The House of Eight Murders

On June 10, 1912, someone entered the Moore home in Villisca, Iowa and killed eight people with an axe as they slept. The murders were never solved, and the house now offers overnight paranormal investigations where visitors report terrifying experiences.

The Victims

Eight killed:

• Josiah Moore (43)
• Sara 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 evening
• Children’s event at church
• Family came home
• Stillinger girls stayed over
• All killed in sleep

The Weapon

The axe:

• Found in guest room
• Blade wiped clean
• Belonged to house
• Taken from shed
• Left behind

The Scene

What police found:

• All bludgeoned
• In their beds
• Mirrors covered
• Oil lamp by door
• Bacon in icebox

Never Solved

Investigation failed:

• Several suspects
• Reverend Kelly tried
• Acquitted twice
• No conviction ever
• Case still open

Reverend Kelly

Main suspect:

• Local minister
• Known to be unstable
• Confessed then recanted
• Tried twice
• Found not guilty

Other Suspects

Theories include:

• William Mansfield (serial killer)
• Frank Jones (business rival)
• State Senator accused
• Traveling killer
• Unknown

The Haunting

Current activity:

• Children’s voices
• Footsteps
• Objects moving
• Oppressive feeling
• Very active

Overnight Stays

Available experiences:

• Rent the house
• Investigation nights
• No electricity after dark
• Full access
• Documented phenomena

Common Reports

Guests experience:

• Children laughing
• Doors slamming
• Cold spots
• Shadow figures
• Feeling of evil

The Children

Most reported:

• Children’s voices
• Playing sounds
• Ball rolling
• Young spirits
• Still present

Investigation Evidence

Paranormal teams find:

• EVP recordings
• Temperature drops
• EMF spikes
• Shadow photographs
• Active location

The Attic

Most feared area:

• Where killer may have hidden
• Intense energy
• Investigators affected
• Disturbing presence
• Avoided by some

Significance

Unsolved mass murder with over a century of paranormal activity and ongoing overnight investigations.

Legacy

Villisca stands as America’s most haunted crime scene—eight souls murdered in their sleep, justice never served, and their spirits still trapped in the house where they died.