tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84590202839225732982025-12-28T00:18:43.612-07:00Tracking one of the worst serial killers in U.S. historyInspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-75987365428351080032021-11-18T14:26:00.000-07:002021-11-18T14:26:19.652-07:00

If you're going to read any one book about Villisca, Dr. Epperly's forthcoming book, Fiend Incarnate is probably the one to own.

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-47770799497430060652021-05-05T11:44:00.003-06:002021-05-05T11:44:55.461-06:00

Nathan B. Harvey ca. 1880Lori writes: "My family has lived near this area for 5 generations and I'm curious if anyone knows if the old large green farm house on the North side of Johnson Creek Blvd as it goes up the hill west toward the rail tracks, was owned by the Harvey family? My grandfather at 15, around 1918, was pulled from that house in the middle of the night by his father after his

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-40089850946894663412019-11-16T03:21:00.000-07:002019-11-16T03:21:01.061-07:00

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Google Street View This keeps coming up and so I want to address it in its own post so that there isn't any confusion. The Burnham and Wayne houses were torn down by the landlord in early 1912. They aren't there any more. The address didn't change. They are gone and have been for over 100 years. The people who keep getting bothered by others coming by DO NOT live in the

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-42478882100284226372019-08-04T08:04:00.000-06:002019-08-09T14:49:22.305-06:00

The other night I caught a show on the channel-that-formerly-covered-travel-but-now-is-all-about-paranormal-stuff...channel. Legend Hunter: Lizzie Borden innocent? (pay to watch) is kind of a wannabe Destination Truth and Expedition Unknown, crossed with Ghost Hunters and Finding Bigfoot. The first two shows I heartily endorse simply for the fun factor. The next two are...

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-54187600253559115872019-01-14T17:30:00.000-07:002019-01-14T17:30:11.745-07:00

http://geographicprofiler.com Geographic profiling is a relatively new (1996) tool in the serial crime investigation toolbox. There are MANY different variables that can be inputted into the various mathematical formulas and the more data points you can enter then, hypothetically, the more accurate the profile will be. In short, the formula helps to narrow down the possible location of a "

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-5939408227562906262018-04-13T17:00:00.000-06:002018-10-25T11:34:18.381-06:00

   Springs Gazette Sept. 4, 1911 "Oly" in the comments on this old post has provided a very good and plausible hypothesis regarding the flashlight found behind the Dawson's house in Monmouth, Illinois. For those of you that didn't take the time to check the other article, here's the key takeaway: I have four different phrases reported on the flashlight. The New York Times reported

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-25629873511581930642015-01-17T00:52:00.000-07:002015-01-17T00:52:00.057-07:00

Dorothy Rintoul It had been a week's worth of festivities and celebration with visitors flooding in from all over the Pacific Northwest. The 5th Annual Portland Rose Festival was in full swing and the major event of June 9, 1911 was the Decorated Horse and Buggy parade to be followed by the Military parade that evening. On that peaceful morning, as the parade route was prepared along Grand

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com24Ardenwald, Milwaukie, OR, USA45.4571771 -122.626130345.4349001 -122.6664708 45.479454100000005 -122.5857898tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-60139845453288026822015-01-16T14:13:00.002-07:002015-01-16T14:13:58.205-07:00

Dr. Epperly's book on the Villisca crime is scheduled for release in 2015! Here is an interview he did back in 2012. Enjoy!

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com1Villisca, IA 50864, USA40.9296034 -94.976641640.9056109 -95.016982099999993 40.953595899999996 -94.9363011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-88418228126723936622014-12-01T11:49:00.001-07:002021-05-12T16:56:14.142-06:00

Phillip, Ruth and Dorthy  Six years ago I wrote this article explaining the differences between the Ardenwald crime and the Colorado Springs crime. Go read the article; I'll wait... I hope you enjoyed the article. You will note that I made this bold statement: So were these crimes done by the same UNSUB? IMHO, no. I based that statement on what I knew at the time, which,

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-57493377144736890182014-11-14T12:43:00.001-07:002014-11-14T12:43:41.197-07:00

William L. Hill After the murders, nearly all of the attention was given to the Cowing family and, what would become, a very public and bitter fight between the Clackamas County prosecuting attorney's office and the Clackamas County Sheriff.  The focus was entirely on Ruth Hill and her family. This seems natural since Ruth had grown up in Oregon City and her father and brother (all her

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-71969159558909892582014-09-10T13:53:00.002-06:002014-09-10T16:09:55.954-06:00

With the news coming out a few days ago that DNA may have finally solved the Whitechapel murders of 1888 along with PBS possibly solving the Servant Girl Annihilator case it seems I am way behind in solving history's greatest crimes.  So I'll just go ahead and say this: Elizabeth Borden was totally guilty. There. Take that... other historic crime... people.  However,

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-67703111267099646382014-09-02T14:07:00.000-06:002014-09-02T14:15:31.854-06:00

