Dale Burr

Case information

Dale Burr shot his wife, Emily, at their home; bank president John Hughes at his office; and a neighbor, Richard Goody, at Goody's farm. Burr then shot himself as law officers approached.

Timeline

• December 9, 1985 — Burr shot and killed Emily Burr at their home; drove to Hills Bank and Trust Company in Hills, Iowa and shot and killed Hills Bank President John Hughes; returned to Lone Tree and shot and killed neighbor Richard Goody on Goody's farm; law officers approached and Burr shot himself.

Background

Dale Burr was 63 years old and lived in rural Lone Tree. Emily Burr was 64 years old. Burr considered himself a victim of the agriculture economy crisis of the time and believed he could not take the problems any more.

Burr had lived and worked land inherited from his father and grandfather and had more than half a million dollars in debt on the 560 acres in Lone Tree that constituted his livelihood, home and heritage. Burr was described as having been broke and as having been overwhelmed by debts, including Hills Bank loans. The account described Burr as owing $139,900 to another bank and nearly $10,000 to his brother-in-law Keith Forbes.

Burr was also described as having debts recorded through mortgages and liens, including mortgages borrowed between March 1984 and March 1985 and local farm service liens against Dale for $15,354 and against his son for $36,300. The account also described Burr as being overdue in his property-tax payments. It described an arrangement involving the Johnson County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service (ASCS) in which Burr sealed 9,000 bushels as collateral deposited with the ASCS in exchange for a loan of about $20,000, and described Burr driving to Hills to deposit the service's check in his personal account to pay a lien and old property taxes, after which the ASCS wanted its money back and the bank still had the corn.

Burr and Emily were described as having discussed their financial troubles during a visit with Burr's brother-in-law Keith Forbes late the previous month, including Emily telling Forbes, "We haven't even got money for groceries," and Forbes saying Burr was hurt not to be able to pay his debts. The account described Burr as being proud and too proud to rent his land out.

Burr and Emily had a son, John, who was described as recently turned 39 and living at home. Burr had two daughters as well.

The account described Burr's earlier farming life and a transition to bringing John into the operation after Burr's father Vernon died seven years before the killings. It described the Burr family as having prospered by farming Johnson County's rich soil, and described the purchase and expansion of parcels in 1977, 1978, and 1982, including the land where Richard Goody had been a tenant.

The offence

Killing of Emily Burr

On December 9, 1985, Burr shot and killed his wife, Emily, at their home.

In one description of the killing, Emily was killed with a blast to the chest while baking cookies in the kitchen of the family's white farmhouse.

Killing of John Hughes

On December 9, 1985, Burr drove to Hills Bank and Trust Company in Hills, Iowa and shot and killed Hills Bank President John Hughes.

The account described Burr as owing more than $400,000 to the bank. It described a teller refusing to cash a $500 check because his account was overdrawn. Burr then retrieved a loaded 12-gauge shotgun from his truck.

Burr concealed the weapon in his overalls, entered the office of Bank President John Hughes, 46, and fired a single blast, hitting Hughes in the head and killing him instantly.

Killing of Richard Goody

After leaving the bank, Burr hunted down Richard Goody, 38, at Goody's farm and shot and killed him.

In one description, the account stated Goody had been involved with Burr's son in a land dispute and that there was a score to settle. It described Burr shooting Goody in the face and leaving his corpse in the snow between two hog feeders. It also described Goody's wife Marilyn and son Mark fleeing the farm while being fired upon, and that they escaped unharmed.

In another description, the account stated Burr drove to the home of 37-year-old Richard Goody, described as a tenant-farmer with whom he had been embroiled in a land dispute, and that Burr fired at Goody's fleeing wife and six-year-old son before returning to his pickup.

Attempted arrest and Burr's suicide

A Johnson County deputy sheriff was described as driving up behind Burr on the gravel road leading back to his farm, with siren blaring. Burr pulled off the road while the officer waited for backup. When other deputies and state police arrived, they found Burr slumped in his truck, dead of two self-inflicted gunshot wounds.

Burr was described as taking his own life with two shotgun blasts to the chest.

Before leaving again in his pickup to take his own life, Burr left a note addressed to his son John that read: “I’m sorry, I can’t take the problems anymore”.

A sheriff's deputy was quoted saying: "He said he couldn't manage his problems any more."

Investigation

Law enforcement officers checked the scene where Dale Burr shot himself to death in his pickup truck.

Trial

No trial details were provided.

Sentencing

No sentencing details were provided.

Appeals

No appeal details were provided.

Outcome

Burr died by suicide by shooting himself on December 9, 1985, the same day as the killings of Emily Burr, John Hughes, and Richard Goody.

Aftermath

The account described memorial and community responses, including:

• A memorial service in Iowa City for John Hughes in which 1,500 mourners jammed a memorial service and the Rev. Henry Greiner called on elected officials to "heed the cries of those who till the soil and feed the nation."
• Dale and Emily Burr being buried side by side in a cemetery just a mile from their farm.
• Richard Goody's widow, Marilyn Goody, turning down the offer of a military funeral for Goody even though he was described as a Viet Nam veteran. The account quoted Marilyn Goody saying: "No more guns."

The account also described the reopening of Hills Bank & Trust the day after the shooting, with a security guard standing in the lobby.

It described later community events, including:

• Four white crosses appearing on the lawn leading up to St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hills, and Father David Hitch scheduling a candlelight prayer service there, with the turnout described as thin.
• Late in January, the church organizing a benefit breakfast for Marilyn Goody and her two children, with 1,800 people turning out at $3 a head for eggs and juice, pancakes and whole hog sausage.
• A note that no one wanted to talk about Dale Burr and that no one lingered much.

The account described that John Burr took the nameplate off the mailbox to discourage the curious and spent time with his hogs. It quoted Keith Forbes recalling that John told him, "I'm gonna hold her all," and that John said, "I'm gonna fight my damndest." The account stated that on February 13 John forfeited the contract for the purchase of the Goody land, and Forbes thought the odds John Burr could make it were "zero." It also quoted Forbes saying, "John is one hell of a chore man; he'll chore till midnight," and "But he's never been much with a pencil."

Other details

Victims and related individuals

• Emily Burr (wife, 64) was shot and killed at Burr's home.
• John Hughes (bank president, 46) was shot and killed at Hills Bank & Trust Company in Hills, Iowa.
• Richard Goody (neighbor, 38) was shot and killed on Goody's farm.
• Marilyn Goody (wife of Richard Goody) fled while being fired upon and escaped unharmed.
• Mark Goody (son of Richard Goody, six-year-old) fled while being fired upon and escaped unharmed.
• Dale Burr's son John was the recipient of Burr's note.

Gun and immediate circumstances described

The account described Burr using a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and firing at the bank president and other officers, and it described a teller refusing to cash a $500 check due to the account being overdrawn.

Note and quoted remarks

Burr left a note addressed to his son John that read: “I’m sorry, I can’t take the problems anymore".