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- [00:00]
Courtney Brown
Are you starting your year with a wardrobe refresh? Quince has you covered with luxe essentials that feel effortless and look polished. They are absolutely perfect for layering, mixing, and building a wardrobe that lasts. Their versatile styles make it easy to reach for them day after day. The thing I love about Quint's is that they have all the staples covered. Their wardrobe essentials are crafted to last season after season. Recently, I've really been loving their Italian wool coats, which are a huge standout in my closet. They're beautifully tailored, soft to the touch, and they're built to carry you through years of wear, not just for one season. With every item I've ever gotten from Quince, the quality shows in every single detail. The stitching, the fit and the fabrics. Every piece is thoughtfully designed to be your new wardrobe, essentially. And like everything from Quince, each piece is made with premium materials in ethical, trusted factories, then priced far below what other luxury brands charge. If you've been listening to Murder in America for a while, then you know just how much we love Quince. I am constantly reaching for their items in our closet, but recently I got a leather jacket from them and I am really loving it. It is holding up so well and it feels more luxurious than jackets that that I've paid triple for. It's warm, it looks sharp, and the leather is actually really good quality and it doesn't have that stiff feeling that you usually get with leather jackets. But I want to know which Quint's pieces are getting the most wear in your wardrobe. As you know, Quint has everything from home, bath, kitchen and travel, so they really have something for every occasion. Refresh your wardrobe with quints. Don't wait. Go to quent.comamera for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. They're now available in Canada too. That's q-u I n c e.comamera to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quint.comamera.
- [02:08]
Colin Brown
This episode is sponsored by Better Help now, as we all know, it's a new year. It's 2026, and I know that a lot of people are trying to get on top of those New Year's resolutions. But to be honest, the new year doesn't really require a brand new you. Maybe just a less burdened you. And I know for a fact that therapy can help more easily identify what weighs you down. Slash holds you back by offering an unbiased perspective to better understand your relationships, your motivations, your emotions, and so much more. For example, I still deal with stress and anxiety all the time working in a field like Courtney and I do where there are people constantly trying to tear you down online. And I found over the years that by having a good therapist kind of as a weapon in your arsenal, you can defeat any mental challenge that's thrown your way. That's why we love BetterHelp. BetterHelp therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the US BetterHelp does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and their 12 plus years of experience and industry leading match fulfillment rate means that they typically get that match right the first time. Now now if you aren't happy with your match your therapist, you can switch to a different therapist at any time from their tailored recommendations. With over 30,000 therapists on board, BetterHelp is one of the world's largest online therapy platforms, Having served over 5 million people globally and it works with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for a live session based on over 1.7 million client reviews. So if you're thinking you want to start your therapy journey, BetterHelp is a great place to start. BetterHelp makes it easy to get matched online with a qualified therapist. Sign up and get 10% off@betterhelp.com MIA that's betterhelp.com MIA and now let's get back to our show.
- [04:03]
Courtney Brown
Watch the Toxic Avenger now on screenbox. The radioactive superhero that's certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes is available to watch now from the comfort of your home. Bloody FM listeners get a special introductory offer by going to Bit ly Toxifm. That's Bit ly T O X I E F M for a special offer on screenbox.
- [04:29]
Colin Brown
Sometimes you gotta do something. Warning the following podcast is not suitable for all audiences. We go into great detail with every case that we cover and do our best to bring viewers even deeper into the stories by utilizing utilizing disturbing audio and sound effects.
- [04:45]
Courtney Brown
Trigger warnings from the stories we cover may include violence, rape, murder, and offenses against children.
- [04:51]
Colin Brown
This podcast is not for everyone. You have been warned.
- [04:57]
Courtney Brown
The sign on Leticia Aguilar's door read me and the kids went to Sioux Falls. Too much stress. But the children's babysitter, Donna, knew that couldn't be true. As she stood on the front porch, bracing herself against the wind, a feeling of icy dread took hold of her. Leticia was a responsible single mother. She would never take off on a Whim. The realization that something wasn't right gnawed at Donna, eating her alive and urging her inside the quaint family home. But as she stepped into the house, she realized that she was stepping into a nightmare instead. The house had been ransacked. Debris covered the floors of the usually picture perfect home. However, upstairs, something far more disturbing lay in wait. Donna would soon discover that every room in the family home was drenched in blood. It was the ending that no one could have prepared for, an ending that no one could possibly imagine. And tragically, the perpetrator of the heinous crime inside those walls didn't just stop there. In a few days, he went on a horrific crime spree that claimed the lives of seven innocent people. In the wake of the grief and violence of his actions, Sioux City, Iowa would never be the same. This is the story of Adam Moss. I'm Courtney Brown.
- [06:26]
Colin Brown
And I'm Colin Brown, and you're listening.
- [06:28]
Courtney Brown
To Murder in America. Sam.
- [07:32]
Colin Brown
When Leticia Aguilar laid eyes on Sioux City, Iowa, she was looking at a place vastly different than where she had come from. Born in Los Angeles, California, on August 16, 1969, Leticia was the daughter of Bartolo and Teresa Aguilar, who were immigrants from San Luis Potosi, Rio Verde, Mexico. Driven by the American dream, her parents settled in Fresno soon after her birth, where they both worked hard to provide for their growing family. And really, at the time, Fresno was a great place to do it. Located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the San Joaquin Valley, Fresno offers the California experience that most people don't see. Quiet suburbs, miles of farmland and a close knit community. This meant that growing up, Leticia was surrounded by people who loved and supported her. By the time she was in middle school, her family had grown to 11 kids total, with seven girls and four boys. And while, unfortunately, details about her childhood are sparse, according to the Sioux City Journal, Leticia had a wonderful childhood. She was close with her siblings, loved her grandparents and made everyone smile. With her outgoing personality and and love of all things fashion and beauty, in what few pictures still exist of her, her personality really shines through. She's beaming in each one with dark brown curls and plum lipstick to match her vibrant outfits. It's no wonder that in 1986, when Leticia was 17, a ranch worker, Hector Saldana, met her and fell head over heels for her. The two were introduced to one another by a group of mutual friends, and from the moment they laid eyes on one another, there was a spark. Hector was a hard worker, a family man who came from the same background of a close knit community that Leticia had. Within a year, they knew that they had found their other half. Hector asked Leticia to marry him, and soon enough, the two moved to Merced, California, just north of Fresno, and tied the knot in a Catholic church. Having grown up in such a big family, Leticia had her own dreams of being a mother and raising the next generation. But sadly, the road to parenthood wasn't an easy one. When Leticia delivered their first baby sometime in 1988, the child was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around its neck. Tragically, despite the best effort from everyone, there was nothing that could be done. Leticia and Hector, who had wanted kids so badly, were forced to bury their first and only child. They were devastated.
- [10:05]
Courtney Brown
Fortunately, there was a little miracle on the horizon. On June 26, 1989, they were blessed with their first daughter, Claudia Saldana. She felt like an answer to their prayers. And motherhood was everything that Leticia had hoped it would be and more. Then, just 11 months after the birth of Claudia, on May 31, 1990, Leticia and Hector welcomed their son Zacharias, who went by Zach. They were absolutely thrilled. But with an extra mouth to feed came the struggle that every parent is forced to face. How to balance work and home life. It's around this time when Hector started looking for another job to better support his family. And eventually he was offered a position at an Iowa Beef packers plant in Madison, Nebraska. Now, they knew that this would be a huge adjustment, moving from California, where they were near family, all the way to Nebraska, where they didn't know anyone. The Great Plains were a far cry from the valley that they had called home. But to Leticia, it didn't matter. Her sister Raquel told the Modesto Bee she wanted a better life for her children. She was a dedicated mother. The first thing in her life was her children. End quote. So the decision didn't take long to make. That year, the couple packed up their kids and began the 1600 mile journey to start their new lives in Madison, Nebraska. And when they arrived, they hit the ground running. Hector began working long hours at the plant, and Leticia took any job she could to square away money for their family. They may not have been the richest, but they had each other. And soon they had another member to add to the family. On February 1, 1992, the couple welcomed their second son, Larry.
- [12:05]
Colin Brown
For the next few years, the Saldanas moved around Nebraska, chasing after whatever job provided the best opportunity for their family. Until finally, they settled in Sioux City, Iowa. There, on September 12, 1994, they had their fourth child, a baby girl they named Lisa. It seemed like their family was complete, but unfortunately, with the stress of years of hard work, constant moving and lack of support, things started to fall apart for the couple. Hector began to abuse drugs, and shortly after Lisa's birth, he was arrested and jailed for possession of methamphetamine. Sadly, this is a story that's all too common for people in rural communities who work blue collar jobs. The use of prescription painkillers to deal with injuries from their physically laborious jobs creates a dependence. And when those prescription painkillers are no longer available or too expensive, legal drugs become the next best thing to fight withdrawals. Tragically, Hector was one of many who fell into this cycle of addiction, and his relationship with Leticia never recovered. By the time he was released from prison, the two had officially ended their relationship.
