Dr. Edgar Epperly, author of the new true crime book “Fiend Incarnate: Villisca Iowa Axe Murders of 1912” returns to Southwest Iowa to host presentations and book signings April 4-8. Decades in the writing, the new book is bringing the notorious Iowa crime back into the limelight.
Sometime during the dark early morning of June 10, 1912, a person or persons unknown bludgeoned to death Josiah B. Moore, his wife Sara, their children Herman, Katherine, Boyd and Paul, and two overnight guests, Lena and Ina Stillinger. The sensational crime led to nearly ten years of investigations and trials. The small southwest Iowa town of Villisca split over the guilt or innocence of a local businessman and State Senator. A traveling minister from England with a history of window peeping was charged and tried. Investigators and reporters across the country speculated that the brutal crime was the work of an early serial killer. Similar crimes had been committed in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Ellsworth, Kansas; and Monmouth, Illinois.
Dr. Epperly’s presentations will take place:
- Monday, April 4, 6:30 PM, Villisca Public Library, 204 South 3rd Avenue, Villisca, Iowa;
- Tuesday, April 5, 11:00 AM, Tabor Public Library, 723 Main Street, Tabor, Iowa;
- Tuesday, April 5, 2:00 PM, Shenandoah Public Library, 201 S. Elm Street, Shenandoah, Iowa;
- Tuesday, April 5, 6:30 PM, Hamburg Public Library, 1301 Main Street, Hamburg, Iowa;
- Wednesday, April 6, 6:30 PM, Clarinda Public Library, 100 E. Garfield, Clarinda, Iowa; Clarinda Library will also ZOOM the program as well. To attend online, request the ZOOM link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvceyupjMsG9wgMyVkunuRM8h4ue6cQXfV
- Thursday, April 7, 3:30 PM, Essex Public Library, 508 Iowa Avenue, Essex, Iowa;
- Thursday, April 7, 7:00 PM, Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Ave., Council Bluffs, Iowa;
- Friday, April 8, 4:30 PM, Gibson Memorial Library, 200 W. Howard Street, Creston, Iowa.
Dr. Epperly spent over 60 years interviewing eyewitnesses and key figures in the Villisca murder case in addition to examining historical records connected to the crime. He began his research in 1955 as a college student in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He is considered the foremost authority on the sensational crime. The comprehensive 416-page historical non-fiction book is illustrated with over 190 rare images.
Epperly was the key consultant and interview in the award-winning documentary feature film “Villisca: Living with a Mystery” by Emmy award-winning Fourth Wall Films.
Public frustration in the inability of law enforcement to solve the Villisca Axe Murders led to the formation of the Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation. The fingerprint collection compiled by the expert who also examined the Villisca crime scene became the basis of the F.B.I.’s current database.
Epperly has written dozens of articles and blog entries, and appeared on CourtTV and other television and radio programs. He is a popular guest speaker at colleges, universities, historical societies, museums, libraries, and book stores. He resides in Decorah, Iowa.
Epperly's research journey was the subject of the award-winning short documentary film AXMAN. For more information about “Fiend Incarnate” visit VilliscaBook.com.
The book is available to purchase on Amazon.com. It is also available at the following independent bookstores in Iowa (more to come):
Needful Things, 320. S. 3rd Avenue, Villisca, 402.540.8525 https://www.facebook.com/Needful-Things-in-Villisca-996817610707559/
Dragonfly Books, 112 W. Water Street, Decorah, 563.382.4275 https://www.dragonflybooks.com/
Luther College Bookstore, 700 College Drive, Decorah, 563.387.1036 https://www.lutherbookshop.com/
The Book Vine, 204 W. Main St., Cherokee, 712.225.2445 https://www.thebookvine.com/
The Pudgy Pumpkin Patch Gift Shop, 512 N. 4th St., Red Oak 712.623.8111 https://pudgypumpkin.com/
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