Leota Mae Hodges Camp Stabbed to Death at Her Home in Des Moines Iowa

Leota Mae Hodges Camp was born on January 20, 1942, in Kirksville, Missouri. She grew up in a close-knit family that valued community and family ties. Those who knew her described her as kind, warm, and devoted to her loved ones. After meeting and marrying her husband, she settled in Des Moines, Iowa, where the couple built a life centered around raising their three children. As a stay-at-home mother, Leota dedicated her days to caring for her children and managing the household while her husband worked to provide for the family.

By the summer of 1967, the Camp household seemed like a portrait of a young family building their future. They lived in a modest home in a working-class neighborhood, the kind of place where neighbors often knew one another and where children played outside without much concern for danger. This sense of safety would be shattered in a single day, leaving an enduring mystery that would haunt the community for decades.

The Day of the Murder

Monday, July 10, 1967, began like any other summer day. Leota’s husband left for work in the morning, leaving her to care for their children. The weather was warm, and life in the neighborhood was calm. Sometime shortly after midday, something occurred inside the Camp residence that would end Leota’s life and leave investigators searching for answers.

According to reports from that time, neighbors may have noticed a visitor at the home—a young man—and possibly a dark-colored car parked nearby. No one could have guessed that this brief sighting might be the last time Leota was seen alive by anyone outside her family.

Discovery by Her Children

It was her children who discovered her first. At some point after midday, they found their mother lying in a small bedroom of their home, bleeding and gravely injured. She had been stabbed, and accounts suggest she may have also been bound and gagged. The exact sequence of events inside the home remains unclear, but what is certain is that the scene left the children terrified and confused.

Emergency services were called, and responders rushed to the home. Leota was still alive when the ambulance arrived. Neighbors and emergency personnel alike were shaken by the sight of a young mother in such dire condition in what should have been a place of safety.

The Final Moments

Paramedics worked quickly to get Leota to the hospital. Despite their efforts, she succumbed to her injuries en route. The news of her death spread quickly through the neighborhood and the city, sending shockwaves through the community. The idea that a violent killer had entered a home in broad daylight in a quiet Des Moines neighborhood left residents deeply unsettled.

The Crime Scene and Initial Observations

When police processed the scene, they made several observations that puzzled investigators. There were no signs of forced entry, suggesting that the perpetrator may have been someone Leota knew or trusted enough to let inside. There were also no indications of robbery—valuables were left untouched—and there was no evidence of sexual assault. This combination of facts suggested a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence or burglary gone wrong.

The time frame for the crime was narrow. Witness accounts and neighborhood activity helped police estimate when the attack likely occurred, but pinning down an exact timeline proved difficult. The possible sighting of a young man and a dark-colored car remained one of the few leads.

Leads and Suspicions

One possible lead came from reports that Leota had received an obscene or harassing phone call in the weeks before her death. Investigators considered whether the caller could have been the same person who attacked her. The connection was never definitively proven, but the detail stood out to detectives.

Another angle of investigation involved potential personal acquaintances, neighbors, or individuals who may have had grudges or personal conflicts with the family. Because there were no clear signs of a struggle throughout the house, it seemed likely that the confrontation began quickly and with little warning once the attacker was inside.

The young man reportedly seen in the vicinity became a person of interest. Some witness descriptions mentioned a black or dark car, but identifying the vehicle and linking it to a suspect proved elusive. This lead, like many others, eventually grew cold.

Impact on the Family and Community

The murder left the Camp family devastated. Leota’s husband was suddenly a widower and single father to three young children, grappling with both grief and the practical realities of raising a family alone. The children, who had been present in the home on the day of the attack, carried the emotional trauma of what they witnessed for the rest of their lives.

For the community, the case was a sobering reminder that violence could strike anywhere. Residents began locking their doors more diligently and watching strangers with suspicion. The fact that the killer had never been caught created a lingering sense of unease.

The Investigation Over the Years

In the immediate aftermath, detectives pursued multiple avenues: interviewing friends, family, and neighbors; canvassing the area for witnesses; and running down tips that came in through the police department. Despite their efforts, the case quickly stalled due to a lack of physical evidence and the limits of forensic technology in the 1960s.

As years passed, the case became one of many unsolved homicides in Iowa. Periodically, investigators would revisit the file, hoping that new leads or technological advances might provide a breakthrough. Unfortunately, without a suspect in custody or fresh evidence, the trail remained cold.

Renewed Attention and the Iowa Cold Case Unit

In 2024, the Iowa Attorney General’s Office announced the formation of a statewide Cold Case Unit to review and investigate unsolved homicides and missing person cases. Leota Mae Camp’s murder was among those that received renewed attention. Her family attended the announcement event, underscoring their continued hope for answers after more than half a century.

The establishment of this unit brought new resources to the investigation, including modern forensic analysis tools, the potential re-examination of physical evidence, and the ability to cross-reference old witness statements with current databases. While no suspect has been publicly identified as a result of these efforts so far, the renewed focus gave the family and community reason to believe that justice might still be possible.

Theories About the Case

Over the decades, various theories have been discussed in true crime circles, investigative forums, and among amateur sleuths. One theory holds that the killer was someone in Leota’s social or neighborhood circle, a person she felt comfortable letting into her home. This could explain the lack of forced entry and the swift nature of the attack.

Another theory suggests a connection to other unsolved cases in the region during the mid-1960s, possibly pointing to a serial offender with a specific victim profile. Some speculate that the obscene phone call she received may have been from her eventual killer, who could have been stalking her prior to the attack.

These theories remain speculative, as no conclusive evidence has surfaced to confirm them. The case continues to be discussed among Iowa cold case enthusiasts and remains open with law enforcement.

Legacy of the Case

Leota Mae Camp’s murder is more than just an unsolved crime; it is a story of a young mother whose life was taken in the safety of her own home, leaving a family and community scarred for generations. Her case is often cited when discussing the need for ongoing cold case work and the importance of keeping unsolved murders in the public consciousness.

Her children, now adults, have lived their lives without their mother, carrying not just memories but the unanswered questions that accompany such a violent loss. For them, justice would mean not only identifying the person responsible but understanding why it happened.

Conclusion

The murder of Leota Mae Camp on July 10, 1967, in Des Moines, Iowa, remains one of the city’s most haunting unsolved crimes. The facts are chilling: a young mother attacked in her own home in broad daylight, no forced entry, no robbery, and no clear motive. Witness accounts of a possible suspect and vehicle provided tantalizing clues but ultimately led nowhere definitive.

Today, more than five decades later, the case still holds the potential for resolution through modern investigative techniques. With the involvement of the Iowa Cold Case Unit and the continued advocacy of her family, there is hope that one day, the truth will come to light. Until then, the murder of Leota Mae Camp stands as both a tragic chapter in Des Moines history and a reminder of the enduring quest for justice.