SYSK’s Fall True Crime Playlist: Who Committed the 1912 Villisca Ax Murders?

Clark guides listeners through the grim details of a horrific murder that stunned a small Iowa town in 1912, involving the deaths of eight people, and how the case has remained shrouded in mystery due to compromised evidence and the forensic limitations of the time.

The Victims and the Crime Scene

On June 9-10, 1912, a Killer Used an Axe to Murder Eight People, Including Six Children, In the Moore Home in Villisca, Iowa

On the night of June 9th crossing into June 10th, 1912, in Villisca, Iowa, someone brutally murdered Joe and Sarah Moore, their four children—Herman, Catherine, Boyd, and Paul—and two overnight guests, Lena and Ina Stillinger, who were friends of Catherine. The assailant used Joe Moore's own ax to bludgeon the victims with the blunt end before mutilating their heads post-mortem with the sharp end.

Victims Battered; Mirrors Covered, Food Left, Axe Cleaned

The perpetrator exhibited bizarre behaviors, such as adjusting an oil lamp to generate minimal light during the crime, covering mirrors and the victims' faces with sheets, and leaving behind a slab of bacon and a bowl with bloody water, interpreted as wash-up after the crime. The ax used in the murders was also cleaned, which may indicate an attempt to remove evidence.

Townspeople Trample Crime Scene, Compromising It Before Documentation

Before the proper documentation of the crime scene could take place, chaos ensued. Over 100 curious locals, including townspeople and professionals, roamed through the house. Some even took fragments of the victims’ skulls as ghastly souvenirs. This significantly disturbed the scene and tampered with key evidence, complicating the investigation further.

Investigating the Murder

Suspicion Fell On Businessman and Senator F.F. Jones, Who Feuded With the Moore Family, but He Was Exonerated

Suspicions swirled around state senator and businessman Frank Jones, who had lost the John Deere Company account to Joe Moore when Moore started his rival business. Accusations flew, including rumors of an affair between Joe Moore and Jones' daughter-in-law, believed to have been publicized by the local switchboard operator. Despite the animosity and the Methodists and Presbyterians taking sides due to Jones' prominent position in the Methodist church, Jones faced a grand jury but was exonerated.

Suspect George Kelly, an English Preacher, Was Tried For the Murders but Acquitted Twice For Lack of ...

A podcast delves into the chilling details of the Midwest axe murders, proposing a theory of a wandering serial killer exploiting the primitive investigative techniques of the early 20th century.

Connections to Other Attacks

Ed Epperly links together five murders that occurred between October 1911 and June of 1912, including the infamous Villisca axe murders. These crimes spanned several locations: Colorado Springs, Colorado; Monmouth, Illinois; Ellsworth, Kansas; Paola, Kansas; and Villisca. The podcast details at least 10 instances of axe murders in the Midwest during this period, from Colorado Springs to Ellsworth, Kansas.

Midwest Axe Murders, 1911-1912

Josh Clark doesn’t provide specific details connecting the Villisca axe murders to other Midwest attacks in the transcript. However, he talks about five murders connected by similar modi operandi, such as using oil lamps with removed chimneys and wicks bent to keep light low. In four out of five cases, axes were the murder weapon, while in one case, a pipe was used due to convenience.

Crimes Included Oil Lamps, Covered Mirrors and Phones, Targeting Young Females

These axe murders included very specific and odd details such as using oil lamps with removed chimneys, bending wicks to keep light low, and targeting young females. The singular bizarre nature of the incidents hints at the work of a single individual.

The Serial Killer Theory

Discussion turns to the possibility of a serial killer operating in the Midwest, utilizing methods consistent across several crime scenes.

Crimes Likely Work of a Single Traveling Serial Killer Exploiting Primitive Investigative Methods

Clark and Bryant consider the pattern of axe murders during the specified time period, suggesting they were the work of a "straight up nut job psychopath" rather than resulting from isolated incidents or mere local disputes. Ed Epperly discusses a theory that these crimes were committed by a single traveling serial killer, highlighting patterns that indicate one perpetrator's work.

The hosts also mention that a telephone operator in Villisca reported someone trying the doorknob shortly after the Moore family ...

The infamous Villisca axe murders left an indelible mark on the town and presented significant investigative challenges due to the era's limited forensic capabilities and the actions of the townspeople.

Aftermath in Villisca

Villisca Murders Terrify Town, Residents Flood Crime Scene, Hamper Investigation

The tight-knit community of Villisca was deeply shaken following the brutal axe murders of eight people, which included six children. As news of the killings spread, the townspeople's fear intensified when the murderer remained at large by nightfall.

Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant discuss how the flood of townspeople onto the scene severely hampered the investigation, as the crime site became overrun with onlookers. Bryant suggests that the significant impact and notoriety of the crime are still associated with the town. Though not explicitly stated, the frenzy and turmoil following the discovery of the bodies can be inferred from the podcast discussion.

Town's Unrecovered: Suspicion, Divided Opinions on Killings' Responsibility

The town was sharply divided in its opinions on who was responsible, a schism that perhaps reflected existing tensions between Methodists and Presbyterians in the community. The animosity between F.F. Jones and Joe Moore was profound, influencing public speculation and suspicion regarding the murders.

Investigative Limitations

Primitive Forensics in 1912 Hindered Evidence Gathering, Aiding the Killer’s Escape

The podcast conversation implies that the rudimentary state of forensic science in 1912 likely assisted the murderer in eluding capture. The coroner, Lindquist, performed an analysis that led to the conclusion that a left-handed individual had committed the crime. Despite this, the absence of advanced forensic techniques and the corruption of the crime scene effectively aided the killer's escape.

Compromised Investigation Due to Destroyed Crime Scene and Onlookers

The integrity of the crime scene was further compromised when Mary Peckham, a local neighbor, disturbed the scene by interacting with certain aspects of the Moore's property. This, along with the townspeople trampling ove ...