Buried Bones - a historical true crime podcast with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes Axed PT 1
20 snips
Jan 14, 2026 In 1912 Iowa, the chilling Villisca Axe Murders unfold as an entire family and their guests meet a gruesome fate. The eerie discovery by a neighbor sparks a frantic investigation. The duo analyzes behavioral clues at the crime scene, including the disturbing state of the victims and the crime scene's contamination by curious townsfolk. They debate whether a singular killer or multiple offenders are responsible while exploring the mind of the perpetrator. The suspense mounts as they outline suspects leading into a deeper exploration.
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Scope And Signature Of The Crime
- The Villisca murders involved eight victims, including six children, found bludgeoned and sometimes sexually violated in one house.
- The attacker used the family's own axe and covered victims' faces and mirrors, signaling both practical and psychological behaviors.
Weapon Use Revealed By Ceiling Damage
- Ceiling and wallpaper slashes show the axe struck high, meaning the killer swung a long-handled weapon indoors.
- Low ceilings forced awkward swings and left damage on both ceiling and wall that informs offender positioning.
Sequence Suggests Assault After Killings
- The two guest girls downstairs showed signs of mutilation and sexual display while one girl's underwear was removed.
- Paul Holes infers the sexual assault likely occurred after the household killings, making the guest room the killer's final location.
