In the summer of 1888, a brutal murder north of Ottumwa left investigators searching for answers that would never come.
Alice Kelly, 28, was found dead on July 10, 1888, in a wooded area north of Ottumwa. Her body was discovered near a horse and buggy that had been tied to a tree. A 15-year-old boy reportedly came across the scene and, after returning with another man, the two discovered Kelly’s body beneath a covering.
Kelly had suffered severe injuries. Historical accounts say she had been struck in the head and her throat had been cut. Investigators also found evidence indicating she may have fought with her attacker.
The circumstances surrounding Kelly’s final hours quickly became the focus of the investigation.
Kelly had been seen in Ottumwa the previous evening. She had rented a horse and buggy and was reportedly seen later that night with an unidentified man. Witnesses described the man as slight in build, clean-shaven and wearing light-colored clothing and a white straw hat.
Investigators considered the possibility that this man may have been connected to Kelly’s death, but his identity was never established.
Another detail from that night added to the mystery. Kelly had reportedly stopped at a local greenhouse and purchased a corsage of flowers. According to historical accounts, the flowers were still pinned to her clothing when her body was discovered the following morning.
Why she purchased the flowers and who she intended to meet remains unknown.
Newspapers at the time also reported allegations concerning Kelly’s personal history, including claims that she had been involved in blackmail. Those reports led to speculation that her murder could have been connected to information she allegedly possessed. However, there was never enough evidence to establish a motive or identify her killer.
The investigation attracted considerable attention. A $500 reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible.
Despite the reward and the investigation, no one was ever charged with Kelly’s murder.
More than 130 years later, many questions remain unanswered.
Who was the man seen with Alice Kelly that night? Did she know her killer? Why did she travel to the wooded area north of Ottumwa? And what happened between the time she was last seen alive and when her body was discovered the next morning?
Those answers were never found.
Alice Kelly’s murder became one of Ottumwa’s early unsolved homicide cases, preserved in the newspaper accounts and historical records of the time.
Today, the case serves as a reminder that some mysteries in Ottumwa’s history were never solved — and that behind every old newspaper headline was a real person whose life ended suddenly and whose family was left without answers.
Alice Kelly was 28 years old when she was murdered in July 1888. Her killer was never identified or charged.
Sources: Historical newspaper accounts from July 1888
