Legendary true crime writer Edmund Pearson once said, "The Borden case is without parallel in the criminal history of America. It is the most interesting, and perhaps the most puzzling murder that has occurred in this country." 
For two decades I agreed with him.
But yesterday I watched a two-hour documentary on an unsolved murder case from Iowa. Now my head has been entirely spun around, and I look not to the east but to the west and a tiny town called Villisca, Iowa -- and I stand corrected. Pearson, you were wrong all along. The greatest unsolved murder in the history of America took place in 1912, and the film Villisca: Living With a Mystery is an excellent introduction to a case that will leave all students of true crime saying, "Lizzie who?"
If Lizzie Borden is Historic True Crime 101, then the obscene axe murders that took the lives of eight people (including six children) as they slept, destroying the psyche of this quiet Iowa town on June 10, 1912, is Historic True Crime 401: it will call on all you think you've learned about criminology.
Villisca: Living With a Mystery is the single best true crime documentary I have ever seen (and I do believe I've seen virtually all of them). With exquisite care, never dipping into the sensationalism that would have been within easy reach (and which the residents of Villisca would not have tolerated), the filmmakers relay the facts of the murders, the effect they had on the townsfolk, the suspects, the theories, the courtroom dramas. It even includes a (tastefully done) computer animation of the crime scene and interviews with a forensic psychiatrist as well as FBI profiler Robert K. Ressler, a very nice touch for those of us who like to hear from profilers on everything. The movie also features top-notch production values and narration, interviews with writers, historians, and residents, and hundreds of historic photos of the people and places involved (which are not repeated, and I'm glad of this. Endless repetition of the same photos over and over and over is one of my primary beefs with most true crime stories depicted on film and TV.)
The murders of a prominent businessman, his wife, their four children, and two young girls who were visiting that night just terrified the town. They couldn't explain a crime like this -- eight people, killed in their beds with an axe; one of the victims was posed afterward -- how could an early twentieth century mind wrap itself around it? There were no witnesses, no fingerprints, no apparent motive, and it was never solved. Descriptions of the murder scene strongly reminded me of Thomas Harris's novel Red Dragon, for those who know that reference (Amazon link).
For decades, residents of Villisca argued about who committed the murders, when they would talk about it at all. Was it the state senator, who certainly had ample cause to hate? Was it the preacher, the profoundly mentally ill Englishman known as a peeping Tom and pervert, who confessed to the slayings? Or was it a serial killer who was implicated in a string of similar butcheries and who kept newspaper clippings on the crime? While the film does not purport to have the final answer, it certainly is a satisfactory exploration of the horrific event.
The film has received universally good reviews, with all Amazon reviews giving it the full five stars and glowing viewer comments on IMDb such as --
- "A wonderful film... faithful and respectful... I highly recommend it."
- "An enjoyable movie for crime buffs and historians -- very well presented."
- "Great. I wasn't expecting to get so caught up... keeps you glued to the story... an excellent murder mystery and a good historical documentary worth seeing."
- "I... was captivated...this story will knock your socks off."
- "Two hours well spent."
- "Absolutely engaging! ... Like Ken Burns... the attention to detail, accuracy, use of animation to take the viewer into the home and town all make this film credible and engaging."
- "What a wonderful piece of work!"
The comparison to legendary documentary filmmaker Ken Burns is certainly appropriate, for this film is in his league. The film is so absorbing that I completely forgot at several points that I meant to take notes and had to watch it again. Though I would have watched it again anyway and will watch it again in the future and am glad to have my own copy.
If you have seen this film, and/or have studied this murder case, I would love to hear your opinions. I find myself utterly absorbed in this mystery to the point that I added a "Villisca" category to Clews (at left) and want to explore it further. The movie's official website features quite a lot of content, as does the "official site" of the murders. A genealogy buff has created a website featuring some of the original newspaper coverage. The Villisca Historical Society also has a website that delves into the mystery in detail.
The movie is being released on DVD this month, and you can order a copy from the official website for the film or from Amazon. It will also be available for rent from the Family Video chain as well as Netflix.
Grade: A+. The best movie ever made in the true crime genre.
"Why, now, here's something like a murder! This is the real thing. This is genuine. This is what you can approve, can recommend to a friend."
Sounds very interesting, I must check it out!
I'm curious... did the film-maker make any connection between the Burnham-Wayne murders (1911, I think) and the Blue Island murders (1914) with Villisca? If I'm not mistaken, there was speculation at the time that Villisca was connected to the B-W murders at least.
