In this episode, we dive into the tragic murder of Mary Bernice Lange, a mother of three and respected clerk with the Burlington, Iowa Municipal Court. We review the timeline of her last known movements, discuss the evidence in the case, and discuss her relationships. 

Despite investigators at the time indicating they had a clear suspect who could be arrested at any time, Mary’s murder remains unsolved to this day. 

If you have any information on the unsolved murder of Mary Bernice Lange please contact Iowa’s new Cold Case Unit at [email protected] or by calling 800-242-5100. 

Sources:

• Dave Collogan, Find body of murder victim, The Burlington Hawk Eye, 12/20/1970.
• Death notices, The Burlington Hawk Eye, 12/12/1970
• Dave Collogan, Victim of slaying laid to rest here, The Hawk Eye, 12/22/1970
• Dave Collogan, No sign of major break in slaying investigation, The Burlington Hawk Eye, 12/23/1970
• Mrs. Lange drowned, The Burlington Hawk Eye, 12/24/1970
• Try to fill gap in Mrs. Lange’s acts, The Burlington Hawk Eye, 12/27/24
• Judge would disqualify himself in Lange case, The Burlington Hawk Eye, 12/28/1970
• Don Henry, Investigators probe Lange divorce record, The Burlington Hawk Eye,12/29/1970
• Dorothy de Souza Guedes, Revisiting the Past: Cases Unsolved, The Burlington Hawk Eye, 07/25/2004
• Dorothy de Souza Guedes, Only information can reopen cases, The Burlington Hawk Eye, 07/27/2004
• Bob Wilson, In Lange case: Another suspect cleared, The Burlington Hawk-Eye, 01/13/1971
• Dave Collogan, Lange death still a mystery, The Burlington Hawk-Eye, 02/17/1971
• Nick Lamberto, Unsolved Iowa killings: friends ‘still feel scars’, Des Moines Sunday Register, 11/8/1974
• Find missing woman’s body, The Des Moines Register, 12/20/1970
• Nick Lamberto, Victim knew her slayer, The Des Moines Register, 12/29/1970

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If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

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