- [13:15]
Courtney Brown
Things were challenging for Leticia before, but they rapidly got much harder following her divorce from Hector. She briefly had a relationship with a man named Bernardo, which resulted in the birth of her fifth and final child, Michael Aguilar, on August 12, 1995. But soon after Michael's birth, the couple separated. Now twice divorced and a single mother of five children, Leticia took on the sole responsibility of providing for and nurturing her family. But rather than moving back to California, she set down her roots in Sioux City, Iowa, determined to make a good life for her children. Her sister Yolanda told the Courier, quote, where did she get the courage to come out here and start from scratch? She deserves a medal. And Yolanda wasn't the only person who thought that. Everyone who met Leticia was blown away by the journey she was embarking on. Hector reportedly saw the kids every other weekend, which meant all of the other days fell on Leticia's shoulders and she carried that weight with grace. Heading into the new millennium, Leticia and her five children were living in a small apartment while she worked the second shift at a box manufacturing company called Smurfit Stone Container Corporation. But by 2001, her hard work had finally paid off. She saved up enough money to move out of her small apartment and into a cozy two story home at 311 West street in Sioux City. It was a huge accomplishment, something she was proud to have managed all on her own. The house was small for six people, just over 1,000 square feet with three bedrooms, but it didn't matter. Leticia made it a home. She was determined to raise her children right, and to her, that meant they needed to get an education and have good morals. By all accounts, she was doing a great job. Leticia was never the type to take the easy way out. Even with all she was juggling, she rarely ever asked for help. Her effort and her love for her kids really showed.
- [15:27]
Colin Brown
And if you needed proof, all you had to do was look at her children. Claudia, Zach, Larry, Lisa and Michael were wonderful, responsible, well mannered. 12 year old Claudia, a 6th grader at West Middle School, dreamed of one day becoming a famous singer. Like her idol Selena, she had a lot of friends and was often seen throughout the West End neighborhood practicing new dance moves with her classmates. Like any child of the 90s, she adored hip hop and music. She loved to belt out any Enrique Iglesias song and ended every performance by flashing her dimples, a mirror image of the ones her father had. Despite her draw to the world of music, her mother pushed her to focus on her studies too. And there she excelled. Closing out school in the summer of 2001, she was on the honor roll at her middle school, giving her big brothers something to look up to. 11 year old Zach, who was also a 6th grader at West Middle School, and 9 year old Larry, a 4th grader at Everett Elementary School, were rambunctious brothers who enjoyed chasing each other around the front yard with squirt guns and wrestling. The two brothers looked so much alike that despite their age difference, people often mistook them for twins. Although Zach was described as the quiet one, he came out of his shell when he was with his younger brother, especially since Larry was known as a prankster. But Larry also had a serious side, especially when it came to being in the Cub Scouts. He had been working diligently to move to the next level of the Weebillos and was looking forward to overnight camping trips. To him, nature was everything. His friends in the neighborhood recalled that he was a little expert at naming bugs and catching snakes, something that surely would have been nurtured in the Boy Scouts. Then comes six year old Lisa, who was only weeks away from her seventh birthday. She was in second grade and had dreams of one day becoming a model. With her big shining brown eyes and radiant smile, she absolutely loved having her picture taken. Many people remarked that her personality was similar to her mother's. She was outgoing, ostentatious and she loved to dress up and try new looks. The youngest of the family, 6 year old Michael, had a similar zest for Life. Entering the first grade in fall of 2001, he was thrilled to have gotten the teacher that he wanted. In fact, he was thrilled about school in general. Every afternoon as he got off the bus with his siblings, he would excitedly talk about how much fun he had during his lessons. When he got inside for the day, he enjoyed flipping through magazines, circling all the toys he wanted and daydreaming about owning them someday. He was mostly drawn to vehicles, trucks, trains, cars and bikes.
- [18:06]
Courtney Brown
All of Leticia's kids were very special. They were kind, friendly and they treated other kids fairly, something their mother instilled in them. And they were all loved by anyone who had the chance to meet them. According to the Des Moines Register, Jenny White Beaver, whose 11 year old daughter Rihanna often played with Claudia, admitted that they were one of a kind, saying they were really happy kids. Every time I saw them, they were smiling and happy. Claudia used to spend the night with my daughter. They don't come any better. And it wasn't just the kids, friends and parents who thought that it was everyone on West Street. Leticia's children often played outside in the fenced in yard where they rode their skateboards and bikes down the sidewalk in front of the house. They would always wave hello to their neighbors as they passed by. Cinda Vaught, who lived directly across the street from them, told the Des Moines Register, the kids were always pretty happy, end quote. Which is probably why after meeting Leticia and the kids, one of their neighbors, Donna, took on the role of their babysitter. Donna had lived in the Westin neighborhood her entire life, running a daycare out of her home. She babysat a lot of kids, but she had never encountered ones quite like Leticia's. She told the Sioux City Journal, they were awesome kids. They loved going to church. They just could not get enough of it. End quote.
- [19:39]
Colin Brown
Thankfully, Donna was able to take them to church as much as they wanted. You see, due to Letecia's work schedule, which was 3pm to 11pm Monday through Friday, Donna watched the kids after school every day and took them to worship services with her at Cornerstone Faith Center, a nearby evangelical church. The kids who hadn't been raised going to services were passionate about their faith almost immediately, and Donna took them to church as often as they wanted, sometimes up to four times a week. They would all pile into Donna's minivan and listen to religious music on the tape player. When they arrived at the church, they were always met with smiling faces. Everyone at Cornerstone was impressed with Leticia and her children, but the person who was most impressed of all was Reverend Kerry Gordon, who also served as the youth minister for the children. He told the Des Moines Register they didn't come from a great background. They didn't have a dad in the house. But that's the irony of the whole thing. They acted so well and were such polite little kids. They made you feel like a hero. End quote. He continued telling the Quad times, out of the 450 kids, these five were probably the most known. They were the cream of the crop. They were nothing but sweet.
- [20:55]
Courtney Brown
The children were thriving in their new routine. School, church, family and friends. Even though they didn't have a father figure in the house and their extended family lived in different states, Leticia and her kids found family in their community. Through that, they felt the love, support and security that they needed. It was all Leticia had hoped for for her kids. But like any mother, despite the overwhelming support, she did still have concerns. You see, the neighborhood where she was raising her kids did have a fairly high crime rate. In fact, after moving in, Leticia's car had been broken into several times and her expensive stereo system had been stolen. The thought of criminals sneaking around her home while she and her children were sleeping inside was unsettling. But as a single mother on a limited income, it was the only place she could afford, so she had no choice but to make the best of it. Still, if you've ever lived alone, you know how isolating and scary the nights can be. In the years after her divorce, Leticia was wanting to find a partner that could make her home feel more safe. Perhaps that's why she found comfort in 23 year old Adam Moss, her co worker at Smurfit Stone Container Corporation. If you asked anyone what Leticia saw in Adam, they would have told you they have no idea. He was one of those. That was an acquired taste. While Leticia was responsible, hardworking, kind and devoted, the same could not be said about Adam.
- [22:30]
Colin Brown
Born on September 5, 1977, Adam's childhood was spent running around the same neighborhoods that Leticia's children were 20 years later. And his parents, Mary and Donald Moss, had run into similar financial struggles. With five kids to raise, money was hard to come by. And though little is known about exactly what his childhood was like, newspapers and arrest records paint a picture of instability. Throughout the 70s, Adam's dad racked up charges for larceny and carrying a concealed weapon. And in 1985, when Adam was 8, his dad was involved in a rather strange case, to say the least. In Sioux City, the man's home was infiltrated as part of a drug raid. Inside, police discovered a massive amount of methamphetamine. The Meth, as well as tens of thousands of dollars discovered in the safe beside it, was taken into police custody. Seemingly out of nowhere, Adam's father walked into the police department and claimed that the $28,000 in the safe belonged to him. Obviously, the police had questions. For starters, why would his money be in the safe belonging to a drug dealer? And if the money did, in fact belong to Donald Moss, then where did it come from? Well, Donald delivered beef for a living. He had five children to support and could barely make ends meet. When they questioned Donald asking these questions, he couldn't offer an explanation for how he knew the drug dealer or where the money came from. In the end, police weren't able to return the money to him because they couldn't prove that it was his in the first place. And if it was, they couldn't prove it came from legal activities.
- [24:05]
Courtney Brown
According to the people who knew Adam, he was your average kid. Brad Myers, who grew up with him, told the Argus Leader that during Adam's early childhood, quote, he was a pretty normal kid, man, pretty normal. He was kind of picked on a little bit, but he was a big kid, end quote. But as Adam grew older, something changed. Maybe it had to do with the circumstances surrounding his own father. When Adam was 13, his dad was arrested after he was caught on camera setting his own building ablaze in an attempt to commit insurance fraud. He was promptly arrested, and just two years later, Adam's parents dissolved their marriage. It was around this time where things started to go south. Adam began to drift away from his childhood friends. His mom, Mary, told the Courier, he was a good kid until 12, and then he got a little bit rebellious and got hooked up with the wrong crowd. He was selling and using drugs, end quote. His brother Jason agreed, telling the Associated Press, he started hanging out with his friends. He got in with the wrong crowd. I knew he was getting into trouble, breaking into homes and cars. Which is exactly why, just a year into attending West High School, Adam was suspended and forced to go to an alternative school, Grey Hill Academy, a school and treatment center for violent youths. At only 15, Adam's life had spiraled into a dark place. In October of 1992, he was arrested for juvenile delinquency after violating curfew and possessing alcohol. Ultimately, that charge was dismissed. But Adam didn't take that opportunity to turn his life around. When he was 16, he was arrested and charged with more serious violations, including theft, assault and robbery. But the Argus Leader reported that the Sioux City Police Department either reduced or dismissed the charges completely. Over time, Adam never seemed to learn from his mistakes and instead chose to continue his downward spiral into a life of crime.
