What Happened To Paula

 

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Re: Ernie Jordan Murder
Investigating Officer: Det. K. Millsap
Date of Offense: 2-13-71
Date of This Report: 2-15-71

On Sunday morning, 2-14-71, I brought Perry Harris to the Detective Bureau from his cell where I advised him of his constitutional rights and he read a Rights Waiver and said that he understood it and would talk to me but did not wish to sign the waiver.

I then talked to Perry Harris for some time regarding the above mentioned murder, during which time he acknowledged certain things but refused to make any direct comments.

Later that morning, Perry Harris was taken to Municipal Court where he was arraigned on the charge and then returned to the city jail.

At about 2:00 p.m., Sunday afternoon, I again removed Perry Harris from his cell and again advised him of his constitutional rights, and he again stated that he would talk to me but did not wish to sign anything.  During our conversations, he stated that he believed he would get life imprisonment for killing Ernie, that he did not think that his lawyer was very good, but it didn’t matter because he only had one because he was told he had to have one.  After talking to Perry for quite some time, he became quite remorseful, and then stated that he would not sign a confession, but that he wanted to tell me what happened, and that if I wanted to testify in courts to it that he didn’t care.  He then related the following story to me.

Perry Harris told me that he had come to Cedar Rapids from Chicago in 1969, and that he had been a hooker (meaning a con man) and that he had first met Ernie upon arriving in town and had conned him for about two weeks into believing that he (Perry) was suffering from an incurable disease and was dying.  He said that he got some money from Ernie and that after Ernie found out that he was being conned, they became good friends and began working together.  He said that from that time on, he and Ernie would travel around the country getting engaged in gambling games during which time they would work together, however always give the appearance of being at odds with each other.  He said they would split all their earnings afterwards but that Ernie always took the big end of the split.  He said that he always supplied the dice or cards and that he loaded his own dice with mercury and marked his own cards.  He said he had a kit for doing this in his apartment.  He said that he and Ernie became very close and that they had worked this operation in Cedar Rapids for so long that they knew something was going to happen, and that people were beginning to suspect them.  He said that sometime ago he had met Dr. Tom Sturgeon through Ernie, and that Ernie seemed to have something on Sturgeon, although he denied knowing what it was.  He said that Ernie was putting the soft squeeze on Sturgeon, and that whenever he wanted to, he could get $300 or $400 from him simply by asking.  He said that the last couple of weeks he and Ernie have been making arrangements to take over a house of prostitution in the Des Moines area, and that they had been discussing setting Sturgeon up for a big take just before leaving.  He said that they had devised the method of doing it, and for about two weeks has been trying to get him engaged in a poker game because they knew that he always carried a large roll when playing poker.  He said that on Saturday morning, 2-13-71, Ernie had come to his house and had given him $10 as he was broke, to stake him in the poker game, stating that they had arranged for a game at Prentice Thurman’s (Prince Henry) house.  He said the plan was to engage in a poker game and then stage an argument with Ernie over a poker hand, and fake a fight.  He said he was then to stomp out of the house and return later with a gun that he and Ernie had stashed away at Ernie’s house, and point it at Ernie and demand the money that he owed him.  He said they were going to pretend that Ernie owed him about $800, and Ernie was going to ask Sturgeon to let him have it to give Perry while being in fear of his life.  He said the plan was then to leave and to meet Ernie later at which time they were going to leave town together for Des Moines and not come back.  He said that Ernie’s wife Corky was aware of the fact that they were going to leave, as Ernie had told her that they were going to leave here as soon as they had made the big hit, although Perry was not sure if Ernie had told her about the plan to take Sturgeon.  He said that his brother Roy also had no knowledge of their plan and was just there by accident, but that a white girl who was living with Ernie, Colby Powell had undoubtedly heard them talking about this as they had talked about it several times around her.  Perry said that they had everything planned down to the last detail, even planning for accidents.  He said that the .22 revolver that he had was almost new, that it had only been used once the week before when Ernie and he had been rabbit hunting.  He said that he always carried the gun with the first three chambers in the cylinder empty so that it would have to be fired twice before coming into position to fire a live round.  He said that everything went according to plan, and that they staged a fight over a hand during the card game, that he and Ernie faked a fight.  He said that Ernie even pretended to spray mace on him, and he pretended to be sprayed, however Ernie really did not spray him.  He said that he returned a little while later as prearranged and walked in and drew the gun and pointed it at Ernie and cocked it, believed the chamber to be empty.  He said that as he was about to make his pitch, something happened and the gun went off.  He could not believe it and just stood there for a short time trying to figure out what happened.  He said he then turned and ran out and down the street a ways where he vomited.  He said he then went to a friend’s house where he stayed.  When he heard on the news that Ernie had died, he did not know what to do.  He indicated that he and Ernie had some connection with an operation out of state, presumably syndicated, and that he was advised by them not to run or leave town.  He said that it was his feeling that the people who he and Ernie worked for could no longer afford him, and that he could not live two days if he was out in the street.  He said he strongly feels that after he goes to prison they will get to him and do away with him.  Perry refused to enlarge on this at this time, however he stated that he may talk to us about it later.  He said that after he left the apartment, he checked the gun and found that the three chambers in the cylinder were still empty, however the cylinder had somehow been turned around to the position, being a live round in the chamber.  He said he could not understand how this could have happened since no one knew where the gun was kept but he and Ernie.  Perry refused to tell me the whereabouts of the gun, stating only that it was gone and could never be found, indicating that it was out of town.  He said that he had emptied the shells out of the cylinder, and at one point suggested that the gun was destroyed.

