Who killed Emma and Jonah Foster? In the quiet city of Wichita, Kansas, a grim discovery was made on the night of Friday, July 25, 1975, forever altering the peace of a neighborhood. The bodies of 83-year-old Emma Foster and her 95-year-old husband, Jonah Foster, were found in the kitchen of their home at 1643 N. Volutia. The couple had been the victims of a brutal attack, having both suffered multiple stab wounds.
The scene that greeted law enforcement was one of violence, with blood spattering the floor and walls of the room where they were found.
The alarm was raised by their son, Quincy Foster, after his sister had been unable to reach their parents by telephone on Thursday evening. Quincy went to his parents' residence, and when he was unable to get inside, he contacted the police. A patrol officer dispatched to the home made the tragic discovery of the elderly couple. Investigators noted that a butcher knife, which belonged to the Fosters, was found in Emma's hand. However, police believed this was an attempt to stage the scene, and that the knife was not the weapon used in the murders. The actual murder weapon, thought to be a knife with a six-inch blade, was never recovered.
Autopsies revealed the horrific extent of the violence. Jonah Foster had been stabbed twice in the chest, with either wound being enough to be fatal. Emma Foster had sustained thirteen stab wounds to her chest and abdomen. The nature of these wounds led the coroner to rule out the possibility of a murder-suicide. The time of death was estimated to be between 7 and 9 p.m. on Thursday, July 24th. Despite the violent nature of the crime, there was little evidence of a struggle, and both victims were found fully clothed. A neighbor reported seeing Jonah Foster sitting on his porch around 7:20 p.m. that evening, suggesting the attack happened shortly after. Despite the close proximity of neighbors, no one reported hearing anything unusual, adding to the mystery of the case. The motive for the double homicide remains unknown, and no arrests have ever been made in connection with the murders of Emma and Jonah Foster.