Posted by: Nene | October 21, 2006 at 03:44 PM
Thanks, Laura. Between the book reviews and the movies......I'll be busy through the end of the year.
Posted by: Soobs | October 22, 2006 at 02:19 PM
The film maker speculates about the other murders possibly connected to the Villisca piece, including the crimes in Colorado Springs (Burnham-Wayne), Paola and Ellsworth, KS and Columbia, MO. I personally do not believe that the man convicted for the Columbia crime (the supposed serial killer) committed the Villisca crime, as the crimes are dis-similar. I do believe that the Villisca crime IS connected to the other five, however.
A link to an academic paper I wrote on the string of crimes can be found at:
http://studentaccess.emporia.edu/~bklingen/life.htm at least temporarily
Posted by: Beth_Klingensmith | October 23, 2006 at 10:28 AM
The film does explore a possible connection between the Villisca murders, the Burnham-Wayne crime in Colorado Springs, and other similar Midwestern homicides in 1911-1912. The Blue Island, Illinois axe murders were also connected in the sense that a suspect in the Villisca case, William Mansfield, drew suspicion because his estranged wife, daughter, and in-laws were murdered with an axe in 1914.
Posted by: Kelly Rundle | October 24, 2006 at 11:34 AM
Villisca is a quaint little town and the first time I visited it I had no idea that the crime had happened.
I have a few friends from there, and they told me. Its amazing. They open the house for tours on Halloween I think, and I am thinking of going. If I do, I will be sure to send pictures.
Posted by: Kristin | October 24, 2006 at 02:24 PM
Wow, Beth, that is a fantastic paper. Laura, I recommend you take a look when you can.
Posted by: Nene | October 24, 2006 at 04:53 PM
Beth, truly a great paper, as Nene pointed out. Thank you for directing us there.
Posted by: Soobs | October 24, 2006 at 10:06 PM
I have been fascinated with this case ever since I first saw the documentary this summer. I read that the murder weapon has been donated to the historical society in Villisca by the historian in the film named Epperly. How did he get the axe?
Posted by: Terre Read | October 25, 2006 at 05:00 PM
Sometime after the trial of Rev. Lyn George Kelly (the diminutive Englishman with a history of window-peeping among other peculiarities) the axe was given to State Investigator James Risden. Risden later headed the Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation. A researcher named Don Brown acquired the axe from Risden's widow. When Don's interest in studying the murder waned, he gave it to fellow Villisca researcher Dr. Edgar Epperly. Iowa law indicates that property used as evidence must be held for two years and then offered to the owner first (it's unlikely that the Moore family wanted it back) and if unclaimed, it can be disposed of in any reasonable manner. Ed will donate the axe to the newly formed Villisca Historical Society, Inc. on October 31, 2006 just prior to a Halloween screening of "Villisca: Living with a Mystery" at the State Historical Society in Des Moines.
Posted by: Kelly Rundle | October 25, 2006 at 10:23 PM
I have this video and it's excellent but I can't say it surpasses the Lizzie Borden case as "the greatest unsolved murder case in the history of America." Naw. Lizzie still holds the Champeenship Title. :) The tantalizing elements aren't even the same. Powerful name, missing murder weapon, committed in broad daylight on a busy street, suspected virginal youngest daughter, crimes 1.5 hours apart, etc. etc. I love that you quote Thomas DeQuincey.
Posted by: Faye Musselman | August 14, 2007 at 12:16 AM
The Blue Island murders were actually committed by a former lodger of the house. He confessed to the crime in 1915 and was sent to a mental institution. Anyhow, see this film! The 1912 Axe murders are just the backdrop for a film that is an excellent study on how a heinous crime tore apart a small community and how the shockwaves of that crime are still felt nearly 100 years later.
Posted by: Inspector Winship | February 04, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Laura's effusive review has me intrigued. I've never heard of this case before, but it's right up my alley, having read dozens of turn-of-the-century true crime books and a handful of Lizzie books.
BETTER than the Borden case? Wow! I'm there!
Posted by: Mark Daniels | October 26, 2008 at 05:19 PM
My local library had the DVD. I borrowed it and plan to watch it tonight. Something tells me this is going to be great!
Pity that only two books about the case are currently in print, and one of them fiction. Nevertheless, I'll probably buy and read the one factual book.
Posted by: Mark Daniels | November 01, 2008 at 05:51 PM