- [26:17]
Colin Brown
By the time he was 17, in January 1995, he was convicted of serious assault and second degree theft. Still, he managed to get away without a scrape. Despite the severity of his charges. He reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in June, reducing his charges to just one count of causing bodily injury, which transformed his felony into a misdemeanor. Instead of jail time, Adam was ordered to pay a fine of $325 and was placed on probation for one year. Once again, he was given an opportunity to change, and he did for the worse. On December 15, 1995, now 18 year old Adam broke into a home, stole everything of value and then drove away in the homeowner's car. That night he was arrested. This time he was charged with second degree theft and second degree burglary. Ultimately, he pleaded guilty to second degree theft, while his burglary charge was reduced to third degree burglary. This could have carried a five year prison sentence, but ultimately the sentence was suspended. Now, in case you don't know, a suspended sentence means that a person doesn't have to spend time in prison for their offense as long as they follow court ordered rules for a set amount of time. Essentially, it's like probation, but the conviction remains on a person's record and if the conditions given are violated, the person is ordered to serve the full sentence that was suspended. This is one of the strangest things about Adam's history. Suspended sentences are generally reserved for first time offenders, which very clearly Adam was not. However, it was his first time offending as a legal adult. Ultimately, he escaped having to serve five years. Instead, he spent just 90 days in jail for violating his probation for his previous misdemeanor. Even with a criminal record that spanned over 25 court files, Adam always seemed to escape real consequences for his actions. And sadly, that allowed him to cause even more harm. He wasn't listed as a hardcore criminal. His name wasn't in the newspaper. Anyone who looked him up would simply see his suspended sentence for burglary. It would look like a single dumb mistake, one that he didn't serve any time for. For the women who began to date him as he entered his 20s, he would just appear as a man who slipped up and was on his way to a new beginning. Obviously, that wasn't the case and he had no problem leaving a slew of hurt women in his wake.
- [28:45]
Courtney Brown
First, there was Patricia Carillo, a woman who Adam married in April of 1999. The two ended up having a daughter together. And though Adam was biologically the father, he certainly wasn't financially, emotionally or mentally, because By March of 1998, he had already moved on to his next partner, an administrative assistant named Jill Irby. Adam and Jill also had a daughter together, but that's just about all they shared. At this point, Adam was struggling with a severe cocaine addiction, one that he took out on Jill. She told the Des Moines Register that Adam flew into a jealous cocaine fueled rage, during which he accused her of cheating on him with another man. In his fury, he threatened Jill, stating that he would kill her and kidnap their daughter. In the midst of his tirade, he physically assaulted Jill, punching her four times in the face. With the final punch, Adam knocked out her front tooth, leaving her with a mouthful of blood. Terrified, Jill tried to escape, only to be met with Adam's newest weapon, a beer bottle. He swung it at her head, but thankfully he missed. Enraged, he threw the bottle against the wall, where it shattered into a million pieces. But as quickly as his violent reign had begun, it came to an end. When Jill looked up, Adam was gone. Scared for her and her daughter's life, she immediately called the police and thankfully the Dickson County Sheriff's Department was able to track him down. When they approached Adam that night, they quickly put him into handcuffs and like any routine arrest, the officer started searching him before putting him into the cop car. But as he did, he made a shocking discovery. Tucked in Adam's coat pocket, within easy reach, was a razor sharp steak knife. Adam brushed it off as completely unrelated to the incident, with Jill, stating that he always carried a knife for protection. Jill, however, knew better. And what detectives found in his other pocket only bolstered her claims about his state of mind and what had happened next. Tucked in a baggie, they discovered cocaine.
- [31:01]
Colin Brown
Ultimately, Adam pleaded guilty to assault, false imprisonment and possession of cocaine. He was taken to the Dixon County Jail and issued a $35,000 bond. According to the Courier, Adam's family members in Sioux City were unable to come up with the money to get him out, even though one of his brothers offered their 1988 Camaro as collateral. It wasn't enough, and Adam was forced to remain behind bars where he belonged. Adam was sentenced to 25 months to five years at the Lincoln Correctional Center. Shortly before going to prison to serve his time, he wrote a letter to the court asking if his mother, Mary Moss, could bring his daughter to the jail so he could see her one last time. Would it be alright if she brought my daughter to visit with me for a few minutes since I will not be able to see her when I go to prison. I have not seen my daughter in seven months now and I would be very thankful and grateful if I could visit her before I get sent down. Thank you. It's unclear if Adam got to see his daughter, but shockingly, his time at Lincoln Correctional center was wasn't long. Despite his sentence being between 20 months and five years, he ultimately served just 11 months behind bars. On September 1, 2000, Adam Moss was free. And immediately after his release, he made it clear he hadn't turned a new leaf.
- [32:22]
Courtney Brown
When his ex partner Jill learned that Adam had been released, she was terrified. She knew that in the 11 months he had spent in prison, he had not been rehabilitated and she was scared for her and her daughter's safety. So around this time, she filed a protective order against him on the grounds of domestic abuse. But as you can imagine, Adam had no plans on leaving her alone. In fact, he violated that protective order 16 times. And mind you, those 16 times are just the incidents he was charged with violating the order, not the amount of times in total he contacted but or harassed Jill after his release. But while things with Jill were getting worse, to Adam's friends and family, it seemed like things were actually getting better. In a lot of ways, it appeared as if he was turning his life around. Adam got a job, he started going back to church, and he stopped doing drugs. According to those who knew him, it was very obvious when Adam was using and when he wasn't drug free. Adam had a clear mind, goals, ambition, respect for others. But when Adam was on drugs, he was manipulative, irresponsible and violent. Everyone said it was like two different people. Jill's father Bill told the Courier, when he was not doing drugs, he was a very restrained individual. When he wasn't on cocaine, you could sit down and carry on a conversation, but when he was on cocaine, he was a very difficult personality, end quote. But for the time being, it seemed like Adam had finally taken control of his life. After his release from prison, while still trying to get on his feet, he moved in with his brother Jason and he accepted a job at Ben Fish Tire, a longtime respected business in the Sioux City area. Now, Adam didn't just get this job out of the blue. He knew the president of the company, 58 year old Ronald Fish. The two had been acquaintances for about five years, but it's unclear exactly how they knew each other. Regardless, after Adam's release from prison, Ron saw that Adam needed someone to believe in him. He saw that Adam was trying his best, willing to work, so he offered him a job.
- [34:46]
Colin Brown
Born on December 23, 1942, Ronald Ron Earl Fish had lived in the Sioux City area his entire life. His grandfather, Benjamin Fish, had immigrated to the United States from Russia in 1915 and started his own tire company, Ben Fish Tire Company that same year. For decades, the company had been a staple in Sioux City. It earned a solid reputation as a business that residents both relied upon and trusted. And though Ron easily could have taken on a role at the family company, he decided that he needed to strike out on his own. First, he attended college at the University of Minnesota, and soon after his graduation, he went on to serve in the Air National Guard during the Vietnam War, where he, like thousands of other American boys, was deployed. Upon his return, he re established his roots in Sioux City and began working for the family business. He married and had two children, a son, Jamie, and a daughter, Lisa. But by 2001, he was divorced and living by himself in an upscale neighborhood on the city's north side. Everyone who knew Ron loved him. He was outgoing, social, and often joked around with his employees at the tire shop. According to the Sioux City Journal, people knew him as the tire salesman who left even the poorest customer with money in his pocket. By all accounts, Ron was a normal middle aged man who enjoyed traveling, music and movies. He was known to read up on all the current affairs and enjoyed debating politics with anyone willing to engage him. Ron wasn't bothered by people who were different from him. Unfortunately, some residents were. You see, shortly after Ron's divorce, he openly came out as gay. Many didn't care, but many did. On more than one occasion, someone had gone so far as to spray paint derogatory words on his car and on the garages of his business. But each time, Ron shrugged it off. He wasn't ashamed of the way he was born. He saw hatred and anger in those around him and instead of reflecting it back on people, did everything he could to always be an example of the opposite love, understanding and kindness. Almost everyone who encountered Ron agreed that he was a hell of a guy. The kind who was known to help out anyone in a bind. Rick Knudsen, a trailer salesman in the area, told the Des Moines Register, when I was flat broke, he gave me four real nice tires and said, pay me when you can. I like the guy. And it wasn't just customers who liked Ron. One of his former employees, O.J. castro, knew his boss well. He described Ron as the type of guy who would shoot the shit with his employees after hours cracking jokes, blowing off steam and would then buy everyone a round of drinks at a local bar. For O.J. ron wasn't just a boss, he was a friend. He told the Des Moines Register he was a happy guy. Nothing really bothered him. Although Ron wasn't much of a drinker, sometimes he would order a glass of wine to celebrate or to get his mind off work. But he mostly stuck with non alcoholic beverages. Often he would work a 14 hour day, then go out with friends or make new ones. He didn't usually go home unless it was to sleep or shower, preferring to eat and spend all his free time in the company of others. Ron's sister, Sara Lee Atlas, who co owned and operated Ben Fish Tire company with him, was known to have his lunch already made and clothes ready for him when he reported to work in the morning. By all accounts, it seems that Ron loved companionship. With his kids grown and his ex wife remarried, he found the camaraderie and noise he missed at work. And for Several months in 2000 and early 2001, Adam Moss was one of those workers. However, by March or April of 2001, Adam handed in his resignation. As it turns out, Adam had found work at a different company, Smurfet Stone Container Corporation. It was the start of a new chapter for him. It was also at this new job where he would cross paths with Leticia Aguilar.
