Villisca Axe Murders - Iowa 1912
During the night of June 9th to the early morning of June 10th, 1912, eight people were brutally murdered with an axe in Villisca, Iowa. The victims included Josiah and Sarah Moore, their four children, and two visiting Stillinger sisters. The crime remains unsolved to this day, with no firm answers as to who committed the murders or why. The house where the murders occurred has since been restored and operates as a popular, albeit reportedly haunted, tourist attraction.
Timeline
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Track this story2026
1 update
2026
1 updateKelly Mattson has been identified as the historical property manager of the Villisca Axe Murder House.
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2025
3 updates
2025
3 updatesInvestigators reportedly observed a distinct mark in the ceiling of the Villisca Axe Murder House, believed to have been caused by the butt of the axe. Tourists now leave offerings at the house.
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An article presented an investigative hypothesis suggesting Frank F. Jones orchestrated the Villisca axe murders, carried out by Henry Lee Moore, citing business rivalry as a motive.
via medium.com
An Iowa couple plans to restore the Villisca Axe Murder House to its original 1912 condition to include it in their museum's attractions. They possess old pictures of the house and victims to aid in the restoration.
via ketv.com
2024
1 update
2024
1 updateUS Ghost Adventures, a ghost tour company with operations in Charlotte, has recently acquired the Villisca Axe Murder House in Iowa.
1994
1 update
1994
1 updateThe house where the murders occurred was purchased and restored to its 1912 condition. It subsequently opened for tours and overnight stays, becoming a tourist destination known as the 'Villisca Axe Murder House.'
via en.wikipedia.org·people.com·medium.com·pubs.lib.uiowa.edu
1918
1 update
1918
1 updateReverend George Kelly was acquitted in his second trial for the murders, and no other individual was ever charged in the case.
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1917
2 updates
1917
2 updatesReverend George Kelly's first trial for the Villisca axe murders ended in a hung jury.
via en.wikipedia.org·people.com·medium.com·pubs.lib.uiowa.edu
Reverend George Kelly, a traveling minister who was in Villisca on the night of the murders, was arrested and confessed to the crimes. He later recanted his confession.
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1912
3 updates
1912
3 updatesA coroner's inquest was held, and 13 people were interviewed as potential witnesses.
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The eight victims were discovered bludgeoned to death in their beds with an axe, which belonged to Josiah Moore and was found at the scene. The murder weapon was partially cleaned, and a slab of bacon was found nearby. All mirrors in the house were covered, and kerosene lamps with their chimneys removed were found at the foot of beds.
via en.wikipedia.org·people.com·medium.com·pubs.lib.uiowa.edu
Josiah and Sarah Moore, their four children (Herman, Mary, Arthur, and Paul), and two visiting friends, Ina and Lena Stillinger, attended a Children's Day Service at the local Presbyterian church. Josiah Moore had called the Stillinger household earlier to ask if the girls could spend the night, as the service would end after dark.
via en.wikipedia.org·people.com·medium.com·pubs.lib.uiowa.edu
Story began · 115 years, 5 mo ago