The Villisca Axe Murders Case

The Crime Scene

The Moores and their guests were found brutally murdered with an axe that belonged to Josiah. The bodies were discovered by a neighbor on the morning of June 10 after the family failed to attend church. Investigators determined the murders took place between midnight and 5 a.m. All victims, except for Lena, were believed to be asleep when attacked. Lena had a defensive wound on her arm, indicating she may have awoken during the attack​​.

Key Suspects

Several suspects were investigated over the years, but none were definitively linked to the murders:

1. Reverend George Kelly:

   • Kelly was a traveling minister who had been in Villisca on the night of the murders. Known for his peculiar behavior and history of mental illness, he later confessed to the murders but recanted. Despite his confession, inconsistencies and lack of evidence led to his acquittal after two trials​.

2. Frank F. Jones:

   • A local businessman and state senator, Jones had a contentious history with Josiah Moore, who had worked for him before starting his own business. Rumors suggested that Jones had personal and business motives to kill Moore, but no concrete evidence ever surfaced​​.

3. William Mansfield:

   • Also known as "Blackie," Mansfield was a suspected serial killer connected to several axe murders in the Midwest. Detective James Newton Wilkerson believed Mansfield was hired by Jones to commit the Villisca murders. Despite these claims, Mansfield had an alibi and was never charged​​.

4. Henry Lee Moore:

   • No relation to the victims, Henry Lee Moore was another suspected serial killer who murdered his mother and grandmother with an axe shortly after the Villisca murders. Some theorists believe he might have been involved in a series of similar murders across the country​​.

5. Andrew Sawyer:

   • A transient who exhibited suspicious behavior and a keen interest in the murders, Sawyer was briefly investigated. However, he had a solid alibi, having been detained for vagrancy in another town on the night of the murders​.

Investigation and Legacy

The investigation was hampered by the lack of forensic technology available at the time and the crime scene's contamination by curious townspeople. Despite multiple grand jury investigations and numerous theories, the case remains unsolved.

The Villisca Axe Murders have inspired numerous books, documentaries, and even paranormal investigations, contributing to its status as a macabre piece of American folklore. The Moore house is now a museum and a popular site for ghost hunters and true crime enthusiasts