- [38:50]
Courtney Brown
In the beginning of 2001, when Adam first started working at Smurfit Stone, it seemed as if he was still on a good path. Something his family noticed as well. Now he was still living with his brother Jason. But for the first time in years, Adam actually started contributing to the mortgage. Jason was overjoyed to see his brother thriving in society and he truly believed that he had been rehabilitated. His family was also happy to see that he had started dating someone new. When Leticia and Adam first met each other at work, they really hit it off. Soon enough they started dating and life got even better for them. For Leticia, she was happy to finally find a partner again. Someone to love and support her. But even more than that, someone who loved and supported her children. According to Leticia's friends, when Adam first started coming around, he was great with the kids and they loved him. Even the kids babysitter Donna told Des Moines Register. He was always polite. The kids liked him, Leticia liked him. End quote. As the relationship progressed, Adam became a familiar face in Leticia's neighborhood. One day, her 89 year old neighbor Myrtle said that her telephone stopped working and Adam happily came over and fixed it. Before he left, he told Myrtle that if she ever needed help with anything else, to please let him know. He seemed like a decent person. Everyone was really happy for Leticia. After years of struggling all by herself, she seemed to have found her match and their relationship was moving pretty quickly. Adam told anyone who would listen that he considered Leticia's kids his own. And at one point over the summer, Adam told his brother Jason that he and Letecia were discussing having her tubal litigation reversed so that they could have children together. Adam even offered to pay for the procedure. But his brother Jason wasn't thrilled to hear this news because so far, Adam hadn't taken care of a single one of his children yet. Jason remained optimistic, hoping that this time Adam had really turned his life around. It seemed like finally, through Leticia and her children, his brother had found his purpose, his drive in life. However, things aren't always like they seem. Soon enough, the more Leticia's friends got to know her new boyfriend, the more red flags they started to pick up on the kids. Babysitter Donna said she initially had a good first opinion of Adam, but there was also something odd about him, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She said, I had my suspicions. He was a nice enough guy, but I didn't see them together a lot. Another one of Leticia's close friends, Sonia Rivera, admitted that Leticia and Adam seemed happy together. One night, the three of them went to a bar where had a great night, laughing and having fun. Nothing seemed amiss. Sonja was happy for her friend at first, but as the weeks progressed, Adam's behavior started to shift. One night, Leticia and Sonja were sitting in the living room chatting and laughing like they always did, until suddenly, out of nowhere, shouting from outside stopped them mid conversation. They both paused, confused. And then they realized who the voice belonged to. It was Adam, screaming at them from the front porch. When they didn't get up to unlock the door immediately, there came another horrifying sound. The thud of Adam's boot colliding with the door and the splintering of wood. Adam was trying to kick the door in. Why? Both Leticia and Sonja had no idea, which only made the ordeal more terrifying. Adam's anger was palpable, and he was so desperate to get inside that he was willing to mow down the door to come in after her. It's unclear exactly why Adam flew into a rage, but according to Sonja, he was jealous about something, she told the Argus Leader. Quote, I never saw any physical fighting. From what I saw that night, he was jealous. End quote. Now, of course, if a partner ever kicks in a door on you, that is a massive red flag. But to both Sonja and Leticia, that behavior wasn't something to be concerned about. When you grow up surrounded by media that praises men for being jealous and fighting for you, something like kicking a door can quickly be rewritten as an act of love rather than what it really is, an act of control. So both Leticia and Sonja looked past it sadly. Leticia's concerns about her safety had nothing to do with Adam. Her fears had to do with her neighborhood.
- [43:47]
Colin Brown
At some point In July of 2001, she approached her landlord and asked if he could install motion sensor lights on the outside of her home. The rising crime had her scared. So much so that she had asked Adam to stay with her and the children to keep them safe. Little did she know, she was inviting the real danger right inside. Now, researching this case, we've seen a lot of blame placed on Leticia for what happened. But we want to make it very clear. Leticia was a victim. Her kids were victims. We're looking at this case more than 20 years in the future. With all of the information on Adam's background laid out in front of us, we're looking at it with more knowledge of abusive relationships, power dynamics and safety. Leticia didn't have that, and you don't have to take our word for it. According to the kid's babysitter, Donna, Leticia was unaware of Adam's criminal past and history of domestic abuse. She told the Des Moines Register, I don't think she knew that part of him. She trusted him with the kids. People liked Adam. People in the neighborhood were happy that Letecia had someone in her life to help raise the kids. Neighbors thought he was a stand up guy. But as the heat of summer swept across the prairie, there was a change in Adam that became hard to ignore. He was skinny and pale, anxious and aggressive. Once hopeful that his older brother had changed, Jason now feared that Adam was going down the same dark path that had messed up his life before. And soon enough, there would be more evidence of this.
- [45:18]
Courtney Brown
On August 15, 2001, Adam abruptly quit his job at Smurfet Stone Container Corporation. He applied for a seasonal position as a peanut brittle candy maker at nearby Palmer's Candies. And apparently the owner, Martin Palmer, was going to hire him. According to the Des Moines Register, Palmer's Candies didn't conduct criminal background checks on their seasonal workers. Martin stated, I believe in giving people a second chance, end quote. And while that is a worthy and kind belief, this wasn't Adam's second chance. It was one of dozens. And instead of taking this opportunity, he failed to show up to his final interview on August 22. This was yet another incident where Adam was showing signs of instability, instability that came with his drug addiction. It seemed as if each time he was given an opportunity, Adam always returned to his life of crime. And instead of getting a job that week, he kind of just moped around complaining about his financial situation to anyone who would listen. His brother. Jason noticed this change in his brother, and usually that meant the worst, that Adam was using drugs again. Soon enough, Jason would get that confirmation. On August 17, he received a call from his brother. From the very second he heard Adam's voice on the other end, Jason knew something was wrong. Adam seemed on edge, not wanting to talk, but wanting something. And eventually, he cut to the chase. I need some money, he said. Adam wasn't asking a question. He was making a demand. Right then and there, Jason knew his brother was going down another spiral. Throughout that week, every time Jason's phone rang, he. He was overwhelmed with anxiety because every time he answered, it was Adam. He was getting more and more angry and desperate for money with every call. But Jason didn't have money to give. He had already given his brother so much over the years, and he certainly didn't want to fund his brother's downward spiral. So he said no each time. That, of course, only increased the harassment and manipulation Jason faced. On August 22, Jason's phone rang again. By then, after five days of unrelenting calls, Jason had enough. Not only was his brother completely out of control, begging for money any chance he got, but he was also disrespecting him in other ways. Apparently, that week, Adam had left a car in Jason's driveway, and Jason asked when he was going to come and get it. An innocent question, but Adam's reaction was bizarre. You would think something as simple as moving a car wouldn't elicit much of a response, but Adam was irate. He began screaming at his brother. I'm going to give you big problems, he hissed. I'm going to snap on you. Now, obviously, these threats are scary, but by that point, Jason was used to his brother's antics. However, on this phone call, Adam said something that completely crossed the line. He threatened Jason's fiance, snarling, you don't want something to happen to her, do you? With that, Jason was done. It was at that moment, as he hung up the phone on his brother for the final time, when he knew he had to protect himself and his new family. So from there, he filed a restraining order against his own brother.
