Join us for a special Community Connections with Dr. Edgar Epperly, author of the new true crime book “Fiend Incarnate: Villisca Iowa Axe Murders of 1912”.
Join us for a special Community Connections with Dr. Edgar Epperly, author of the new true crime book “Fiend Incarnate: Villisca Iowa Axe Murders of 1912”. Decades in the writing, the new book is bringing the notorious Iowa crime back into the limelight.
"Fiend Incarnate: Villisca Axe Murders of 1912" explores the brutal murders of Josiah B. Moore, his wife Sara, their children Herman, Katherine, Boyd and Paul, and two overnight guests, Lena and Ina Stillinger, discovered in the early morning hours of Monday, June 10, 1912 in the small village of Villisca, Iowa. 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 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 is considered the foremost authority on the sensational crime. The comprehensive 416-page historical true crime book is illustrated with over 190 rare images. Copies of the book will be available for sale after the program.
Epperly was the key consultant and interview in the award-winning documentary feature film “Villisca: Living with a Mystery” by Fourth Wall Films. He 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. Visit VilliscaBook.com for more information.
Registration is not required.
Community Connections is supported by the Friends of the Bettendorf Library.
The Bettendorf Public Library has served the community of Bettendorf since July 12, 1955. We offer Library events for all ages, and our meeting rooms are available for public use. See more information about our meeting room policy at http://www.bettendorflibrary.com/services/meeting-rooms/.
