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 Tribune
• Hatfield, Richard, Searching For Motive in Slaying, July 11, 1967, The Des Moines Tribune
• Brewer, Norman, 2 Knives Used in Slaying: Handle of One Not Found, July 12, 1967, The Des Moines Tribune
• Detective at Rites of Mrs. Camp, July 13, 1967, The Des Moines Tribune
• Brewer, Norman, Two Months Later, Camp Looks Back, September 13, 1967, The Des Moines Tribune
• Police Press Investigation Into Slaying in Des Moines, July 11, 1967, Iowa City Press Citizen
• Kilen, Mike, Who Killed Leota Camp? 48 Years Later, and Still No Answer, July 27, 2015, Iowa City Press Citizen, The Des Moines Register
• Des Moines Hunts Housewife’s Killer, July 11, 1967, Quad City Times
• DM Woman Found Slain, July 11, 1967, Quad City Times
• Hunt Killer of Young Mother of 3 at Des Moines, July 11, 1967, The Courier
• Think ‘Kook’ Killed Mom of Three, July 12, 1967, The Courier
• Seek killer of Des Moines housewife stabbed to death, July 12, 1967, The Denison Bulletin
• Beaumont, James, HUNT SLAYER OF D.M. WOMAN: A YOUNG MAN IN BLACK CAR SEEN AT HOME, July 11, 1967, The Des Moines Register
• Lamberto, Nick, Doctor Feels ‘Kook’ Killed D.M. Woman, July 12, 1967, The Des Moines Register
• Lamberto, Nick, Reveal Slain Woman Got Obscene Call, July 14, 1967, The Des Moines Register
• Zelenka, Julie, Seek Suspect in D.M. Slaying, July 21, 1967, The Des Moines Register
• Doak, Dick, Camp Reward in D.M. Killing, August 17, 1967, The Des Moines Register
• Zelenka, Julie, Police Ask Aid in Tracing Car, August 20, 1967, The Des Moines Register
• Lamberto, Nick, House Prowlings Rise, Police Vow ‘War’, January 23, 1974, The Des Moines Register
• List of ‘case open’ slayings in Iowa, September 8, 1974, The Des Moines Register
• Lloyd “Ray” Camp Obituary, June 30, 2024, The Des Moines Sunday Register
• Mendiola, Jose, Iowa Cold Case: Four unsolved cases in Des Moines share July 10 date
• Driver seen near murder site sought, July 11, 1967, The Gazette
• https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/leota-camp/