- [48:49]
Colin Brown
When police showed up at Adam's door to serve him with the restraining order, he became even more angry and unhinged than before. Furious at his brother but unable to speak with him, Adam did the next best thing he could think of in his twisted mind. He called their mother, Mary Moss. Not just once, not twice, but 13 times. In his rage, he just kept dialing and dialing and dialing. But his mother didn't answer, not even once. Adam was losing all control. He was unemployed, broke, and now his entire family was shutting him out. So it's here when he turned to the one person who was always there for him. Leticia. She'd never let him down. She comforted him, loved him, and mended him whenever he was broken. And that day, after being served the restraining order was no different. Adam leaned on Leticia. And surprisingly, she wasn't the only one. Later that day, the children's babysitter, Donna, arrived at the home to pick up the kids like she always did. When she stepped inside, Adam greeted her before she could even speak to the kids. To her surprise, Adam immediately began to vent to her. I'm having a hard time right now, he told her. I don't have enough money to pay child support, and my family, I mean, my own brother doesn't want anything to do with me. They've turned on me completely, and I just feel like. Like I'm backed into a corner now. As Adam rambled, Donna noticed that he seemed to off. He was jittery, his hands were shaking, and he was unable to stand still. She also found it strange because not once had Adam ever talked to Donna about his personal problems until this moment. And she felt sorry for him. She loved the family, and she wanted to help. So she loaned Adam $60, along with some words of advice. She told him in 1995, this message saved my life. Maybe it can do the same for you. All you need to do is turn your life and your problems over to God, and he will make all well. Adam was appreciative. He promised her that he would pay her back a little at a time, starting with $10 the following day. However, when that day came around and Donna was getting ready to pick up Leticia's children, she received a call. It was Adam, and his voice was just as unsteady as the previous day. As he told her, hey, Donnah, I'm gonna watch the kids tonight, so you don't need to come over. I know I told you I'd pay you back today, but I can't. I'll get you the money as soon as I can. At the time, Donnah didn't think much of it. She knew that Adam was between jobs and believed that he was the kind of boyfriend willing to help out. From what she had observed, Adam had a good relationship with the kids. They adored him, and she never once thought he would harm them. The Conspiracy Files is the most explosive show on the Internet. I'm your host, Colin Brown from the Paranormal files on YouTube, and I'm inviting you to take this twisted journey down the rabbit hole with me. Together, we will dive deep into some of the world's most dangerous and disturbing conspiracy theories. From suspicious suicides to hidden pedophile rings and high profile cover ups. On my show, no story is off limits and no detail will be spared. And trust me, after listening to just one episode, you will never look at the world the same. So if you like conspiracies, mysteries, true crime and chaos, then this is the show for you. Listen to the Conspiracy Files now on all streaming platforms or wherever you get your podcasts. By Wednesday evening, August 29, 2001, Donnah had tried calling Leticia numerous times to see if she was needed to babysit, but there was no answer. Although she was worried, she decided to give it one more day, thinking that perhaps they were busy. But as Wednesday turned to Thursday, August 30, Donnah couldn't sit with her anxiety any longer. It wasn't like Leticia to completely ignore phone calls, and after hearing nothing at all, Donna knew something was wrong. As she walked up the front steps and onto the porch, a note awaited her. Taped to the door, it read in unfamiliar handwriting, me and the kids went to Sioux Falls. Too much stress. Donnah's heart sank. She knew that Leticia wouldn't leave home without telling her, but above all, she knew that she wouldn't just pull her kids out of school without warning or a plan in place. She may not have always had the most stable life, but but she wanted the opposite for her kids. Leticia constantly pushed that school was the most important thing of all and made sure that they studied and did their homework. Staring at that note, Donna couldn't fight the dread welling inside of her. Desperate for answers, she decided to go inside and look for herself. Luckily, she had a key to the back door. But nothing could have prepared her for what she was about to find. Leticia was a meticulous housekeeper. Everything had its place with no exceptions. Despite having five kids, her home was usually immaculately clean. Yet Donnah stepped into a room that day that looked like a tornado had run right through it. Clothing and other random items were strewn across the floor. The TV was gone. Donnah was so terrified, so shocked, it seemed as if her mind didn't even process the smell that was emanating. But the one thing she knew for sure was is that whatever had happened here wasn't normal. And Donna knew she couldn't face it alone. She raced home and immediately called Leticia's sister, Yolanda Garcia. She told her about the note on the front door, the clothing in the living room, and the missing TV set. Yolanda was flooded with anxiety. She hadn't heard anything about Leticia taking a vacation with the children, and she had no idea where her sister could be. She told Donna that she would meet her over at the house so the two could figure out what was going on.
- [54:40]
Courtney Brown
Soon after, Donna and Yolanda entered through the back door of Leticia's house. The lights were off, the house was still, and everything, absolutely everything, felt wrong. Donna and Yolanda called out Leticia and the kids names, but there was no answer except for their own. Voices echoed back at them. The only area that hadn't been searched was the upstairs portion of the house. And while Yolanda continued looking for clues in the living room, Donna opted to search the bedrooms. Her heart raced as she made her way up the staircase. Coming up over the landing, she realized that Claudia and Lisa's bedroom door was open. As she made her way through the hallway, she didn't even notice the two sleeping bags lying nearby. She just continued forward. Claudia and Lisa may have been several years apart, but they were best friends who did everything together. Their room was decked out in purple, Claudia's favorite color. And the two even had matching comforters on their twin beds, one tucked in each corner of the room. Donna had seen their girly bedrooms more times than she could count. It was blooming with pop culture magazines, bows, nail polish and toys. But today it was different. Today it was a crime scene. At first it looked like they were asleep, but then she saw the red, the hair, the gore. Both girls were face down in pools of their own blood, struggling for breath. And horrified, Donna whipped around to run downstairs. She told the Des Moines Register, I turned around and said, go. We've got to get out of here. But by that point, Yolanda was already right behind Donna. Desperate to find out what had happened. Donna urged her back, telling her that she didn't want to see what she had just found. Fortunately, Yolanda didn't look. She saved herself the horror of seeing the massacre of her little nieces, of her family that she loved beyond words. At 5:37pm they rushed out of the home and called 911. And within seconds the Sioux City Police Department was en route. But this wasn't the only call they were fielding that night. Adam Moss, old boss Ron Fish hadn't shown up for work that day. For everyone that knew him, he was the most hard working man around. The kind who never even called out sick and never no call, no showed. So that evening, about 30 minutes before Donna and Yolanda called 911, one of Ron's employees drove over to his house to check on him. His name was Paul. But as Paul arrived at Ron's home and raised his hand to knock on the front door, he froze just inches from his feet. Blood was seeping out from beneath the door. Its crimson color was so unbelievable, so horrifying that he didn't want to believe what he was seeing. He couldn't. Panicking, wanting more than anything for his fears to be erased, Paul raced around to the back of the house. There he discovered that the back door was wide open. He rushed inside and within seconds he witnessed a gut wrenching crime scene. His boss, Ron Fish, was face down in the foyer. Blood painted the floor, the walls and the furniture all around the house. And the source of it all was clear. A single knife protruding from Ron's back.
- [58:17]
Colin Brown
Ronald Fish was dead, just like Donna and Yolanda. Paul quickly called 911. At the time, police had no idea that Ron's murder was connected to the bodies found at Leticia's house. For now, it seemed as if this had just been a particularly violent day for Sioux City, Iowa. First responders at Ron's home were overwhelmed by the blood. It was everywhere. In the foyer, in the master bedroom, splattered across the walls and floor. Bloody fingerprints surrounded Ron's body. Police Chief Joe Frisbee would tell the Sioux City Journal it was a very heinous homicide. It appeared that Ron had been bludgeoned and stabbed to death. A knife was still lodged in his back and investigators located a bent claw hammer near his body in the sitting room. They also located several bloody knives in both the foyer and sitting room. A bent steak knife, a 9 inch Kershaw knife blade and a Kershaw Serrated knife. It appeared that whoever was responsible had a personal vendetta against Ron. His murder had been overkill. As investigators combed through the bloody crime scene, they located an empty beer can on a table in the living room and several cigarette butts on the floor near the sitting room. There was a clump of hair near the front door and a phone on the floor. They also noticed that Ron's car, a silver 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue, was missing from the residence. And sadly, this was just the beginning. Because several miles away, another batch of officers were surrounding Leticia's home at 311 West St.
- [59:51]
Courtney Brown
It was a home that reeked of death. The heat of summer had only added to the smell of decomposition. Fly swarmed around the windows on the first floor air conditioning unit. Even for seasoned officers and forensic specialists, the stench was overwhelming. But not even that could prepare them for the horror of what waited inside one of the worst murder scenes Sioux City had ever seen. Police Chief Joe Frisbee led the way into the crime scene. By the time he reached the top landing and caught a glimpse of what awaited him, he made a decision. He wanted as little officers inside the home as possible. Not just to preserve the evidence, not even to spread out manpower, but to prevent people he cared about from experiencing the trauma of what he saw on that second floor. He described it as one of the most heinous and brutal homicides I've ever witnessed. And it wasn't just the bodies of Claudia and Lisa. In fact, the first bodies he saw were of Larry and Zach, there in the second floor hallway. The two had fallen asleep in their sleeping bags. As they laid there, someone had bludgeoned them with a hammer, taking their lives in an act of horrendous violence. All the responding officers could see was a blur of red seeping into the sleeping bags and the carpet beneath them. Beyond that, they finally saw what Donna had seen. Claudia and Lisa face down dead in mattresses soaked with their own blood. So far, there were four bodies, but there were still two more bedrooms that hadn't been checked. Bracing themselves, they looked into another bedroom. There laid six year old Michael, bludgeoned to death in his bed. That made five. Five innocent lives. All children snuffed out. Officers knew what was behind that final door in the primary bedroom. But they still had to look. And there they found the body of Leticia. She was just 32 years old. The side of her face was badly injured and her throat had been cut. There was no sign of life, but her eyes were wide open. For the responding officers, the crime scene left them traumatized, with permanent emotional scars. In fact, a counselor was brought in to speak with a few of them as they processed their emotions. Sioux City had never seen anything like it. Seven murders in a single day. It now surpassed the city's previous record, a triple homicide that occurred 26 years earlier. Horror. Absolute, complete horror that somebody could walk in and take the lives of small children.
