In the late summer of 1972, William Oliver Peak III, a 53-year-old retired Army Colonel, had recently settled in Grand Island, Nebraska, with his family. He, along with his wife Bernice and their 14-year-old daughter Barbara, had moved to the quiet Midwestern city with plans to open a new branch of a family-owned grocery store business. The future seemed promising for the Peak family as they prepared for a City Council meeting on September 11th to discuss the building permit for their new
venture. However, their plans were tragically and brutally cut short.
On the evening of September 9, 1972, a horrifying discovery was made at the Peak residence. William, Bernice, and Barbara were all found in their home, having been shot in the head with a. 22-caliber firearm. William and his daughter Barbara were found deceased at the scene. Bernice was discovered clinging to life, despite a gunshot wound to her face. She was rushed to the hospital, where she would remain for two months before ultimately succumbing to her injuries. Before she passed, Bernice was able to indicate to investigators that there had been more than one assailant involved in the attack.
The investigation into the triple homicide left authorities with more questions than answers. The crime scene showed no signs of a struggle, and nothing appeared to have been stolen from the home. William Peak's wallet, containing his credit cards, was found in the street outside, suggesting that robbery was not the motive. There was also no evidence of sexual assault. The brutality of the crime in the seemingly peaceful community of Grand Island left both law enforcement and residents shocked and bewildered.
Over the years, numerous leads and theories were explored, but none led to a resolution. Investigators considered the possibility of a professional hit, given Colonel Peak's past as a military attach in Russia and Hungary, but this theory was largely dismissed. Other avenues of investigation included looking into local individuals involved with drugs and a mysterious car that was seen in the area, but these leads also proved to be dead ends. Despite the efforts of the Nebraska State Patrol and a review of the case ordered by the governor, no arrests were ever made. The case grew cold, leaving the murders of the Peak family an unsolved mystery. Family members have continued to seek justice, even offering a significant reward for information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for this devastating crime.