Thomas F. Cowing, Sr. Thomas (Tom) F. Cowing emigrated from England as a child with his family and grew up in Wisconsin on his parent's farm. He enlisted in the 2nd Infantry of Wisconsin in 1861 and was wounded  and captured at the 2nd Battle of Bull Run on August 28th, 1862. His wound was considered fatal and the Confederates released him. However he recovered and was transferred to

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-79438481754802405102014-08-12T16:04:00.001-06:002014-08-19T11:43:10.005-06:00

My mentor Wow. What's it been? Two years since I posted new content. Okay, well the truth is, there really isn't anything new to post. This leaves you, the reader, trapped listening to the ravings of an anonymous blogger who takes his name from a character in a  favorite childhood movie. I'm actually awaiting the release of Dr. Epperly's forthcoming book on the Villisca Murders. I still

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-90125977617010618052014-07-24T13:09:00.001-06:002014-07-24T13:09:48.301-06:00

The excellent PBS series History Detectives makes a special investigation into one of American history's forgotten and most brutal serial murderers. The entire episode is available for free. The investigators make some great insight's into how crime was handled in the late 19th and early 20th century. This case is also a great example of what can happen when public pressure is applied to

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-71754289824028592352012-12-20T12:19:00.000-07:002014-08-11T09:00:58.571-06:00

Richard Hickock & Perry Smith In the comments of this post from 2008, "Lonnie" reminds me I never followed through on this.  Now it seems investigators are giving this case another, another look.  Now I have to admit, I haven't followed this case very carefully due to lack of information coming out.  The last I heard, two of the original suspects were cleared by the DNA

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-55335531516389088682012-12-14T12:21:00.000-07:002012-12-14T14:36:02.618-07:00

As the title says this is post number 100 for the old Inspector.  Remember all the way back in 2008?  I wrote my first post about the assault of Mrs. Bell Jordan, which occurred on the morning of October 31st, 1911, in Mount Pleasant, Iowa.  This was just a day later then the two-week "schedule" the killer seemed to be keeping starting in Colorado Springs.  I noted in

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-47547495484760575532012-12-06T09:19:00.000-07:002014-08-12T07:42:13.964-06:00

Solving crimes isn't easy.  Tireless work done by dedicated people is still the best, most successful formula for detective work.  One of the cases examined on the NOVA episode posted is the Nicole Simpson murder case in California.  It is an obscure case, so for those who don't know it, I won't spoil the ending.  For those of you who watched the 50 minute episode before

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-37446803723648822332012-11-08T06:10:00.000-07:002014-08-13T08:23:21.796-06:00

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-70077608978547475362012-10-31T10:52:00.001-06:002012-10-31T10:52:43.961-06:00

Descending from Evil: The Story of Herman Webster Mudgett: I found this article and interview very interesting.  This is the kind of story I'm after with regard to the Midwest Axeman.  To date I have found only a handful of descendants/relatives of victims and unfortunately, very few of them really know anything about the crimes.  I'm still convinced, that somewhere in

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-82837786022555805722012-10-24T05:22:00.000-06:002012-10-24T07:53:27.416-06:00

I have received a few emails asking about other, possibly related crimes.  The two most spoken about are the Louisiana-Texas Axe murders and the Axeman of New Orleans.  Now I have some thoughts on both of these subjects but I’m going to address the New Orleans case for now.  For those of you who might be unfamiliar with it, during the years of 1918 and 1919 an unknown

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-11746142901916013062012-10-17T10:15:00.000-06:002012-10-17T10:15:00.705-06:00

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-92037122811792937312012-10-01T22:01:00.000-06:002012-10-02T07:35:23.973-06:00

I've posted SketchUp models of the crime scenes before.  I have a couple of different layouts for the Dawson's house in Monmouth, IL.  This one is incomplete, intended to be a top down model of the house.  I say it's incomplete because I haven't added most of the interior doors nor are there any windows.  There are other things "wrong" with it, likely, so if you have

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-15676333692193894112012-09-29T07:09:00.000-06:002012-10-01T08:11:44.884-06:00

Archie & Nettie Coble Slept Here Part 1 can be found here - I could go into a lengthy discussion about the events leading up to George Wilson’s arrest but I would be distracted from the meat of the post and the awesome title I came up with for it.  So to save you all the suspense, George Wilson was jailed, “confessed,” and arrested, in that order.  In fact Wilson was held in a

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-73083163620002356212012-09-19T21:17:00.000-06:002014-08-12T15:58:37.010-06:00

Henry and Blanche Wayne Four years ago I wrote a brief summary of the murders of two families in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  These crimes are now one-hundred-one years old this week and as far as I know, no one is any closer to naming a possible suspect then they were over a century ago.  I certainly haven’t got any answers but I still dig.  I have corresponded with

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8459020283922573298.post-58886823843308733512012-08-23T16:22:00.000-06:002012-08-23T16:22:03.523-06:00

Look what I found completely by accident today!  Smithsonian.com linked to my (as well as the excellent Villisca Ax Murders Blog) little ol' blog.  It would have been nice if they'd let me know but I'm quite happy anyway.  Ahh...the internet.  This makes me wish I'd stuck with journalism.

Inspector Winshiphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00579458321905980432noreply@blogger.com3