- [62:45]
Colin Brown
After finding the bodies, investigators started speaking to Leticia's neighbors and friends. They all agreed that she mostly kept to herself, but her children, Claudia, Zach, Larry, Lisa and Michael were social, active and well liked. In fact, one of the neighbors mentioned that the children frequently played outside, but admitted that he had not seen or heard from them in a few days. He told the Des Moines Register, it was too quiet. Usually they are out here running around. I thought it was a little strange. Investigators also learned that the children had several unexcused absences at West Middle School and Everett Elementary. Shockingly, a school truancy officer even stopped by the house. But after reading the letter on the front door that said Leticia brought her children to Sioux Falls, the officer left without further inquiry. However, as police started to piece together everything that happened, there was one name that kept coming up. Adam Moss. And thus they began looking into their new person of interest. And it didn't take them long to discover that Adam Moss was connected to their other murder victim. Across town, Police Chief Frisbee stated that they had documented evidence that linked Ron and Adam. And with that, they issued an official arrest warrant. But locating Adam proved to be more challenging than they had hoped. The first places they looked were with Adam's family members, specifically at his mom and brother's homes. That day, Adam's brother Jason was surprised by a knock on his front door. When he opened it, he found himself face to face with not just one police officer, but what seemed to be a whole squadron of them. They asked him if he had seen or spoken to Adam. Jason's heart raced. What had Adam done now? Why were all these people looking for him? Jason explained that he had recently gotten a restraining order against his brother and asked what all of this was about. That's the moment that his life changed forever. Officers told him the truth. They believed Adam was responsible for killing seven people across the Sioux City area. Jason felt like he was going to be sick. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. And what the police said next was also sickening. They warned him that given how violent Adam had been, Jason and the rest of the family new Year's resolutions typically fail for one reason. We all try to remove a habit without replacing it. However, Fume is the replacement. A flavored air fidget device that lets you satisfy the urge to reach for something without nicotine vapor or batteries. Just clean, natural flavors and a fidget friendly design that feels good to use this January. Don't just try to quit, upgrade the habit loop, reach for Fume instead. Fume is a flavored air device designed to help people quit vaping and smoking by breaking the hand to mouth pattern. It's simple, natural, and honestly, kind of genius. 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Described as a white male, five nine, £170, brown eyes, brown hair, potentially with Ron's missing 1999 silver Oldsmobile Intrigue. Investigators believed that after Adam had murdered Ron, he stole his car and fled the scene. On August 30, 2001, at 7:02pm Adam, Police Chief Joe Frisbee held a press conference to update the public on the investigation. Although he didn't speak on the specifics of the murders, he did say again, I'll tell you this, this is one of the most heinous, brutal homicides I've probably ever witnessed. I won't be able to tell you how the homicides took place or what instruments were used or that sort of thing, because to be honest with you, that's going to be very important investigative information in the very near future, for a lot of investigative reasons that I won't go into. But at a later time, I suspect we'll be able to talk more freely about that. But I can tell you this, that there's no question they're homicides. There was extreme trauma, very, very brutal homicides in all cases. And I can tell you, in the 34 years I've been a police officer, I've, you know, we've seen a lot of homicides. I've never seen one as bad as this. And so a manhunt was launched to locate Adam Moss. As the city anxiously waited for his arrest. The entire community was on high alert. Police Chief Frisbie told the Des Moines Register, Obviously, we've been in the midst of a very dangerous situation. There has been a fear for our wives and our families.
- [69:08]
Courtney Brown
Throughout the night of August 30th and into the early morning hours of August 31st, 2001, investigators chased leads and followed every possible tip on Adam's whereabouts. The Des Moines Register reported that 50 police officers out of the 125 in Sioux City were actively combing the Westin neighborhoods. Adam's face was plastered everywhere. It seemed as if all of Sioux City was on the lookout for the heinous killer. And soon all of those lookouts proved to be invaluable because tips started flooding in.
- [69:43]
Colin Brown
I think I just saw that Adam Moscow at the economy end, he went into a room.
- [69:48]
Courtney Brown
Immediately, a swarm of officers rushed to the scene. Creeping down the hall towards his room, they held their breath. If they caught Adam now, no more people had to die. At least they hoped. Standing outside his door, hearts racing, they had no idea what awaited them inside. While the armed officers got into position, another readied themselves to kick down the door. But inside the they were met with nothing but a flickering tv. Adam Moss was gone. They had missed him by mere minutes. And the cat and mouse chase droned on into the early morning hours.
- [70:29]
Colin Brown
Around 7:30am on Friday, August 31, Adam was spotted again, only a few blocks from Leticia's house, West Middle School and Everett Elementary. Once again, by the time police responded to the area, Adam was gone. During the whole chase, the Sioux City newspapers, reporters and media made sure to inform locals and residents. Through live broadcasts, Rumors spread that Ron Fish had been sexually mutilated and dismembered. This only created more unease. And although Police Chief Frisbee didn't want to worry everyone, he believed it was important to keep them updated on the facts. Due to Adam's threat to public safety, nearby schools locked down and placed guards around the entrances. Students were not allowed to go outside during recess, and grief counselors were brought in to speak to concerned staff members, students and families. Visibly upset, students were seen being escorted into schools by their parents. Around noon, police received another tip that Adam was seen stalking an alleyway only four blocks from the Ben Fish Tire Company, which was Ron Fish's family business. When officers arrived, they canvassed the area that included a small factory, a tavern and a storage building on West 7th Street. It was outside the storage building that officers saw their first flicker of movement. Beneath a pile of plywood lying like trash beside a shack, they saw what appeared to be a person. But was that person Adam? And if he was, did he still have a weapon? Clearly, this was a killer with no remorse and nothing to lose. Tension rose as officers raced to surround the man, guns drawn. It was only as they tore back the sheets of plywood that they were able to let out a sigh of relief. The man cowering before them was Adam Moss, unarmed, meek and willing to surrender. Finally, the 18 hour manhunt was over. After Adam was arrested and taken into custody, the residents of Sioux City could finally relax. But now they had to face the grim reality of the seven murders, brutal murders that involved five young children. Police Chief Frisbee issued a statement saying, I feel extremely relieved we have this person in custody. There's no doubt in my mind he's the right guy. It's been a white knuckle ride all night. As investigators continued to work the crime scenes on west street and Sylvian Avenue wearing biohazard protection suits as they collected DNA evidence, murder weapons and other forensic materials, Adam was being held on suicide watch in an isolated padded cell with an observation window. On August 31, 2001, Adam was officially charged with seven counts of first degree murder and one count of theft for stealing Ron's 1999 sedan. The following day, September 1, a Woodbury county judge set his bond at $7,025,000, $1,000,000 for each murder charge and $25,000 for the theft charge, a bond that Adam would clearly never be able to pay. But around this time, as investigators tried to make sense of this senseless crime, it was difficult for them to find a motive and sadly, they would never receive one. Apparently, Adam's public defender, Tom Mullen, advised him to remain silent, and that's exactly what he did. While in isolation, he stayed quiet and did as he was told. It was reported that he never acted out and was on his best behavior. Meanwhile, as the shocking news of seven brutal murders circulated locally and nationwide, Sioux City residents were left to pick up the pieces. The murders affected everyone, even those who did not know the victims personally, 26 year old waitress Danielle Combs told the Quad City. Not everybody knew those who died, but everyone in the community is feeling the loss. That loss was on full display outside of 311 West St. Where a large shrine for the lost family grew bigger every day. Teddy bears, candles, flowers and heartfelt notes overflowed the sidewalk just beyond the yard where the kids used to play. One note read, I miss you when you are not near me. I love to hear your steps. That's by far the sweetest music my ears await. Every day, friends, neighbors and mourners gathered to pay their respects. Of course, the media was there to capture it all and interviewed several people, including children and friends of the deceased. Eight year old Megan Rosner told the Quad City Times, lisa was my best friend. She was nice to me. She gave me this bracelet. 12 year old Raquel Macias said, I feel sad. Claudia was very friendly and nice and sometimes quiet. Zach was fun to play with. At Cornerstone Faith center, church members held a prayer service for the family and made sure to tell everyone in attendance that Leticia was Claudia, Zach, Larry, Lisa and Michael were now with Jesus. The beautiful words spoken could never bring them back, but they offered a piece about their lives and their untimely deaths. On Wednesday, September 5, 2001, a funeral for the family was held at Cornerstone with hundreds of people in attendance, including 40 family members from California and dozens of children from Everett elementary and West Middle School. Six cream colored coffins topped with framed photographs, teddy bears and flowers lined the front of the church. Reverend Carey Gordon led the service and urged everyone to find forgiveness in their hearts. He said, we're facing something in our community. I don't think we've ever faced before. Their lives were snuffed out. There is a Satan. Bad things don't come from God. Good things come from God. If we could hear the words of the children and Leticia, they would say, forgive. Your response should be, okay, kids, I'll do it for you. But forgiveness wouldn't be easy for Leticia's family. What Adam did to her and her five innocent children was unforgivable. Leticia's sister Virginia told the Sioux City Journal, there's no way we can forgive. That's going to be way down the line. To be honest with you, it was his hands who took my sister and my nieces and nephews away. Why? Nobody knows. He couldn't have been human. What he did to those kids, you wouldn't even do to a dog. You wouldn't even do to a little birdie. Even a birdie has a right to live. Yolanda Garcia added. He wiped their goals and dreams away. They were innocent children. After the funeral in Sioux City, the bodies were transported back to California, where another prayer and funeral service was held in Leticia's hometown. Once again, dozens of people arrived to show their respects. Through a cloud of emotions, the priest told those in mourning, they will forever be young. They shall forever be together. Leticia, Claudia, Zach, Larry, Lisa and Michael were all laid to rest at the Evergreen Memorial park in Merced, their coffins nestled together and a shared headstone reminding everyone of the love their little family shared. As for Adam's seventh victim, Ronald Fisherman, he too was mourned by the hundreds as he was laid to rest at Mount Carmel Cemetery. After the funerals, the community was forced to come to terms with the tragedy, and the attention once again turned to Adam Moss. But one question continued to haunt everyone in Sioux City. Why in the hell did he do it? To this day, those answers are unclear, but we do know how he did it. After the crime scenes were processed and interviews conducted, investigators pieced together what they believed happened. So let's go back to August 27th, the night that the nightmare began.
