The Deck: Thomas Mather – Seven of Diamonds from Iowa
Podcast: The Deck
Host: Ashley Flowers
Episode Date: January 21, 2026
Episode Overview
This gripping episode explores the only unsolved homicide in Springdale, Iowa: the 1991 murder of Thomas Mather. The case is steeped in questions around whether Tom’s wife, Dawn, was involved—or whether a mysterious stranger was actually responsible. Ashley Flowers delves into decades of evidence, interviews, and local rumors, aiming to shed new light on a devastating case that continues to haunt a rural community, investigators, and Tom’s family.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Discovery and Crime Scene
- Initial Incident: (00:04) On the evening of September 30, 1991, Dawn Mather, naked and distressed, appeared at neighbors Mark and Mary Buckley’s door, claiming a man with a gun was in her house.
- Law Enforcement Response: Police entered the Mather home to find Tom dead on the living room floor, hands and feet bound with different ropes. The violent scene included a slashed throat and later, the discovery of a .22-caliber bullet wound to Tom’s head.
- Quote:
- “Not a hostage standoff, but a homicide.” – Ashley Flowers (02:25)
2. Dawn's Account
- Detailed Police Interview: (04:37–09:23) Dawn recounted a harrowing tale of a home invasion:
- An armed, naked white man (late 20s/early 30s, sandy blonde hair) entered and tied Tom while threatening rape and violence.
- She was forced to undress but claimed the assailant could not become aroused, then bound her using bedroom clothes.
- Tom yelled for her to run, and she escaped through the garage to the neighbors.
- Dawn says she was unfamiliar with her attacker.
Notable Quote (Dawn’s Statement):
- “He told my husband that he was going to rape me and make my husband watch... I managed to get free... and my husband yelled, ‘Run, run.’” – Dawn Mather (06:36)
3. Physical Evidence and Crime Scene Observations
- Forensics Collected: (09:23–12:30)
- Knife with blood (Type A, matching Tom)
- Ropes (two types, including a distinct red, white, and blue jump rope)
- Bedspread/clothing from bedroom; latent fingerprints
- A spent .22 casing behind the couch—crucially, Tom’s fatal injury was a gunshot to the head.
- Defensive Wounds: “There’s some marks that I would consider possibly defensive wounds on his face.” – Sheriff Warren Wethington (12:30)
4. Character and Motive—Who Was Tom Mather?
- (13:16–13:53) Tom is universally described as friendly, with a learning disability that did not affect his social life. His marriage to Dawn appeared happy by most accounts.
Family Reflection:
- “He was such a bright light...with a big old smile on his face and give us big hugs.” – Catherine Siegel, cousin (13:38)
- Investigators, however, doubt the couple’s perfection, particularly focusing on Dawn’s reaction in the wake of Tom’s murder.
5. Suspicion Around Dawn’s Behavior
-
Trauma Responses: (15:00–18:09)
- Dawn described as unemotional and oddly calm post-attack.
- An EMT called her “almost bubbly” en route to the hospital.
- At the funeral and reception, some guests noticed Dawn being more upbeat than expected, but as cousin Catherine reflects:
- “Everybody grieves and reacts to shock and grief differently...I think that people were a little surprised that she was...more upbeat...but again, that’s not indicating of much of anything...” (17:20)
-
No Injuries on Dawn’s Feet: Despite her claim of running over gravel barefoot, no marks were found on her feet—a detail that deeply troubled law enforcement.
- "She allegedly ran...on gravel road...her feet...didn't show any injury at all." – Former Sheriff Whitlatch (18:36)
6. Rumors and Motive—Was Dawn Involved?
- (19:11–20:29)
- Tom reportedly told a newspaper delivery man, Harry, "I think my wife and someone is trying to kill me."
- Dawn had recently been made the beneficiary of Tom’s life insurance—a routine change, but she collected $42,000 after initially being denied.
- Rumors of an affair swirled, but there were no direct witnesses to support them.
7. Polygraph and Investigative Findings
- One week post-murder, Dawn took—and failed—a polygraph. When confronted, she replied, "Well, they'll just have to prove it," then cut off communication with detectives. (21:45)
8. Other Suspicions: The ‘Mystery Man’ and Vehicles
- (23:00–28:05)
- Multiple reports of a tall, slender man near the Mathers’ home and area vehicles (a blue two-door car, a light gray Chevy) remain unresolved.
