Unsolved Horror: The 1912 Villisca Axe Murders
On the night of June 9, 1912, in the quiet town of Villisca, Iowa, a brutal and horrifying crime shattered a peaceful community. The Moore family—Josiah, Sarah, and their four children—along with two young guests, were savagely bludgeoned to death with an axe inside their home. The chilling events of that night, and the subsequent investigation, remain one of America’s most infamous unsolved murders.
The Victims and the Crime Scene
Josiah B. Moore, aged 43, his wife Sarah (39), and their children Herman (11), Mary Katherine (10), Arthur (7), and Paul Vernon (5) were a respected, affluent family in Villisca. On June 9, two girls, Ina Mae (8) and Lena Gertrude Stillinger (12), were invited for a sleepover at the Moore residence. The families attended a Presbyterian church service that evening, participating in the Children’s Day Program coordinated by Sarah Moore. They returned home between 9:45 and 10 p.m., unaware of the horror awaiting them.
The following morning, neighbor Mary Peckham noticed the family had not started their daily chores and, unable to get a response at the locked house, alerted Josiah’s brother Ross Moore. Ross unlocked the front door, discovering the gruesome scene: all eight victims were dead, bludgeoned with Josiah’s own axe, which was left at the crime scene.
Doctors estimated the murders occurred between midnight and 5 a.m. The killer had apparently waited patiently, with two spent cigarettes found in the attic, suggesting the murderer hid in the house until the family fell asleep.
The Gruesome Details
Josiah Moore suffered the most brutal attack, with his face mangled beyond recognition. The murderer used the blade of the axe on Sarah, but the blunt end on the other victims. The children were attacked in their beds, and the two Stillinger girls were found in the guest bedroom. Lena Stillinger appeared to have tried to fight back, indicated by a defensive wound and her body’s unusual position.
In a bizarre twist, all the mirrors in the house were covered with cloth or clothing. This strange act remains unexplained but has fueled much speculation about the killer’s psychology. The murderer also placed a slab of bacon from the icebox near the axe after the killings, adding to the eerie nature of the crime.
The Investigation and Evidence
The crime scene was quickly contaminated by townspeople eager to witness the tragedy, which hampered the investigation. People took souvenirs, and the murder weapon was handled by many, destroying valuable forensic evidence. It wasn’t until hours later that the National Guard arrived to secure the area.
Investigators found several curious clues, including an imprint in the nearby barn suggesting the killer had observed the family before the murders, and the gas lamp upstairs was found with its chimney removed and wick turned down to provide minimal light—indicating the killer wanted to avoid waking anyone.
The coroner’s inquest began the day after the murders, interviewing 13 witnesses, but no definitive leads emerged.
Suspects and Theories
Many suspects surfaced over the years:
- Reverend George Kelly, a traveling minister with a troubled past and a history of odd behavior, was tried twice but ultimately acquitted despite confessing under interrogation.
- Frank F. Jones, a local businessman and state senator, had business conflicts with Josiah Moore, fueling rumors of a motive, but nothing conclusive emerged.
- William “Blackie” Mansfield, an ex-convict and suspected serial killer linked to several similar axe murders in the region, was investigated but had an alibi for the Villisca murders.
- Henry Lee Moore, unrelated to the family but convicted of killing his mother and grandmother with an axe, was suspected of a series of similar crimes, but no solid evidence connected him to Villisca.
- Paul Mueller, proposed by modern researchers Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James, was theorized to be a serial killer responsible for a string of family axe murders across the U.S., including Villisca.
Other transient suspects, such as Andrew Sawyer, were questioned but never charged. The mystery deepened with strange details like the covered mirrors and the killer’s calm, methodical approach.
Legacy and Haunting
The Villisca Axe Murder House stands today as a chilling monument to the tragedy. Restored to its 1912 condition by a couple who purchased it in 1995, it operates as a museum and offers overnight tours to thrill-seekers and paranormal enthusiasts alike. Many visitors report eerie experiences, contributing to the house’s reputation as one of the most haunted locations in the U.S.
Conclusion
More than a century later, the Villisca Axe Murders remain an enduring mystery. Despite multiple suspects, extensive investigations, and sensational media coverage, no one was ever convicted. The brutal nature of the killings, the strange behaviors of the killer, and the lasting fear cast over a small Iowa town have cemented the case as a dark chapter in American crime history.
This tragic story continues to captivate true crime fans, historians, and paranormal investigators, leaving one question unanswered: who wielded the axe that fateful night?
