I know that this case was in Villisca, Iowa on June 10, 1912. A family was killed in their own home. A total of 8 people were killed, 6 of which were kids. Two of the kids were friends of one of the daughters that were over for a sleepover. The bodies were all found lying in their beds and all were killed by an ax to the head. The killer oddly had cloth covering all of their faces, mirrors covered with sheets, dinner tables all set with food, and bacon scattered all over the floors. They caught the supposed murderer, a man that was mentally ill. He went to trial twice but was later acquitted.  

Cite used:

Castleman, Lora. “5NEWS: Villisca Axe Murders from over 111 Years | 5newsonline.Com.” 5 News Where You Live, 2023, www.5newsonline.com/article/news/crime/true-crime/5news-villisca-axe-murders-111-years-later/527-a904613f-f933-4450-a3e6-2bc284feb970. 

This source is a reliable source. I know this because the author is a credible author that has also published more articles on other topics. This source is credible because it was published in 2022 and has been updated since. It was probably upgraded when the Moore house became a sightseeing attraction. Lastly, all the information I read in this article lines up to the other articles that I have read about this topic. This one just had more information regarding the suspects. 

This article allowed me to better understand the suspects. It focused on the two main suspects of the crime and why neither of them were sentenced for the crime. I learned more about Frank Jones and the history he has with Joe Moore. I also learned more about Kelly and how he only did not get indicted because of his small physique that they didn’t think he was capable of the murder. Although, many signs lead to it being him like the bloody clothes, the left handed, and his mental health issues.

Serena, Katie. “The Gruesome Story of the Unsolved Villisca Axe Murders.” All That’s Interesting, All That’s Interesting, 29 Sept. 2022, allthatsinteresting.com/villisca-axe-murders. 

This is a reliable source because the author of this is credible and has written other similar murder cases like this one. It was published in 2012 by a reliable history magazine. The article did not change the story I have already read about through other articles but only built more detailed information upon the story. All of the information from this source related to the story of the ax murderer and didn't go off-topic. This article hasn’t ever been updated although I think that is normal due to the case of Villisca Ax murder was over 100 years ago and not much new evidence has come to light. 

I learned a lot more small details about this case that weren't included in the other articles. This article was much more lengthy and dived deeper into the small details of the case. Some of the things that I learned from this article was that many people came into the house before it was completely investigated and all the evidence was found and taken. This made it more difficult for the murderer to be found. I also learned more about the suspect Kelly and how he may have been watching the Moore family through their barn and that one of the girls' gowns was moved up past their waist and their underwear had been removed. 

Magazine, Smithsonian. “The AX Murderer Who Got Away.” Smithsonian.Com, Smithsonian Institution, 8 June 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-ax-murderer-who-got-away-117037374/. 

This source is reliable because it was produced by a news article that was written by a published author. The article has also been revised and updated since the publish date. 

This article helped me better understand how the bodies were found and that the door was unusually locked when the neighbors came to check on the Moore family. Due to it being such a small town most families and homeowners do not lock their door because they never have any big city crime. I learned that the ax used for the murders was owned by Joe Moore. This will all help me better understand the crime and how it was committed.

Barreda, Virginia. “What to Know on the Anniversary of the 1912 Villisca Ax Murders.” The Des Moines Register, Des Moines Register, 10 June 2022, www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2022/06/09/1912-villisca-ax-murders-what-to-know-iowa-cold-case/7567590001/. 

This source is reliable because it is a website that you can go to to sign up to see the house. The last suspect listed isn’t reliable because it was not based on facts, just suspicions but, the other suspects line up with the other suspects that I have previously read about. 

I learned more about the suspect Henry Moore. I didn’t know he was a possible suspect because it wasn’t mentioned in the previous articles I have read.

“Who Were the Suspects?” The Villisca Axe Murder Of 1912, thevilliscaaxemurder.weebly.com/who-were-the-suspects.html. Accessed 23 Feb. 2024. 

This source is a reliable article because it was published by a credible author and has been recently updated. It also lines up with information that I have read in the other articles I’ve read about the Villisca Ax murders.

I learned that William Mansfield was also a suspect in the crime because he was known to be a murderer using the same weapon that was used to kill the Moore family. I also learned more information about Sarah Moore and how she didn’t have a job but was involved in their church.

Lease, Lawrence. “Revisiting the Villisca Axe Murders Over a Century Later.” HubPages, discover.hubpages.com/. Accessed 24 Feb. 2024.