The Villisca Axe Murder House Stabbing (1914 and 2014)

The Original Tragedy: The 1912 Villisca Axe Murders

The chilling story of the Villisca Axe Murder House begins in the small town of Villisca, Iowa, on June 10, 1912. The Moore family—Josiah Moore, his wife Sarah, and their four children, Herman, Katherine, Boyd, and Paul—lived in a modest home on a quiet street. That evening, they attended a Children’s Day service at the local Presbyterian church, accompanied by two young friends of the family, Lena Stillinger and Ina Stillinger, who were invited to spend the night.

After the service, the group returned to the Moore residence around 9:30 p.m. Sometime between midnight and 5:00 a.m., an unknown assailant entered the home, wielding an axe taken from the family’s own backyard. The intruder brutally murdered all eight occupants, striking them repeatedly in the head with the blunt side of the axe. The scene was gruesome: blood-soaked beds, shattered skulls, and an eerie silence that greeted the neighbor, Mary Peckham, who discovered something was amiss the next morning when the house remained unusually quiet.

The investigation that followed was chaotic. Townspeople contaminated the crime scene before authorities could secure it, and despite several suspects—including a traveling preacher, a local businessman, and even a serial killer theory—no one was ever convicted. The case remains one of America’s most infamous unsolved crimes, with the house itself becoming a focal point for speculation about lingering trauma and supernatural activity.

The House’s Dark Legacy

By the 1990s, the Villisca Axe Murder House had gained a reputation as a paranormal hotspot. Restored to its 1912 appearance and turned into a museum and overnight attraction, it drew ghost hunters, thrill-seekers, and paranormal investigators eager to experience its eerie ambiance. Visitors reported unexplained phenomena: footsteps echoing in empty rooms, disembodied voices, shadowy figures, and objects moving on their own. The attic, where the killer is believed to have waited before the murders, and the children’s bedroom, where Lena and Ina were killed, were particularly active. Some claimed to hear children’s laughter or cries, while others felt an oppressive presence.

The house’s history and these reports set the stage for the unsettling incident in 2014, which would add a new chapter to its grim legacy.

The 2014 Stabbing Incident

On November 7, 2014, Robert Steven Laursen Jr., a 37-year-old man from Iowa, arrived at the Villisca Axe Murder House as part of a recreational paranormal investigation. Laursen, described by friends as curious but not deeply experienced in paranormal research, had booked an overnight stay with a small group to explore the house’s reputed hauntings. The group settled in, setting up recording equipment and preparing for a night of vigils, hoping to capture evidence of the supernatural.

As the night progressed, the atmosphere grew tense. Some participants reported feeling uneasy, with one noting a “heavy” sensation in the upstairs bedrooms. Around midnight, the group conducted a session in the attic, attempting to communicate with any spirits present. Laursen, who was described as quiet but engaged, participated in the activities, which included asking questions aloud and using EMF meters to detect electromagnetic fluctuations often associated with paranormal activity.

At approximately 12:45 a.m.—coincidentally, within the estimated timeframe of the original 1912 murders—Laursen was alone in one of the upstairs rooms, possibly the children’s bedroom or the attic. What happened next remains shrouded in mystery. According to reports, another member of the group heard a commotion and found Laursen with a severe stab wound to his chest. A knife, not part of the group’s equipment, was nearby. Emergency services were called, and Laursen was rushed to a hospital in Clarinda, Iowa, where he survived after emergency surgery.

The official report from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office classified the injury as self-inflicted, a conclusion that stunned those who knew Laursen. He had no history of mental illness or self-harm, and friends described him as stable and excited about the investigation. The timing of the incident, aligning with the original murders, fueled speculation. Had Laursen been influenced by a malevolent force tied to the house? Was it a psychological breakdown triggered by the oppressive atmosphere? Or was there another explanation?

Aftermath and Speculation

Laursen, who recovered physically, never spoke publicly about the incident, leaving many questions unanswered. The lack of clarity only deepened the house’s mystique. Paranormal enthusiasts pointed to the history of the Villisca house, suggesting that the spirits of the victims—or perhaps the killer—remained trapped, capable of influencing the living. Some theorized that Laursen may have been momentarily possessed or overwhelmed by a dark energy, compelling him to harm himself. Skeptics, however, argued that the intense environment, combined with sleep deprivation and the power of suggestion, could have led to a dissociative episode.

The house’s caretaker at the time, Johnny Houser, noted that the incident was unprecedented, even among hundreds of overnight guests. He emphasized the house’s ability to evoke strong emotional responses, saying, “It’s not a game. This place can affect people in ways they don’t expect.” The event did not deter visitors; if anything, it increased the house’s allure, with bookings surging as ghost hunters sought to experience its energy firsthand.

The House Today

The Villisca Axe Murder House remains open for tours and overnight stays, operated as a historical and paranormal site. Visitors continue to report strange occurrences: cold spots, EVP (electronic voice phenomena) recordings capturing whispers, and the sensation of being watched. The 2014 stabbing added a modern layer of intrigue, with some investigators specifically seeking to understand what happened to Laursen. The room where he was injured is now a focal point for paranormal teams, who often bring equipment to detect spikes in activity around 12:45 a.m.

Theories about the house’s energy persist. Some believe the brutal nature of the 1912 murders left a psychic imprint, creating a “stone tape” effect where the trauma replays. Others suggest the presence of a darker entity, perhaps tied to the killer or an unrelated force drawn to the site’s pain. The lack of a solved case means the truth about both the murders and the 2014 incident remains elusive, leaving the Villisca Axe Murder House as one of America’s most haunting and perplexing landmarks.

If you’d like me to dig deeper into specific aspects of this case, such as the investigation details, paranormal theories, or similar incidents, let me know!