MURDERED: Leota Camp

When a 25-year-old mother is stabbed to death in her bedroom in broad daylight, shock ripples through her quiet neighborhood. Witnesses reported seeing a man leaving the scene in a Mustang, but despite investigators’ efforts, both the suspect and the vehicle seem to vanish without a trace.Nearly 60 years later, the case remains unsolved.In this episode, we examine the 1967 murder of Leota Camp in Des Moines, Iowa. From the crime scene and autopsy findings to the puzzling lack of a clear motive, we break down the details of a case that continues to raise more questions than answers.SOURCES: Woman, 25, Is Slain Here, July 10, 1967, The Des Moines TribuneHatfield, Richard, Searching For Motive in Slaying, July 11, 1967, The Des Moines TribuneBrewer, Norman, 2 Knives Used in Slaying: Handle of One Not Found, July 12, 1967, The Des Moines TribuneDetective at Rites of Mrs. Camp, July 13, 1967, The Des Moines TribuneBrewer, Norman, Two Months Later, Camp Looks Back, September 13, 1967, The Des Moines TribunePolice Press Investigation Into Slaying in Des Moines, July 11, 1967, Iowa City Press CitizenKilen, Mike, Who Killed Leota Camp? 48 Years Later, and Still No Answer, July 27, 2015, Iowa City Press Citizen, The Des Moines RegisterDes Moines Hunts Housewife’s Killer, July 11, 1967, Quad City TimesDM Woman Found Slain, July 11, 1967, Quad City TimesHunt Killer of Young Mother of 3 at Des Moines, July 11, 1967, The CourierThink ‘Kook’ Killed Mom of Three, July 12, 1967, The CourierSeek killer of Des Moines housewife stabbed to death, July 12, 1967, The Denison BulletinBeaumont, James, HUNT SLAYER OF D.M. WOMAN: A YOUNG MAN IN BLACK CAR SEEN AT HOME, July 11, 1967, The Des Moines RegisterLamberto, Nick, Doctor Feels ‘Kook’ Killed D.M. Woman, July 12, 1967, The Des Moines RegisterLamberto, Nick, Reveal Slain Woman Got Obscene Call, July 14, 1967, The Des Moines RegisterZelenka, Julie, Seek Suspect in D.M. Slaying, July 21, 1967, The Des Moines RegisterDoak, Dick, Camp Reward in D.M. Killing, August 17, 1967, The Des Moines RegisterZelenka, Julie, Police Ask Aid in Tracing Car, August 20, 1967, The Des Moines RegisterLamberto, Nick, House Prowlings Rise, Police Vow ‘War’, January 23, 1974, The Des Moines RegisterList of ‘case open’ slayings in Iowa, September 8, 1974, The Des Moines RegisterLloyd “Ray” Camp Obituary, June 30, 2024, The Des Moines Sunday RegisterMendiola, Jose, Iowa Cold Case: Four unsolved cases in Des Moines share July 10 dateDriver seen near murder site sought, July 11, 1967, The Gazettehttps://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/leota-camp/Support the showIf you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-formIf you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creatorSave $20 on a Buzzsprout paid plan using this referral link!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2372693Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson