Through sheer happenstance, I was the first journalist to stumble upon the scene of a tragic set of circumstances, that 40 years later is still a deep wound on our state that time has not healed.
Dave, this is an excellent first column. But given your history, I'd expect nothing less. I continue to think of Johnny Gosch, Noreen, and Eugene Martin after all these decades. I hope that Johnny and Eugene are both alive, but I suspect that we'll know. My friend Cliff Brockman and my former student Dana Cardin had a nice interview for the Iowa Broadcast News Association (IBNA) in which they mentioned the Gosch case. As former broadcast journalist at KCCI-TV and elsewhere and later a journalism professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Iowa State University (ISU), I agree completely about the joy and pain of working in this business. I have my own occasional columns on my own website at <Stephencoon.org> but did not mention it for promotional purposes. Only to say that we former reporters never seem to be able to stop completely. I look forward to your future musings.
As I started to read your column a chill went down my back. I had to stop reading and am now writing this before I have to courage to go back and finish it. You see, my son John is 52 years old, and we lived in Mt Pleasant, Iowa at the time. From that day forward I was haunted by the thought of losing my son. And for years he had to accommodate my fears by being extra accountable, etc. My stomach is in a knot but I know I need to go back and finish your article. I feel so much sadness for his family.
Joanne, yes, it’s incredibly sad. Parenting changed from that time forward. You and I would be about the same age, and we STILL worry about our kids. Never stops. I hope you finish reading the essay. It’s not terribly painful. I imagine there will be quite a bit of coverage in local media as we approach September 5th. Thanks for writing.
I was in Omaha at the time this happened and we were so devastated by what happened. Dave, I want to congratulate you on not only a great column, but also on your retirement. I look forward to reading more from you. Hope you are doing well.
I remember the moment all too well. Our son, in school with the writers son, was the same age as Johnny Gosh. The disappearance of both boys still haunts our community.
Thank you for telling this story. The disappearance of these two boys does still haunt our community. It is hard to imagine them as grown men because they are forever frozen in time as young boys.
Good perspective Dave. We also covered it fairly closely at WQAD because they had lived in Bettendorf at one time. I wonder what has become of Noreen? Dana Cardin also talked about the Gosch case when we interviewed him recently for the AIB Oral History Project. Go to 10:30 of the interview: https://youtu.be/jCPd9gFGYY0
Thanks, Cliff. It was a statewide story, for sure. Noreen is still in Iowa. Of course, Dana was the reporter I called in the newsroom that morning. Little did we know we’d still be talking about it 40 years later.
Yes, Dana explained you called him after you checked out the story on your way home from church. Interesting project with a lot of writers I recognize. Looking forward to more!
Thanks Julie. Grant Price started the project in the late 90’s. It had mostly been dormant since his death several years ago. Paul Yeager and I revived it last year…great fun listening to long time broadcasters tell their stories!
I remember this clearly too. I had just moved into my first apartment and feared evil had moved into our state, evil that only affected other states, not ours. But it also jogged my childhood memory of a girl who was abducted in Des Moines back in the '60s and killed. We had just moved to the big city from small town eastern Iowa. I remember my mom being overly protective of my sisters and I. Thanks for the story Dave. I'll have to subscribe.
Andrea, thanks for your comment. Although it was before my time, you’re probably referring to Pamela Powers, a 10-year-old girl abducted from the old YMCA downtown. Robert Anthony Williams was convicted of her murder, but the US Supreme Court twice sent the case back for re-trial. He died in prison in 2017. I had a small connection to that story, too, which you can read here if interested:
Dave, this is an excellent first column. But given your history, I'd expect nothing less. I continue to think of Johnny Gosch, Noreen, and Eugene Martin after all these decades. I hope that Johnny and Eugene are both alive, but I suspect that we'll know. My friend Cliff Brockman and my former student Dana Cardin had a nice interview for the Iowa Broadcast News Association (IBNA) in which they mentioned the Gosch case. As former broadcast journalist at KCCI-TV and elsewhere and later a journalism professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) and Iowa State University (ISU), I agree completely about the joy and pain of working in this business. I have my own occasional columns on my own website at <Stephencoon.org> but did not mention it for promotional purposes. Only to say that we former reporters never seem to be able to stop completely. I look forward to your future musings.
