The Villisca Axe Murders: Shadows in a Quiet Town

In 1912, the small town of Villisca, Iowa, awoke to a nightmare that would haunt it for generations. Eight people—two adults and six children—were found brutally murdered in their beds, their lives ended by an unknown hand wielding an axe. Despite countless suspects, sensational trials, and whispered confessions, the killer was never brought to justice. In this episode of The Wicked Within, we explore the chilling details of the crime scene, the suspects that divided a community, and the lingering darkness that still hangs over Villisca more than a century later.