An elderly Oskaloosa attorney known for his extreme frugality and substantial wealth became the victim of a brutal and still-unsolved murder in January 1972.
Edward A. Schmidt, 85, was found dead inside his law office at 506 High Avenue East in Oskaloosa on January 16, 1972. Investigators determined Schmidt had been stabbed four times in the chest, including one wound that pierced his heart, and had also suffered injuries to his head and face. Authorities quickly ruled the death a homicide and launched an investigation with assistance from the Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
Schmidt was a lifelong bachelor who lived a remarkably simple lifestyle despite possessing a fortune estimated at approximately $1.5 million. A graduate of Drake University Law School, he practiced law in Oskaloosa for decades while building wealth through investments, real estate holdings, bank accounts across the country, and oil leases in Oklahoma.
Friends and acquaintances often described Schmidt as fiercely thrifty. He preferred walking to pay bills rather than spending money on postage and frequently wrote checks for even the smallest purchases to maintain records. Though wealthy, he lived modestly and was known throughout the community as an eccentric recluse.
On January 13, 1972, Schmidt was dropped off at his law office by longtime friend Glenn Upton. When Upton returned later that day, he found a note indicating Schmidt had gone home. However, concerns grew when Schmidt could not be located and tenants reported issues requiring his attention. Three days later, Upton accompanied Mahaska County Sheriff David Reese to Schmidt’s office, where they discovered his body beneath a desk.
Investigators believed robbery was the likely motive. Schmidt’s clothing appeared to have been searched, and a will he reportedly carried with him was missing. While some rent checks remained in the office, there was little cash present. The murder weapon was never publicly identified, and no one was ever charged in the case.
Following Schmidt’s death, a lengthy legal battle unfolded over his estate. Questions surrounding a missing will complicated the settlement process. Ultimately, Drake University received a portion of the estate, while distant relatives inherited the remainder.
More than five decades later, the murder of Edward Schmidt remains one of Iowa’s enduring unsolved homicide cases.
Source: “The Stingiest Man in Town: Murder of Edward Schmidt (1972)” by Nancy Bowers, Iowa Unsolved Murders: Historic Cases.
