The person at the center of this case
32-year-old male and 22-year-old female from Missouri
Homicide · Open/Unsolved
45 years waiting · since 1980
UNKNOWN SUSPECT(S) - UNSOLVED HOMICIDES - IOWA
Justice for 32-year-old male and 22-year-old female from Missouri — the trail went cold in 1980, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1Why were soap and toothpaste deliberately left at the crime scene, and what does the word 'this' written on the bathroom door signify?
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suspect
Lead #2Could the same perpetrator be responsible for similar motel murders in Galesburg, Illinois (June 1980) and Meridian, Mississippi (October 1970)?
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evidence
Lead #3What is the significance of the weapon—described as an axe, hatchet, or machete with a 3½ inch blade—and has it been recovered?
On September 12, 1980, a 32-year-old male and 22-year-old female from Missouri were found stabbed to death at the Amana Holiday Inn near Williamsburg, Iowa, after checking in for a weekend getaway. The victims sustained multiple stab wounds from what is believed to be an axe or hatchet, with approximately $200 stolen and unusual items like soap and toothpaste left at the scene. Investigators have linked this case to similar motel murders in Illinois (1980) and Mississippi (1970), suggesting a possible serial killer pattern that remains unsolved.
Case
#327
Iowa County Sheriff's Office and FBI Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP)
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Why was only $200 taken when other valuables were available, and does this suggest a specific motive?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
September 12, 1980 Iowa On September 12, 1980, a 32-year-old male and his 22-year-old female companion traveled from their home state of Missouri to Iowa for a weekend getaway. They checked into the Amana Holiday Inn (along Interstate 80, just outside of Williamsburg) that evening and were found deceased the following afternoon by the motel maid.
The victims had been stabbed to death, possibly with an axe or hatchet that had a 3 ½ inch blade. The male victim had seven stab wounds to his arms, hands, face, head, and neck/throat (including possible defensive wounds to his hands).
The female victim had twelve stab wounds to her face, head, and neck/throat. There were no signs of forced entry into the motel room and no obvious signs of sexual assault.
The victims were in bed, face-down, partly under the covers. The male victim was wearing only his underwear and the female victim was fully clothed.
The victims’ personal belongings were scattered and approximately $200 was taken. Small pieces of a bar of bath soap were on the floor next to the bed.
The word "this" was printed on the bathroom door, possibly using the bar of soap, and toothpaste was squeezed into the bathtub. Investigators have identified two cases with similarities to the instant case: the homicide of a 25-year-old male in Galesburg, Illinois, on June 24,1980 and the homicide of a 23-year-old male in Meridian, Mississippi on October 26, 1970.
Like the instant case, the Galesburg and Meridian victims were away from home and staying in a motel room just off a busy Interstate. Additionally, in all three cases, toothpaste was found in an unusual location at the crime scene, the weapon used is believed to be a machete or sort of axe/hatchet, and money was taken.
If you have information relevant to this investigation, or know of other cases that resemble the details of this homicide (e.g., victim(s) was killed in a motel room near a busy interstate; weapon used was an axe, hatchet, or machete; toothpaste or soap was found in an unusual location at the crime scene; writing or drawings were left at the crime scene), please contact the agency below. <p>To provide or request additional information, please contact: Captain Todd Sauerbrei, Iowa County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa, (319) 642-7307, TSauerbrei@iowacosheriff.org - - FBI ViCAP, (800) 634-4097, vicap@fbi.gov
Timeline of Events
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1980-09-12
eveningVictims check into motel
32-year-old male and 22-year-old female companion checked into Amana Holiday Inn for weekend getaway
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1980-09-13
Bodies discovered
Motel maid found both victims deceased in their room, stabbed multiple times
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 12, 1980 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:May 9, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 12, 1980 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:May 9, 2026