Sioux City Cold Cases

If you can’t get enough true crime podcasts, TV series’, and books, the latest Local History display on the 2nd floor at the Aalfs Downtown Library is definitely for you.

Did you know that Sioux City has its own history of unsolved crimes? One such case is that of 23-year-old Thecla Gerken who was mysteriously slain on the corner of 9th and Jones Streets in 1917. Minutes after parting from her companion following their return from an evening stroll downtown she was gunned down. The perpetrator was never found and her murder was never solved. Through the compilation of various newspaper clippings and articles, you can discover more information about Ms. Gerken along with 11 more cold cases that occurred right here in Sioux City and remain unsolved to this very day.

Interested in even more Sioux City crime or other history? The Downtown Library has an extensive collection of local history books, unique files with newspaper clippings and various ephemera, and the entire Sioux City Journal that can be viewed on microfilm.

Reference librarians are happy to assist in finding specific pieces of information, but just browsing is bound to turn up an interesting discovery. If you have a full-service library card, you can also browse the Sioux City Journal remotely from the years 1864 to 1922 by using the newspapers.com database through our website.

Have a question for our reference staff? Email questions@siouxcitylibrary.org or send us a message on Facebook.