- [78:04]
Courtney Brown
That morning, Adam got into that argument with his brother, Jason. Throughout that week, he continued harassing Jason, begging for money. Then Adam threatened Jason and his fiance, which ended in Jason getting a restraining order against him. Following that, Adam started harassing his mother, who ignored his calls. So from there, Adam went to Leticia's house. As we mentioned, that's when Donna came by to pick up the kids and was met by Adam. Seemingly in the middle of a mental breakdown, she gave him $60 to get back on his feet and left with the promise that he would pay her back bit by bit. When Donna left, everything between Leticia and Adam seemed all right. And for the next few hours, things were calm. But as day turned to night, something changed. Around 8pm, Adam and Leticia got into an argument. What they were arguing about, we will never know. Maybe Leticia was tired of him stealing and lying to everyone. Maybe she confronted him on his continued drug use. Whatever it was. Neighbors reported hearing the couple arguing. Both of them were screaming and it seemed to be reaching a crescendo when suddenly Adam stormed out of the house yelling behind him. He leapt in the car and sped off into the night, heading to a bar to blow off some steam. For several hours, the house was quiet. Then finally, around 3am he came back. Now, Leticia had locked the doors that night like she did every night. But sadly, Adam had a way to get in. You see, days prior to the murders, Adam had approached one of Leticia's neighbors asking for a spare key. According to the Des Moines Journal, Adam told the neighbor that he accidentally locked himself out and he needed a key. And knowing that Adam and Leticia were partners, the neighbor gave it to him. So that night, when he returned around 3am on Tuesday, August 28, he let himself in through the back door. All was quiet and dark as he crept through the living room and made his way upstairs to where the family slept. But this time he wasn't coming to play the role of the supportive boyfriend. Instead, he came equipped with a knife and hammer. At the top of the landing, in the hallway, Zach and Larry both slept quietly in their sleeping bags. Before they had gone to bed, the two quietly read their X Men comic books with a flashlight. As Adam tiptoed past them, he nearly slipped and fell over the stack of comics. But he continued past the boys and entered the first bedroom that 12 year old Claudia and 6 year old Lisa shared. Both girls slept on their own small twin bed with matching purple comforters. Claudia was the first to receive Adam's wrath as he ripped back her blanket, striking the hammer down on her temple two times. He then slammed it down on her chest with such force that blood instantly pooled across her Enrique Iglesias T shirt. Now, it's unclear if 6 year old Lisa heard her sister being murdered across the room. More than anything, I hope she didn't. I hope she never saw it coming. But from there, Adam moved towards the other side of the room and slammed the hammer down on Lisa's temple. After murdering the girls, he returned to the Hallway where he bludgeoned 11 year old Zach and 9 year old Larry. Larry was first only receiving a single blow to the head. But for some reason, Adam took out most of his rage on 11 year old Zach. Perhaps Zach woke up and confronted him before Adam came along. He was the little man of the house, the one who was fiercely protective over his mom and siblings. But in the dark of night, Adam bludgeoned Zach over 20 times, hitting him multiple times to his face, head, chest and neck. The wounds to his face were so intense that both of his cheekbones and skull were crushed. Then. From there, Adam moved to another bedroom where 6 year old Michael slept. As with his previous victims, Adam viciously attacked the young boy with multiple hammer blows to the chest. The only difference was that he didn't deliver any blows to Michael's face, which is horrifying because that means he likely woke up. He likely saw Adam's frenzied and demented face as he killed him. Following Michael's death, Adam had successfully killed all five of Leticia's children. And she was next. Adam made his way into Leticia's bedroom, the same bedroom he had slept in for the past three months. As Adam opened the door, Leticia stirred. Perhaps she heard the muffled sounds from the room beside her. Perhaps it was the creak of the door that woke her up. It's unclear if Leticia knew what was going on when Adam walked into her room, but soon enough she would. Because when Adam stepped beside the bed standing over her, he was completely drenched in her children's blood. It's here where Adam slammed the hammer down on the side of Leticia's face seven times. He used so much force that he fractured her skull. But he didn't stop there. After Leticia was dead, he grabbed the knife he brought with him and he slit her throat. The murders took a whole hour, and by 4am the house was silent. Within that time, Adam had bludgeoned every single person who called it home. Now all there was was the chirp of crickets outside and the thrum of his racing heart. He stood in the living room, his hands slick with blood. And one question raced through his mind over and over. What's next? He knew it would only be a matter of time until people started checking in on Leticia and the kids. She was well loved. People looked out for her. And Adam knew that he was one of the people who was supposed to do just that. Instead, he had done the unthinkable. And now he had to think of a way to separate himself from it, he set down the hammer and knife and made his way into the bathroom. There he stripped off his bloody clothes. Then he washed off the blood. As he watched the blood of the people he claimed to have loved running down the sink, he thought only of his survival. He had to stop people from looking for Leticia, at least for a little while, long enough for him to come up with a good escape plan. So from there, he changed clothes and picked up a pen and a piece of paper. Pretending to be Leticia, he wrote a note that would explain her absence to anyone who came looking. Me and the kids went to Sioux Falls. Too much stress.
- [85:14]
Colin Brown
With the note in hand, Adam glanced out the windows, peering down the street to see if anyone was watching. But it was silent. He stepped out into the night and attached the note to the front door. With the note in place, Adam knew he needed to get out of there. But first he needed some money. So he raced back inside the home, grabbing anything of value. He tore through the rooms, leaving even more of a mess in his wake as he piled his arms full of Leticia's belongings. After loading all of the valuables into his car, he made sure to go back for two more. His weapons, the hammer and the knife. From there, he was gone. Adam locked the door to Leticia's home, got into his car, and disappeared into the night. However, it wasn't long before he popped up again. A few hours after viciously murdering Leticia and her kids, Adam walked into a pawn shop on Pierce street carrying the TV he had just stolen from Leticia's home. The employee looked over the tv, skeptical. Adam was fidgety, nervous. He looked like he hadn't slept in days. The employee cleared their throat and asked him, you got the remote to this? Adam seemed frustrated. After murdering an entire family, the remote for the TV had been the last thing on his mind. I'll bring it back tomorrow, he told the employee. And though Adam came back four times over the next three days, pawning item after item belonging to Leticia, he never gave them the remote. When asked about it, he brushed it off, saying he couldn't find it. In reality, of course, it was sitting in a crime scene. The pawn shop gave Adam money for the carload of items, but evidently it wasn't enough to fuel his habit for long. Adam knew he needed another target, and so he began to rack his brain. For one, there was nothing and no one who could stop him. Because, tragically, at this point, no one knew anyone had been killed.
- [87:10]
Courtney Brown
Adam.
- [87:10]
Colin Brown
By the following night, August 29, the bodies of Leticia and her children were still sitting in the home, undiscovered. Donnah had been calling frantically over and over with no answer. She hadn't seen the note on Leticia's door. She wouldn't until the following day. And sadly, by then, Adam Moss had already claimed another life.