- Large police searches—dog teams, helicopters—turned up no suspects, complicated by Iowa’s tall, dense harvest-season cornfields.
- Tire tracks near the property matched a car seen turning off its headlights at the scene.
9. Dawn and Dave? Polygraph and the Best Friend Theory
- (28:05–37:14)
- Investigators focused on Tom’s best friend, Dave Bronik, due to Dave’s close relationship with both Tom and Dawn and ongoing jokes about affairs.
- Both Dave and his wife, Amy, admit to jokes about being together “if something happened” to their spouses, but Dave’s alibi (watching TV while Amy was in the bath) held up, and none of his firearms matched the murder weapon.
- Police could neither tie Dave to the prints nor find a credible motive or opportunity for him.
Candid Dave:
- “If there was someone to have an affair with, it would probably have been me.” – Dave Bronik (31:57)
10. Stalled Leads and Forensic Dead Ends
- (37:14–41:28)
- Latent fingerprints from the scene matched none of the close suspects, nor any in law enforcement databases at the time.
- No physical evidence—DNA, prints, or blood—pointed away from Dawn or implicated the ‘mystery man’.
- Reports about Dawn’s stained dress retrieved via search warrant yielded no forensic results.
- Lab Testing: No seminal fluid detected, which matched Dawn’s account of the attacker’s impotence.
11. Competing Theories: Stranger or Inside Job?
- (41:28–44:19)
- Sheriff Warren Wethington expresses doubt that a stranger could enter a house naked without leaving any DNA:
- “I find it very hard to believe that a stranger is going to enter a house naked...not have marks on their feet...Don failed the polygraph...but hard to believe.” (41:28)
- “There’s no DNA in that house that would have been a strange man who entered the house naked.” (43:47)
- Sheriff Warren Wethington expresses doubt that a stranger could enter a house naked without leaving any DNA:
- Ashley Flowers points out the lack of motive for both Dave and Dawn and the ongoing mystery of the unidentified fingerprints.
12. Ongoing Investigation and Appeals
- (44:19–46:33)
- New DNA testing is underway on preserved evidence, including ropes and the bloody knife.
- Investigators remain hopeful:
- “We’re not going to let it die...This case is solvable and it will be solved.” – Sheriff Wethington (46:20)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- A town haunted:
- “For longer than 32-year-old Thomas Mather was alive, a rural town in Iowa has been haunted by its only unsolved homicide.” – Ashley Flowers (00:04)
- Sheriff’s longing for resolution:
- “I would love to see it solved...This is the only totally whodunit left. So I would like to see it solved.” – Former Sheriff Whitlatch (45:30)
- Refusing to let the case fade:
- “We're not going to let it die...We will solve this eventually. It may not be under my administration, but this case is solvable and it will be solved.” – Sheriff Wethington (46:20)
Important Timestamps / Segments
- 00:04 – Case introduction & immediate events at the Buckleys' home
- 04:37–09:23 – Dawn's detailed police interview
- 12:30 – Description of Tom's wounds
- 13:38 – Family insights into Tom's character
- 17:20 – Reactions at Tom's funeral
- 19:11–20:29 – Tom's ominous warning to newspaper delivery man about Dawn
- 21:45 – Dawn failling polygraph and ceasing cooperation
- 23:00–28:05 – Search for ‘mystery man,’ cars, and cornfield challenges
- 31:57–33:16 – Dave's admission and alibi
- 43:47 – Sheriff Wethington summarizes doubts about the stranger theory
- 46:20 – Investigators’ commitment to solving the case
Episode Tone and Language
The tone is somber, methodical, and empathetic, balancing skepticism towards official accounts with compassion for the complexities of trauma, memory, and grief. Ashley Flowers maintains a reflective narrative, persistently questioning easy answers and underscoring the persistence of investigators and family.
Call to Action
If you have information about Thomas Mather's murder:
Contact the Iowa Attorney General's Cold Case Unit or Crime Stoppers at 563-886-6618. A reward is offered for tips leading to an arrest and conviction.
Summary
This episode unpacks every angle of Thomas Mather’s murder—examining Dawn’s conflicting behavior, the rumors about affairs or financial motive, the baffling absence of DNA, and the mysterious blonde man reportedly seen in the vicinity. Despite extensive investigation and decades of rumors, no definitive suspect has emerged. The question still lingers: Did Dawn conspire to kill her husband, or is an unknown killer still at large? As new forensic testing continues, the pursuit of justice for Tom remains as urgent as ever.