A COLD CASE INVOLVING THE DEATH OF AN IOWA MAN 50 YEARS AGO WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND IN WOODBURY COUNTY HAS MOVED FORWARD WITH THE VICTIM’S IDENTIFICATION.
ON AUGUST 30 OF 1988, AN IOWA D-O-T WORKER DISCOVERED SKELETAL REMAINS A HALF MILE EAST OF CORRECTIONVILLE, OFF OF HIGHWAY 20.
CAPTAIN DON ARMSTRONG OF THE WOODBURY COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT STARTED WORKING THE CASE IN EARLY 2025:
COLDCASE1 OC…WHO THIS PERSON WAS. :21
AN AUTOPSY REVEALED THE REMAINS BELONGED TO A WHITE MALE ESTIMATED TO BE 30-60 YEARS OLD.
FOUL PLAY WAS NOT SUSPECTED, THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS RULED UNDETERMINED AND THE CASE BECAME A COLD CASE.
IOWA DIVISION OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION SPECIAL AGENT LYNN OLESEN JOINED ARMSTRONG IN WORKING THE CASE.
THEY LOOKED AT THE OLD REPORTS AND TEST RESULTS, AND THEN TURNED TO NEW TECHNOLOGY:
COLDCASE2 OC……….THEIR LOVED ONES. :15
OLESEN SAYS THAT LED TO A BREAK IN THE CASE EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND THE DISCOVERY OF A PATERNAL NIECE LIVING IN TEXAS:
COLDCASE3 OC……….CAN BE COMPARED. :18
INVESTIGATORS WERE THEN ABLE TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY THE REMAINS AS CLARENCE AMES, ORIGINALLY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA, BORN JANUARY 27, 1909. HE WOULD HAVE BEEN OVER 60 YEARS OLD WHEN HE DIED.
ARMSTRONG SAYS THE CASE REMAINS ACTIVE BECAUSE NOBODY KNOWS HOW AMES ENDED UP IN WOODBURY COUNTY, AND WHAT HIS EXACT CAUSE OF DEATH WAS :
COLDCASE4 OC……….LIKE TO KNOW THAT. :17
A FUNERAL SERVICE FOR CLARENCE AMES TOOK PLACE TUESDAY IN DUBUQUE.
PRIOR TO THAT, ARMSTRONG, WHO IS NOW RETIRED, TOOK FAMILY MEMBERS TO CORRECTIONVILLE:
COLDCASE5 OC………NEXT TO HIS FATHER. :23
IF ANYONE HAS INFORMATION ABOUT CLARENCE AMES, OR KNEW HIM IN THE LATE 1960S TO EARLY 1970S PLEASE CONTACT THE WOODBURY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE AT 712-279-6010.
