Photos from Villisca house where eight people were killed in 1912 with an ax (2024)

The house in which the Villisca ax murders took place.

Villisca, Iowa house ax murder.

Professor Ed Epperly of Cuther College, an expert on the Villisca murder, holds the ax that he is convinced is the one used to kill 8 people in 1912.

Dave Christensen, paranormal investigator from Omaha, Neb., who is trying to determine who killed 11 people in 1912 by measuring the movements of spirits in the Villisca Axe Murder House. Christensen, and his wife, Leslie, are shown moving equipment into the house for their investigation.

A re-enactment soon after crime of the Villisca ax murder, actors unknown.

Left to right: John Montgomery, whose daughter and son-in-law and four grandchildren were among those killed; Mrs. Lyn George J. Kelly; The Rev. Lyn George J. Kelly, accused of the crime and subsequently acquited, and now living either in Chicago or New England; Joe Moore, son-in-law of John Montgomery who was killed along with his wife and four children.

A view from the front yard of the Villisca Ax Murder House, on in October 2011 in Villisca, Iowa.

From 2011: A downstairs bedroom that was occupied by Lena Stillinger, 12, and her sister Ina, 8, houseguests of the Moore children, at the time of the murder in the Villisca Axe Murder House, in Villisca, Iowa.

Wednesday October 26 -A upstairs bedroom which was occupied by Josiah B. Moore and Sarah Montgomery Moore at the time of the crime in the Villisca Ax Murder House, on Wednesday in Villisca Iowa. David Purdy/ The Register

Martha Linn, 17-year owner of the Villisca Ax Murder House, explains that overnight guests will leave balls and toys for the ghosts of the deceased children to play with during an interview in the living room of the home on Oct. 26, 2011 in Villisca Iowa.

Martha Linn, 17-year owner of the Villisca Ax Murder House, talks about the history of the home while sitting in the living room during an interview on Oct. 26, 2011 in Villisca Iowa. Overnight visitors to the home often leave balls and toys for the ghosts of the deceased children to play with.

Martha Linn, 17-year owner of the Villisca Ax Murder House, talks about the history of the home while sitting in the living room during an interview on Oct. 26, 2011 in Villisca Iowa.

An upstairs attic crawl space in the Villisca Ax Murder House, on Oct. 26, 2011 in Villisca Iowa. There is speculation that the killer hid out in the crawl space before committing the murders in the home.

An upstairs bedroom which was occupied by Herman Moore, age 11, Katherine Moore, age 9, Boyd Moore, 7 and Paul Moore, 5, at the time of the murder in the Villisca Ax Murder House, in Villisca Iowa.

Martha Linn, 17-year owner of the Villisca Ax Murder House, looks at toys left by visitors in an upstairs bedroom which was occupied by Herman Moore, age 11, Katherine Moore, age 9, Boyd Moore, 7 and Paul Moore, 5, at the time of the murder in the Villisca Ax Murder House, in Villisca Iowa.

Martha Linn, 17-year owner of the Villisca Ax Murder House, shows a before picture of the home on Oct. 26, 2011 in Villisca Iowa.

Martha Linn, 17-year owner of the Villisca Ax Murder House, talks about the history of the home while sitting in the living room during an interview on Oct. 26, 2011 in Villisca Iowa. A portrait of the Moore family hangs on the wall behind Martha.

Martha Linn, 17-year owner of the Villisca Ax Murder House, shows a photograph of a small childrens ball in the living room of the home with what she claims is a ghost orb pictured above the ball caught on film by a guest taking a tour of the home. The picture is one of several displaying orb's caught in pictures taken in the home.

Monday July 20, 2009 - Heather Frey of Independence, Missouri, waits in line to tour the Villisca Axe Murder House Monday morning.

A "Haunted Iowa" tour will include the house known as the Villisca Axe Murder House.

Vowing to never step foot inside the Villisca Ax Murder House after spending the night there six years ago, Jacob Sikes of Kearney, Neb., decided to go back for another visit during RAGBRAI on Monday, July 25, 2016. Sikes, a first-time RAGBRAI rider, said weird stuff that happened the night he stayed spooked him, however he felt better about visiting during the daytime, and with a lot of people.

Team Bat members John McCannon and Jesse Gerlits, both of Des Moines, stand beside their bus in Villisca during RAGBRAI XLIV.

Cindy Perry in front of the Villisca Axe Murder House while riding RAGBRAI XLIV.

Scott Sandell, a RAGBRAI rider from Grundy Center, climbs up to the second floor of the Villisca Ax Murder House on Monday, July 25, 2016.

Becky Rike of Corning peeks into the attic of the Villisca Ax Murder House as RAGBRAI rolled through town on Monday, July 25, 2016. Despite living down the road from Villisca, Rike said she's never been to the house.

Vowing to never step foot inside the Villisca Ax House after spending the night there six years ago, Jacob Sikes of Kearney, Neb., decided to go back for another visit during RAGBRAI on Monday, July 25, 2016. Sikes, a first-time RAGBRAI rider, said weird stuff that happened the night he stayed spooked him, however he felt better about visiting during the daytime, and with a lot of people.

The attic of the Villisca Axe Murder House.

One of the rooms of the Villisca Ax Murder House where two of the seven unsolved murders occurred. Members of the RAGBRAI route inspection team met with tour guides of the house to get the chilling details during day two of the preride in southwestern Iowa.

Members of the RAGBRAI route inspection team pose for a photo outside of the Villisca Ax Murder House in Villisca on day two of the preride in southwestern Iowa.