Steve, thanks for your feedback. Hard to believe how much time has gone by. I’ll check out your website, and thanks for subscribing.
As I started to read your column a chill went down my back. I had to stop reading and am now writing this before I have to courage to go back and finish it. You see, my son John is 52 years old, and we lived in Mt Pleasant, Iowa at the time. From that day forward I was haunted by the thought of losing my son. And for years he had to accommodate my fears by being extra accountable, etc. My stomach is in a knot but I know I need to go back and finish your article. I feel so much sadness for his family.
Joanne, yes, it’s incredibly sad. Parenting changed from that time forward. You and I would be about the same age, and we STILL worry about our kids. Never stops. I hope you finish reading the essay. It’s not terribly painful. I imagine there will be quite a bit of coverage in local media as we approach September 5th. Thanks for writing.
Excellent piece Dave. I often think about those two boys and their families.
I was in Omaha at the time this happened and we were so devastated by what happened. Dave, I want to congratulate you on not only a great column, but also on your retirement. I look forward to reading more from you. Hope you are doing well.
Dan, thanks so much! Great to hear from you. Looking forward to your writing, as well. Best wishes to you and the kids!
I remember the moment all too well. Our son, in school with the writers son, was the same age as Johnny Gosh. The disappearance of both boys still haunts our community.
Thanks, Dawn! Nice story yesterday about Justin! You must be so proud of him.
Best wishes,
Dave B.
👍💕🙏
Thank you for the story, Dave. Certainly it is one that haunts Iowa still, all these years later.
A gut-wrenching time in the history of this community. Quite the experience you've shared with us readers.
Thank you for telling this story. The disappearance of these two boys does still haunt our community. It is hard to imagine them as grown men because they are forever frozen in time as young boys.
I remember it like it was yesterday. My Dad and I went out looking for him along with 100’s of people. Such a tragedy
Thank you. This event haunts me to this day.
Good perspective Dave. We also covered it fairly closely at WQAD because they had lived in Bettendorf at one time. I wonder what has become of Noreen? Dana Cardin also talked about the Gosch case when we interviewed him recently for the AIB Oral History Project. Go to 10:30 of the interview: https://youtu.be/jCPd9gFGYY0
Thanks, Cliff. It was a statewide story, for sure. Noreen is still in Iowa. Of course, Dana was the reporter I called in the newsroom that morning. Little did we know we’d still be talking about it 40 years later.
Yes, Dana explained you called him after you checked out the story on your way home from church. Interesting project with a lot of writers I recognize. Looking forward to more!
Cliff, I discovered your oral history project when Im was searching for links about Dave. Nice work!
Thanks Julie. Grant Price started the project in the late 90’s. It had mostly been dormant since his death several years ago. Paul Yeager and I revived it last year…great fun listening to long time broadcasters tell their stories!
I'll bet!
I remember this clearly too. I had just moved into my first apartment and feared evil had moved into our state, evil that only affected other states, not ours. But it also jogged my childhood memory of a girl who was abducted in Des Moines back in the '60s and killed. We had just moved to the big city from small town eastern Iowa. I remember my mom being overly protective of my sisters and I. Thanks for the story Dave. I'll have to subscribe.
Andrea, thanks for your comment. Although it was before my time, you’re probably referring to Pamela Powers, a 10-year-old girl abducted from the old YMCA downtown. Robert Anthony Williams was convicted of her murder, but the US Supreme Court twice sent the case back for re-trial. He died in prison in 2017. I had a small connection to that story, too, which you can read here if interested:
https://www.kcci.com/amp/article/my-surprise-interview-with-a-child-murderer/14479210
You're right! That's the case. Still sends shivers down my spine. Thanks.
Great column
This is fascinating! Welcome to the Iowa Writers' Collaborative.