The House Where Eight Died

In the early hours of June 10, 1912, someone entered the Moore home in Villisca, Iowa and killed eight people with an axe—Josiah and Sarah Moore, their four children, and two overnight guests. The murderer was never identified. The house never forgot.

The Victims

Who died:

• Josiah Moore (43)
• Sarah Moore (39)
• Herman Moore (11)
• Katherine Moore (10)
• Boyd Moore (7)
• Paul Moore (5)
• Lena Stillinger (12)
• Ina Stillinger (8)

The Night

June 9-10, 1912:

• Sunday night
• After church program
• Children sleeping over
• Normal evening
• Then horror

The Discovery

Morning of June 10:

• Neighbor noticed
• No one stirring
• Called help
• Door unlocked
• Bodies found

The Scene

What was discovered:

• All in beds
• Bludgeoned with axe
• Faces covered
• Mirrors covered
• Bizarre ritual

The Weapon

The axe:

• Found in house
• Belonged to family
• Used on all eight
• Wiped clean
• Left behind

The Investigation

Who looked:

• Local police
• Private detectives
• National Guard
• Multiple suspects
• No conviction

The Suspects

Those accused:

• Frank Jones
• William Mansfield
• Reverend Kelly
• Traveling killer?
• Never proven

Reverend Kelly

Most infamous suspect:

• Confessed twice
• Recanted both
• Acquitted at trial
• Mental instability
• Still debated

The Cold Case

Never solved:

• Over 100 years
• Still open
• Still discussed
• Still mysteries
• No closure

The House Today

Current status:

• Preserved
• Murder scene intact
• Tours available
• Overnight stays
• Active haunting

The Activity

What happens:

• Children’s voices
• Running footsteps
• Objects move
• Doors open
• Presence felt

The Stabbing

Documented incident:

• Paranormal investigator
• Stabbed in chest
• By unseen force
• Drew blood
• Multiple witnesses

Physical Attacks

Other incidents:

• Scratches
• Bruises
• Hair pulled
• Pushed
• Touched

The Children

Most active spirits:

• Children’s room
• Ball rolls
• Voices heard
• Playing
• Trapped

EVP Evidence

Recorded voices:

• “I killed eight”
• Children speaking
• Screams
• Names called
• Documented

The Paranormal Teams

Who investigates:

• Ghost Adventures
• Numerous teams
• High activity
• Consistent findings
• Active location

The Tours

Visitor experience:

• Day tours
• Overnight stays
• Ghost hunts
• Most experience
• Something happens

The Town

Villisca today:

• Embraces history
• Murder tourism
• Small town
• Famous case
• Revenue source

The Controversy

Ethical question:

• Profiting from tragedy
• Tourism vs. respect
• Different views
• Ongoing debate
• Complex issue

Significance

Unsolved mass murder from 1912 with documented paranormal activity and physical attacks on investigators.

Legacy

The Villisca Axe Murder House proves some crimes never rest—the spirits of eight victims and possibly their killer remain in the house where horror struck.