This week’s Cold Case anniversaries

November 16, 2009 | By Jody Ewing

Sometimes, I must admit, it’s just downright difficult hunting down information on a specific cold case. Despite the number of online search engines and newspaper archives, some cases, it seems, are just plain elusive.

I’ve been dealing with that problem with one of today’s cold case anniversaries — that of Becky Palmer — killed 19 years ago (Nov. 16, 1990) at 1300 E. 25th Ct. in Des Moines. I’ve got the case number, too (1990-40843), but searches under Becky Palmer and Rebecca Palmer have turned up nothing under “this” specific Becky Palmer.

A few months ago, Lt. Moran of the Des Moines Police Dept. was kind enough to send me a list of the city’s open homicides, but they’ve got a lot of them (79) dating back to 1951, and a lot of time and resources would have gone into sending along case description summaries and photos for all 79 victims. The list he sent, however, ensured I had a complete — and equally as important, accurate — list for the state’s biggest city, and his goodwill already has saved me countless hours of uncovering all those names. For that I am grateful.

And yes, I also must admit I tend to thrive on research, so take my grumblings about the AWOL Becky Palmer articles with a grain of salt… (smile)

Of course if you’re reading this and just “happen” to have some of those articles or a Becky Palmer photo lying around you’d like to share, don’t let my explorations come between your keyboard and my inbox.

To contact the Des Moines police with information about this case, please call (515) 283-4864.

Charles Elmquist

Charles Elmquist

Charles Elmquist

Today’s other cold case anniversary involves missing person Charles Elmquist, who disappeared from Iowa City in 1979.

Elmquist’s 1961 blue GMC van was located on November 17, 1979, parked in the Univ. of Iowa Hydraulics Laboratory storage lot.

Elmquist was 34 when he disappeared; today he would be 64.

If you have any information about Charles Elmquist’s case please call the Iowa City Police Department at (319) 356-5275 or the Missing Person Information Clearinghouse / Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at 1-800-346-5507.

Tomorrow’s Anniversary

Roberta “Bobbi” Crawford

Bobbi Crawford

Bobbi Crawford

Roberta “Bobbi” Crawford, 53, was found murdered inside her Hampton, Iowa, home on November 17, 1999. Authorities said she died of blunt trauma to the head.

Crawford’s body was found after co-workers at Ellsworth Community College, Iowa Falls, reported her missing.

If you have any information about Bobbi Crawford’s murder, contact the Hampton Police Dept. at (515) 456-2529.

Yours in hope,

Jody

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More Missing Persons

June 12, 2009 | By Jody Ewing

It’s been a busy week with the Iowa Cold Cases website, and 12 additional victims — all missing persons — now have pages up with case details.

When one mentions missing persons in Iowa, most people usually cite those with which they’re familiar: Jodi Huisentruit, Johnny Gosch, Eugene Martin. Here are some other names worth remembering. Click on the links for more information about each case.

Missing Person
Elizabeth Nicole Forshee-Syperda
Age at Report: 22
Missing From: Mount Pleasant, IA (Henry County)
Missing Since: July 17, 2000

Elizabeth Syperda was last seen by her roommate at their East Madison Street apartment in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, at 10:30 p.m. on July 17, 2000, when the roommate left to go to work. When the roommate returned at 4:00 a.m., Elizabeth was gone, though she did not have access to a car and all her personal belongings were left behind.

Missing Person
Crystal Ann Arensdorf
Age at Report: 20
Missing From: Dubuque, IA (Dubuque County)
Missing Since: July 4, 2001

Crystal Arensdorf of Dubuque, IA, was last seen at approx. 2 a.m. on July 4, 2001 at Knicker’s Saloon, 2186 Central Ave. in Dubuque. Arensdorf — a minor at the time of her visit to the bar — was there with friends and trying to get a ride to East Dubuque, Ill.

Missing Person
Gregory J. Howell
Age at Report: 44
Missing From: Fort Dodge, IA (Webster County)
Missing Since: January 1, 2005

Gregory Howell was reported missing to the Fort Dodge Police Department on January 1, 2005. Few details are available in his case.

Missing Person:
Clarence LeRoy Cecil
Age at Report: 81
Missing From: Davis County, IA
Missing Since: June 5, 2004

Clarence Cecil went fishing in Davis County, Iowa, on June 5, 2004, and was reported missing when he did not return. He has never been heard from again.

Missing Person:
Arthur Rascon
Age at Report: 72
Missing From: Davenport, IA (Scott County)
Missing Since: July 25, 2005

Arthur Rascon was reported missing to the Davenport Police Department on July 25, 2005. Few other details are available in his case.

Missing Person
William Francis Rogers
Age At Report: 46
Missing From: North English, IA (Iowa and Keokuk Counties)
Missing Since: February 25, 2001

William Rogers was last seen at his residence in North English, Iowa, during the evening hours of February 25, 2001. His home burned down during the night and he has never been heard from again.

