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Eenie tells about her terrifying experience at The Villisca Ax Murder House.
The Villisca Axe Murder House has a dark and detailed history, steeped in mystery and tragedy. The events of that fateful night in 1912, and the subsequent investigation, have left many questions unanswered, contributing to the lore and intrigue surrounding the house.
On the evening of June 9, 1912, Josiah B. Moore, his wife Sara, and their children Herman, Mary Katherine, Arthur, and Paul, along with two friends of Mary Katherine, Lena and Ina Stillinger, settled in after attending a church event. Sometime after midnight, an assailant or assailants silently entered their home. Each victim was bludgeoned to death with an axe, which belonged to Josiah Moore, indicating they were likely asleep when attacked. The killer or killers used the blunt end of the axe on the victims, and the murders were characterized by their overkill nature, suggesting extreme rage or a deeply personal motive.
The investigation into the murders was extensive but flawed from the start, with the crime scene being compromised by curious townsfolk and inadequate forensic methods of the time. Several suspects were considered:
- Frank F. Jones, a Villisca resident and Josiah Moore's former employer, was rumored to have a grudge against Moore over business disputes and personal issues.
- William Mansfield, another suspect, was believed to have been hired by Jones to commit the murders, but he was later released due to lack of evidence.
- Reverend George Kelly, a traveling preacher, was in town the night of the murders and had a history of mental instability. He confessed to the murders under pressure but later recanted. His two trials ended in a hung jury and an acquittal.
Numerous theories have been proposed over the years, including robbery gone wrong, a serial killer (as similar murders occurred in the region around the same time), or a crime of passion. None have been definitively proven.
The house is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and operates as a museum. It attracts visitors from around the world, particularly those interested in the paranormal. Many claim to have experienced strange phenomena such as visions, sounds, and ghostly apparitions, believed to be the spirits of the murdered family and their guests.
The Night of the MurdersThe Investigation and SuspectsTheories and Paranormal Interest
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