Villisca axe murders

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Villisca axe murders
The house where the murders took place
Location	Villisca, Iowa, U.S.
Date	June 9–10, 1912 Late night to early morning
Target	Moore family and 2 guests
Attack type	Mass murder, home invasion
Weapons	Axe
Deaths	8
Perpetrator	Unknown
Motive	Unknown
Accused	Rev. George Kelly
Verdict	Not Guilty (2nd trial)

40°55′51″N 94°58′26″W / 40.9308091°N 94.9739235°W / 40.9308091; -94.9739235 The Villisca axe murders occurred between the evening and early morning of June 9–10, 1912, in the town of Villisca, Iowa, in the United States. The six members of the Moore family and two guests were found bludgeoned in the Moore residence. All eight victims, including six children, had severe head wounds from an axe. A lengthy investigation yielded several suspects, one of whom was tried twice. The first trial ended in a hung jury and the second ended in an acquittal.

The house was restored in the 1990s and is known today as the Villisca Axe Murder House.