy I have wanted to revisit some topics, and this is fresh in my mind.
Even the killings in Maquoketa remain a bit of a mystery. We know who did it, but not why?
What killings tug at your memory as an Iowan, or even a Nole?
Side note, why does my laptop still auto correct to note over Nole after all these years?

Being a native of Tallahassee since '59 there is one still unsolved case that most any longtime native remembers and that is the Sims family murders in either '67 or '69. Both parents and their two youngest children were murdered in their home (still standing btw) The eldest daughter was spared having been out on a date.

 

[GOHOX69]

Jo

I was driving through Waterloo last week and I am always reminded of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins when I see the signs for Evansdale. A few minutes later I took the turn to head north and saw the sign for Greenhill Road and was reminded of Micalla Rettinger. Laura Van Wyhe's murderer remains a mystery, and has been discussed here. The Vilsica murders remain unsolved, but discussed here.
This is not a focused thread, but as HROT's future is a bit cloudy I have wanted to revisit some topics, and this is fresh in my mind.
Even the killings in Maquoketa remain a bit of a mystery. We know who did it, but not why?
What killings tug at your memory as an Iowan, or even a Nole?
Side note, why does my laptop still auto correct to note over Nole after all these years?

Johnny Gosch and Eugene Martin. I was a press citizen paperboy during that time frame.