- [87:31]
Courtney Brown
On the Evening of Wednesday, August 29, 2001, Adam made his way to Ron Fish's house, where on Sylvian Avenue. Now, it's unclear exactly how this next part played out, but it's believed that Adam walked up to Ron's front door and knocked. When Ron opened the door, he was perplexed to see Adam standing before him. But based on the evidence, it only took an instant for things to go from confusing to downright horrifying. We don't know if Adam was let inside the threshold or if he barged his way in, but what we do know is that as soon as he grabbed his weapon, all chaos broke loose. The house was absolutely drenched in blood, leaving a trail that tells a disturbing story. It seemed that the two struggled throughout the home. Ron tried to flee, stumbling through the foyer as Adam stabbed him with a knife. Ron tried to make it to the bathroom where he could lock the door and call 911, but Adam was right behind him. Blood spattered the bathroom door in one strike, so Ron turned, heading back to the foyer to try and make it outside to try and get someone, anyone, to help him. But Adam chased after him, bludgeoning Ron with a hammer with so much force that the hammer bent. Yet Ron was still fighting as he continued to run for the front door. Adam kept after him, coating the walls, floor and furniture in a layer of blood with hit after hit after hit until finally Ron collapsed, inches from the door that he had hoped to escape out of. And in a final fatal act, Adam raised a knife over his head and plunged it into Ron's back there in the foyer of his home he had worked all of his life for, Ron took his final breath. Why Ron's life was taken from him, we have no idea. In all of the research we did, there was only one thing we could find that was reported as stolen. Ron's 1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue. After murdering him in cold blood, Adam casually grabbed the keys, leapt in the vehicle and sped away from the scene, leaving Ron in the doorway of his home, where he had been murdered so violently that blood started seeping underneath the front door.
- [89:55]
Colin Brown
But Adam's plan of escaping justice would fail. Finally, on August 31, his reign of terror came to an end. With his arrest on the morning of September 11, 2001, Adam's formal arraignment seemed to be overshadowed by the terrorist attacks happening in New York City. But even with all of the chaos of that day, Adam, the people of Sioux City were still paying attention. Although Adam did not show up for the hearing, he sent in a written note with his plea of innocence. He also demanded a speedy trial. He was scheduled to go on trial in November. However, on Tuesday, September 25, Adam made a shocking move during a court appearance. Dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, he changed his plea to guilty. Apparently, Adam had written a letter to District Judge John Ackerman saying, I am writing this letter to inform you that I am changing all my pleas of not guilty to guilty. This is what I want to do, so please set a date for this or for me to be sentenced. While refusing eye contact and speaking in a calm, quiet voice, Adam told Judge Ackerman, I committed premeditated murder. I struck them with the intent to kill them. Before sentencing, Adam refused to make a statement to the court. Ultimately, Judge Ackerman sentenced Adam to seven consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. It was the harshest punishment he could receive since the death penalty had been abolished 36 years earlier. An additional 10 years was added for the theft charge. Adam was also ordered to pay $150,000 restitution for each victim. For the family members of his victims, Adam's plea was a sign of relief. They would not have to endure a lengthy trial where they were subjected to all of the cruel and graphic details. But it still did not answer the question of why he committed the murders. Unfortunately, Adam would never reveal his motive. After his sentencing, Ron's sister, Serilya Atlas, issued a statement saying, the Fish family and the employees of Ben Fish Tire are thankful this is over and they're looking forward to getting on with their lives. As for Donna Stabile, Leticia's friend and babysitter, she too was relieved that the chapter had been closed. She told the Des Moines Register, I was just so glad he admitted it. I didn't want to go through this trial. He did the right thing. It was an answer to my prayers. There's not a day that goes by when I don't think of the kids. There's so many memories of them around. For the friends, family members and residents of Sioux City, justice had finally been served.
- [92:32]
Courtney Brown
In March of 2002, Cornerstone Faith center opened a new youth center and dedicated it to the memory of Leticia Aguilar and her five Claudia, Zach, Larry, Lisa and Michael. During the grand opening, Leticia's sister Yolanda and her brother in law Juan were there to celebrate and honor their lives. For Yolanda, the outpouring of love and support for her family was healing. She never wanted them forgotten, and neither did members of the community. On August 31, 2002, a year after the murders, Leticia's house at 311 West street was donated to the Neighborhood Network. The Gazette reported that the organization planned on auctioning off the house and using the money to purchase new playground equipment for a nearby park in Sioux City where the children used to play. Spokesperson Rick Arnold stated, quote, we wanted something positive to come out of that tragic situation last year. Now there will be a lasting memory for those children. In 2003, the neighborhood network received $32,000 for playground equipment, 21,000 from the sale of the house and 11,000 from the parks and Recreation Advisory Board. With the funds, the Neighborhood Network allowed friends of the children from Everett Elementary School to pick out the equipment they wanted for the playground. It would serve as a way to honor Leticia's children and stand as a memorial to their lives.
- [94:05]
Colin Brown
As the years passed, Sioux City residents moved on. But they never forgot. The murders no longer dominated the front pages of local news, and Adam Moss faded into the background. As far as Sioux City was concerned, he was a stain of a human being and nothing but a horrible memory. And they wanted to focus on the victims. Soon enough, the children's playground opened. Cornerstone Faith continued their services, and Ben Fish Tyre stayed committed to serving the community. Today, the company is still open for business. As for Adam Moss, he was housed at the Iowa State Penitentiary in Fort Madison, where he continued to refuse interviews. For over a decade, he hid behind the walls of the prison, carrying the motive for his crime as his own cowardly secret, one that he didn't share with a soul. And for that decade, Leticia and Ron's families were left with not only the agony of losing their loved ones, but the agony of not knowing why. And sadly, that's a pain that became even more pointed on June 26, 2013. It was just after lunch at the Iowa State Penitentiary. Correctional officers in the psychiatric unit walked, cell by cell, collecting trays from the inmates as they finished their meals. They weren't strangers to shocking sights. Yet what awaited them in the cell at the end of the hall would leave them shaken for years to come. Get a medic. The correctional officers could only yell and stare in disbelief for a moment because there, hanging from his neck by a Sheet that had been tied around a vent was Adam Moss. His face was purple, his body was still. Officers clambered around him, hands shaking as they struggled to untie the sheet from around his neck. One officer braced Adam, prepared to help him down, but it was no use. He was dead weight. The instant he was freed from the sheet, it was clear to everyone that Adam Moss was gone. And with him went the answers to his heinous crimes against Leticia, Ronald and Leticia's children. Very quickly, his death was ruled a suicide and the cause was listed as asphyxia by hanging. For the community, his death was like opening up an old wound for everyone personally involved in the case, like Police Chief Joe Frisbee. It was a cop out, he told Radio Iowa. As far as Adam Moss and what he's done, the decision he made to take his own life, it's hard to comment on that. All I know is he went to prison for life, and I was hoping that's the way it would remain. With Adam's fatal decision went any hope for answers as to why he did what he did. He took everything to his grave with him, except for the pain he left behind.
- [96:46]
Courtney Brown
Adam Moss will always be remembered for his brutal acts and as one of Iowa's most notorious killers. Though the murders happened over 24 years ago, Sioux City residents are still affected by the tragedy today. If you research the most brutal murders ever committed in the state of Iowa, Adam Moss stands right up there with the Villisca axe murders in 1912. But instead of remembering him, it's important to remember the victims. It's important to look for the good in the face of evil, for the legacy that the incredible people in this story left behind. We could all be more devoted and loving like Leticia. We could all be more understanding and caring like Ron. And we could all look at the world with more kindness and wonder, like Claudia, Zach, Larry, Lisa and Michael.
- [97:40]
Colin Brown
For today's episode, we will be making a donation to the national center for Victims of Crime, a non profit organization that helps individuals, families and communities that have been affected by violent crimes. Hey everybody, thank you so much for joining us for this week's episode of Murder in America. I am from this area and I'm actually originally from Sioux Falls, S.D. and my parents remember this happening. They remember this story. It was huge news at the time. And it just goes to show that there's nowhere in America that's truly immune from violence like this. And as we always say and always talk about, if we don't start doing something about it. It's going to continue. Anyways. If you want to support what we do here on the show, please consider joining us on Patreon. On Patreon, you can get early ad free access to episodes of the show that are posted on the main feed. So like today's episode, if you don't like the ads, you don't like the breaks, you want to get them early, please consider joining us on Pat Patreon. Also, if you join us on Patreon, you can get access to bonus episodes of the show. So for example, we just took, as you guys probably know, a month off in the middle of December through January. So if you wanted to get bonus episodes during that time and you want the program to continue, you can sign up to support us on Patreon. And we did end up posting two bonus episodes during the break. So we never take time off on the Patreon. So if you've listened to every episode and you want to listen to hundreds more that are on Patreon, I implore you to join us there. Also, don't forget to follow us on Instagram at Murder in America to see photos from every case that we cover here on the show. And it's incredibly important that you guys leave us 5 star reviews if you can. We thrive on those reviews and they really, really help the show and help us spread out and they help our reach. If you see us online or you see us mentioned online, please go ahead and add a positive comment because, yeah, it's always so great to hear from you guys online and to hear your thoughts on the show. So if you have a chance and you have the time to leave a review, that would be very appreciated. Anyways, y', all, we will be back next week with another episode of the show. Thank you so much for listening. I hope you all have an amazing, amazing weekend. And yeah, catch y' all on the next one.
- [100:01]
Courtney Brown
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- [100:27]
Colin Brown
Sometimes you gotta do something.