Missing Person:
Peggy Ann Cottrell
Age at Report: 66
Missing From: Marshalltown, IA (Marshall County)
Missing Since: May 26, 2001

Peggy Ann Cottrell resided at the Southridge Nursing Home in Marshalltown, Iowa. A relative dropped her off at the facility at approximately 6:30 p.m. on May 26, 2001, and Cottrell was last seen running away from the home only minutes later. A fisherman discovered Cottrell’s purse along the banks of the Iowa River several weeks after she was reported missing.

Missing Person:
L.C. Matlock
Age at Report: 37
Missing From: Waterloo, IA (Black Hawk County)
Missing Since: July 5, 2004

On July 5, 2004, 37-year-old L.C. Matlock walked across the Mullen Avenue Bridge in Waterloo, Iowa, and was never seen nor heard from again.

Missing Person
Kevin Lee Griebel
Age at Report: 36
Missing From: Jackson County, IA (Maquoketa)
Missing Since: February 26, 2004

Kevin Griebel was last seen in Maquoketa, Iowa, and reported missing to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on February 26, 2004.

Missing Person
Christopher Lee Stewart
Age at Report: 36
Missing From: Des Moines, IA (Polk County)
Missing Since: August 17, 2003

Christopher Stewart was last seen after 10:30 p.m. on August 17, 2003, outside his apartment in the vicinity of the 600 block of 18th Street in Des Moines, Iowa. He has never been heard from again.

Missing Person
Beth Ann Ricketts
Age at Report: 31
Missing From: Des Moines, IA (Polk County)
Missing Since: December 22, 1997

Beth Ricketts was reported missing to the Des Moines Police Department on December 22, 1997. She was last seen wearing black pants, a white shirt, a zebra belt, a black leather blazer and carrying a medium-sized black purse.

Missing Person
Melissa Dawn Hasley
Age at Report: 31
Missing From: Des Moines, IA (Polk County)
Missing Since: October 18, 2002

Melissa “Missy” Hasley was last seen at a party between 11:45 p.m. and 1:45 a.m. at an apartment complex in the vicinity of the 1700 block of Grand Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa.

If you have any information regarding the whereabout of any of these individuals, please contact the respective law enforcement agency.

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Have you seen Helen Kelly?

May 18, 2009 | By Jody Ewing

Helen KellyHelen J. Kelly, 83, was reported missing to the Sioux City Police Department four years ago today on May 18, 2005.

When Mrs. Kelly’s husband awoke that morning, he discovered she was missing and reported her as a missing person that afternoon.

Mrs. Kelly left behind her purse and had not mentioned plans to travel anywhere. Her gold 2000 Honda Accord with Iowa license plate number 953EDK also was missing.



Few details are available in Mrs. Kelly’s case, but she has not been heard from nor seen since reported missing.

If you have any information about this case, please contact the Sioux City Police Department at 712-279-6390.

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Missing 11 Years: Gary Allan Brown of Waterloo

March 11, 2009 | By Jody Ewing

Eleven years ago today, Gary Brown was reported missing from Waterloo, IA, by his mother, who hadn’t seen nor heard from her son since 1997. Recent checks showed Gary renewed his driver’s license in Iowa in June 2001. According to the Social Security Administration, Gary has had no earnings since 1998. His case remains active, with details as follows.

Gary BrownMissing Person:
Gary Allan Brown
Age at Disappearance: 23
DOB: January 11, 1975
Height: 5′9″
Weight: 150 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Missing From: Waterloo, IA (Black Hawk County)
Missing Since: March 11, 1998

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact the Waterloo Police Dept. at 319-291-2515.

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Eugene Martin

February 7, 2009 | By Jody Ewing

Thank you to Bonnie Maier for passing along the information regarding 13-year-old Eugene Martin, who disappeared on August 12, 1984, while delivering newspapers for the Des Moines Register. Eugene now has a page up on the ICC website.

Eugene’s disappearance came almost two years after that of 12-year-old Register paperboy Johnny Gosch on Sept. 5, 1982, and many still believe the two cases are connected. At one time, a $94,000 reward was offered — $25,000 of that by the Des Moines Register — for information leading to the recovery of either Johnny or Eugene. Both boys remain officially missing.

The ICC Cases text only page now lists over 90 names of unsolved homicides and missing persons cases. If the name does not contain an active hyperlink, we are still working to collect information and photos for that case. We’ve got a long way to go; Iowa currently has just over 150 unsolved homicides and almost 50 long-time missing persons cases like that of Johnny Gosch, Eugene Martin and Jodi Huisentruit. Somewhere, someone knows something.

Can you help? If you have any information (news articles, photos, details) please send them along. Yes, this information will be shared with Iowa’s new Cold Cases Unit. Anonymous tips are acceptable and may be sent via the Contact page. (Just enter “Anonymous” in the name field.)

And, stay tuned for upcoming new developments with the Iowa Cold Cases website.

Yours in hope,

Jody

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