In the small town of Dayton, Iowa, Roger Alan Brown, a 55-year-old White/Caucasian male, was known by his friends and neighbors as a kind and gentle soul. He was a handyman who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life, such as leatherwork, woodworking, and tending to his garden. His peaceful existence was tragically cut short on September 29, 2015, when he was found deceased in his home.
Concern arose when Brown failed to show up for a scheduled appointment.
Two women went to his trailer in the 200 block of Eighth Street Southwest to check on him and made the grim discovery. Law enforcement was called to the scene, where they found Brown had sustained an apparent gunshot wound. His death was quickly ruled a homicide, sending shockwaves through the quiet community.
Investigators from the Webster County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation immediately began working the case. They appealed to the public for assistance, asking for anyone who may have seen or heard anything unusual in the days leading up to the discovery of Brown's body to come forward. An autopsy was performed by the state medical examiner's office to confirm the cause of death.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the pleas for information from the public, no suspects have ever been publicly identified or arrested in connection with the murder of Roger Alan Brown. The case grew cold over the years, leaving his family and the community without answers or a sense of justice for the man described as a free spirit who was always willing to help others. His murder remains an unsolved crime, a lingering question in the town of Dayton.
