The Villisca Murders

Background

The moore family consisted of 6 members: Parents Josiah B. (aged 43[1]), Sarah (née Montgomery) (39) Their children Herman Montgomery (11), Mary Katherine (10), Arthur Boyd (7), and Paul Vernon (5) in the house their was also two of Mary’s friends Ina Mae (8) and Lena Gertrude Stillinger (12) that day they had gone to prebystrian church and the kids had attended the children's day program which ended at nine thirty at night and then had walked back to the moore house arriving there between 9 45 and 10

Murders

The parents were the first victims. The killer only ever used the blade of the axe on josiah who got the worst beating. The girls staying over were the last to be killed and lena was thought the only one to be awake as she had defensive wounds and was lying across the bed. The axe was left in the guest room next to a four pound slab of bacon. The killer had made himself food which had gone uneated. He had also intrestingly enough coved all windows and mirrors with clothes and blankets. He also left behind a bloody bowl of water

Discovery of Scene

It was around 7am on June 10 when Mary Peckham the family's neighbour knocked on their front door as she had become concerned when the family did not come out to do their morning chores. When nobody answered she attempted to open the door but couldn't because it was locked. So Mary let the Moore’s chickens out and called Ross Moore Josiah's brother. But Ross also had no response from the family when he knocked and shouted. So Ross proceeded to open the door with his copy of the house key. While Mary stood on the porch Ross went into the parlour and opened the guest bedroom door. This is where he found the bodies of both Ina and Lena on the bed. Ross then told Mary to call Henry Horton, Villisca's primary peace officer. When Henry arrived they proceeded to search the house he found the entire family and the stillinger girls had been bludgeoned to death.