Villisca, Iowa

On the morning of June 10, 1912, Villisca, Iowa, awoke to a nightmare that would shock the entire nation. Mrs. Mary Peckham, a neighbor of the Moore family, noticed that the household had not stirred for their usual early chores. When she received no answer at the door, she called Josiah Moore’s brother, Ross, who entered with a spare key. Inside, he discovered a horrific scene: Josiah Moore, his wife Sara, their four children, and two overnight guests had been brutally murdered in their beds.

This tragedy, forever known as the Villisca Axe Murders, changed the quiet town of Villisca and left behind one of America’s most enduring unsolved mysteries.

Josiah B. “Joe” Moore was a respected businessman who ran a local hardware store. He and his wife Sara were beloved members of the community, raising four children: Herman (11), Katherine (10), Boyd (7), and Paul (5). On Sunday, June 9, 1912, the family attended the Children’s Day service at the Villisca Presbyterian Church. Accompanying them home were Lena (11) and Ina (8) Stillinger, two local sisters invited to stay the night. It was the last time any of them were seen alive.

The Murders

Authorities concluded the murders took place between midnight and 5 a.m. The killer used the blunt side of an axe to strike every victim multiple times. Evidence suggests that all but one victim was asleep during the killings. Lena Stillinger appeared to have fought back, her body showing defensive wounds.

Sadly, the crime scene was compromised. Curious townspeople were allowed to walk through the house before officials secured it, contaminating potential evidence.

Despite multiple suspects—including Reverend George Kelly, transient workers, and even Josiah Moore’s business rival Frank F. Jones—no one was ever convicted. Kelly came closest to being charged, even confessing once before recanting, but he was acquitted. Other theories linked the murders to known serial killers such as William Mansfield and Henry Lee Moore, but none were proven.

To this day, the Villisca Axe Murders remain unsolved.

Over the years, the Moore home passed through several owners, often serving as a rental property. In 1994, Darwin and Martha Linn purchased the house and restored it to its 1912 appearance. It is now known as the Villisca Axe Murder House, open for tours and even overnight stays.

Paranormal Claims at the Villisca Axe Murder House

Though paranormal reports were rare before the 1990s, claims of hauntings began after the Linns restored the home. Many believe recreating the 1912 environment awakened restless spirits.

Visitors and investigators have reported disembodied voices, moving shadows, cold spots, doors that open and close on their own, and the occasional full body manifestation. Many have claimed to have physical encounters, such as being shoved or scratched. Some guests have experienced disturbing nightmares even after leaving the property.

The house has been featured in numerous books, documentaries, and paranormal television shows. Authors such as Richard Estep, Troy Taylor, and Roy Marshall have explored its chilling legacy, cementing the site as one of the most infamous haunted locations in the United States.

The home of neighbor Mary Peckham, who first raised the alarm in 1912, has also become associated with strange activity. Paranormal investigator Johnny Houser, who now lives there, claims his family has experienced growls, scratches, and apparitions—including a woman with a disfigured face. His children even reported speaking with a spirit named Hattie, believed to be Peckham’s daughter.

Today, the Villisca Axe Murder House welcomes tourists, historians, and paranormal enthusiasts. Day tours provide historical context, while overnight investigations offer a chance to experience the unsettling atmosphere firsthand.

Whether drawn by the unsolved crime or the possibility of the paranormal, visitors continue to keep the memory of Villisca’s tragedy alive—over a century after the Moore family’s final night.