Villisca, Iowa

Villisca National Guard Armory

Villisca is a city in Montgomery County, Iowa, United States. Pictured is the Villisca National Guard Armory courtesy of Vac4rcm2. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Villisca Axe Murder House

On the night of June 9, 1912, six members of the Moore family and two guests were brutally murdered with an axe. It wasn't until the morning of June 10, 1912 that they were found in their home by a neighbor and Ross Moore, the brother of Josiah Moore. Over time, many possible suspects emerged. George Kelly was tried twice for the murder. The first ended in a hung jury, while the second trial ended in an acquittal. Other suspects in the investigation were also exonerated. It remains unsolved.

Many believers in the paranormal would doubtless accept that such a dreadful and violent act would render the house haunted. Phenomena that have been reported include the apparition of a man holding an ax and dark shadows; cold spots; disembodied voices, crying and laughter; an "unbearable feeling of sadness"; doors open and close of their own accord and objects move. Some amateur investigators claim to have been physically attacked by an invisible prescence.

Pictured left is the Villisca Axe Murder House.

The Villisca Axe Murder House, 508 E. 2nd St., Villisca, IA, USA.

www.villiscaiowa.com

The house featured on Ghost Adventures in the episode "Villisca Axe Murder House" (Season 4, Episode 6).

For further information, please read America's Most Haunted by Theresa Argie and Eric Olsen.

For further information, please read A Ghost Hunter's Guide to the Most Haunted Houses in America by Terrance Zepke.