Case File: McAninch Family

Overview

After the arrest of her husband, Mrs. Alma McAninch took the lives of five of her children, while the eldest two sons were away at a Halloween celebration, and then took her own life. A shot gun to the forehead was used for all. Her husband had been arrested in Des Moines and she no longer believed she could cope. She left a note for her two sons when they arrived home. "Tell dad, I sure want him to go straight for you boys' sake. I have stood all I can take and best to take the kids along. All that saves you boys is no more shells. Have Ellis (her brother-in-law, Ellis Faust) go to Des Moines and tell dad. Good-by and good luck to you always. Tell dad I think best for you boys to move in with grandma (her mother-in-law in Des Moines). Take this note and let him read it. With love, MAMA"

Locations

• Norwalk, Iowa

People

Name	(Born-Died)	Description
McAninch, Alma May Kepley	1902-1937	mother, suicide after murder of five children
McAninch, Cora Belle	1923-1937	daughter
McAninch, Gail Lavern "Bud"	1926-2006	son, survived
McAninch, Geraldine M.	1929-1937	daughter
McAninch, Girness Roy	1895-1960	father
McAninch, Max Leroy	1933-1937	son
McAninch, Murris Marion	1930-1937	son
McAninch, Richard Otto	1935-1937	son

Documentation

Burials

• Find-a-Grave: "Alma May Kepley McAninch (1902-1937), Webb Cemetery, Norwalk, Iowa
• Find-a-Grave: "Cora Belle McAninch (1923-1937), Webb Cemetery, Norwalk, Iowa
• Find-a-Grave: "Gail Lavern 'Bud' McAninch" (1926-2006), Webb Cemetery, Norwalk, Iowa
• Find-a-Grave: "Geraldine M. McAninch" (1929-1937), Webb Cemetery, Norwalk, Iowa
• Find-a-Grave: "Murris Marion McAninch" (1930-1937), Webb Cemetery, Norwalk, Iowa
• Find-a-Grave: "Max Leroy McAninch" (1933-1937), Webb Cemetery, Norwalk, Iowa
• Find-a-Grave: "Richard Otto McAninch" (1935-1937), Webb Cemetery, Norwalk, Iowa
• Find-a-Grave: "Girness Roy McAninch" (1895-1960), Laurel Hill Cemetery, Des Moines, Iowa

Newspaper Articles

• 1 Nov 1937 (Omaha World-Herald): Open Sift of Family Massacre