THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
Unsolved
Harold Ronald Holt
Offender: Unsolved
Age: 24 years old
Case #: 66-00274
County: Polk
City: Des Moines
Date of Crime: January 1, 1966
Age: 24 years old
Case #: 66-00274
County: Polk
City: Des Moines
Date of Crime: January 1, 1966
Harold Ronald Holt, 24, was shot in the abdomen in the early morning hours in January 1, 1966, after attending a New Year’s Eve party at a friend’s home. He died two weeks later on Monday, January 17, of complications from a “perforatory wound” in a lung. He suffered wounds in the liver, diaphragm and lung.
Harold, who resided in Des Moines at 1040 Sixteenth Street, had spent the evening at the home of Lawrence Robinson in Des Moines when a feud erupted between two other men at the party. Douglas McArthur Wilson, 21, and Herman Mure, 21, went outside and Harold followed. There had been ill feelings among the group of men, including Harold, Herman and Douglas, for a long time.
The argument moved into the street around 3:30 AM. Herman shot and wounded Douglas in the knee with a .25-caliber revolver, and another bullet grazed Douglas’ ankle. Harold was somehow hit in the stomach by a .38-caliber revolver slug, and transported to the hospital where he died. Harold was shot in the stomach when Herman and Douglas fired at each other.
Herman was charged with assault and intent to commit murder in Douglas’ shooting, but charges were dismissed. As of today, no one has ever been convicted in Harold’s death.
If you have any information regarding Harold’s unsolved murder, please contact the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at 515.725.6010.
Harold, who resided in Des Moines at 1040 Sixteenth Street, had spent the evening at the home of Lawrence Robinson in Des Moines when a feud erupted between two other men at the party. Douglas McArthur Wilson, 21, and Herman Mure, 21, went outside and Harold followed. There had been ill feelings among the group of men, including Harold, Herman and Douglas, for a long time.
The argument moved into the street around 3:30 AM. Herman shot and wounded Douglas in the knee with a .25-caliber revolver, and another bullet grazed Douglas’ ankle. Harold was somehow hit in the stomach by a .38-caliber revolver slug, and transported to the hospital where he died. Harold was shot in the stomach when Herman and Douglas fired at each other.
Herman was charged with assault and intent to commit murder in Douglas’ shooting, but charges were dismissed. As of today, no one has ever been convicted in Harold’s death.
If you have any information regarding Harold’s unsolved murder, please contact the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation at 515.725.6010.
Source: Iowa Cold Cases
