The chilling murder of 85-year-old Lloyd John Patrick, a retired farmer, on October 27, 1982, still haunts the quiet rural community of Mahaska County. Patrick was found shot to death in his home, which was subsequently set ablaze, leaving behind a community searching for answers.
On that fateful Wednesday morning, authorities discovered Patrick’s body after responding to a fire at his ranch-style home on Rural Route 5. Chief Gerald Shanahan of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) confirmed in a press conference that Patrick had been shot before the fire was started, but details about the weapon or the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain murky.
Efforts to investigate the fire were led by the State Fire Marshal’s office and local fire departments, including Oskaloosa and Eddyville. However, as the investigation unfolded, investigators struggled to establish a motive or identify a suspect. Sheriff Joe Beal made a heartfelt appeal to the public for any information that could shed light on the case, noting that a suspicious vehicle had been spotted in the area between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. on the night of the murder.
An autopsy later confirmed that Patrick died from gunshot wounds, not from the fire itself, indicating that the act of arson was likely an attempt to cover up the crime. Despite extensive investigations over the years, including efforts by the DCI’s Cold Case Unit established in 2009, the case remains unsolved.
Patrick’s farm had a rich history, recognized as a “century farm” by the Iowa Department of Agriculture just six years before his death, symbolizing over a century of family stewardship. The loss of a beloved community elder, who had deep roots in the area, felt like a bitter blow to those who knew him.
Lloyd John Patrick was born June 17, 1897, in Beacon, Mahaska County, Iowa, to Norman Patrick and Elizabeth Visser.
He married Jeanette Esther Denburger on October 15, 1924. She died on Feb. 10, 1972, having spent the last 16 years of her life as an invalid since being badly burned in a March 9, 1956 home fire that required multiple skin grafts at University of Iowa Hospital.
Lloyd was survived by one daughter, Betty Francine Patrick DeBruin (1927-2011), and one son, Glenn Lloyd Patrick (1934-2014), three grandchildren, and one great-grandson.
Funeral services were held Saturday, Oct. 30, 1982, at 10:30 a.m. in the Garland-Van Arkel Funeral Chapel with Ervin Voogd of the Central Reformed Church officiating. Burial was at the Forest Cemetery.