Perry appeared to be genuinely remorseful about Ernie’s death.  From talking to him, it appears to me that the story he was telling was basically true, although he appears to have no hope of using this for a defense.

While talking he told me other experiences he and Ernie had together, including attempting to break into the Eagles Supermarket on Mt. Vernon Road and steal the safe.

He said that it is possible that Ernie could have had something very serious on Sturgeon, but would not have told him, knowing that if he knew, he would also put the squeeze on Sturgeon.

After talking to Perry, I received a call from a confidential informant who had previously given me some information about the Paula Oberbroeckling murder, and who had indicated that Sturgeon and Jordan were involved, said that he has since learned that the alleged abortion had taken place in the basement of the house that Ernie and Perry owned on 5th St. S.E.  This is 810 5th St. S.E.  He stated he would attempt to get more information and advise me.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Re: Ernie Jordan Murder
Investigating Officer: Det. K. Millsap
Date of Offense: 2-13-71
Date of This Report: 2-15-71

At about 11:00 a.m., 2-15-71, on the request of Mrs. Ernie Jordan, I took her to the County Jail where she was allowed to confer with Perry Harris in my presence.

At the County Jail Perry voluntarily told Mrs. Jordan in my presence that he was responsible for Ernie’s death but that it wasn’t supposed to be that way, that it was an accident. He also told her that Ernie had a substantial sum of money but that he could not get his hands on it now. He stated that it was well in excess of $5,000 and asked her to contact Dr. Tom Sturgeon regarding the money. He also made the remarks to Mrs. Jordan and myself that there was more involved than just Ernie’s death and that he was not going to let it all be wasted.  He indicated that he would like to talk about it later.

After leaving the County Jail, Mrs. Jordan said she would contact Sturgeon about the money and advise us what he says.  She also consented to let me look through Ernie’s 1963 Cadillac 57-189 (70) parked at 1607 12th Ave. S.E.  I went to that location and checked through Ernie’s car in the presence of Mrs. Jordan.  In the trunk I found a pair of women’s brown sandals and a champagne colored headscarf, both appearing to have been there for a long period of time.  Mrs. Jordan stated that she did not have any idea who these might have belonged to, but that they did not belong to her.  In the backseat of Ernie’s car I found one spent .22 caliber casing on the seat, and 4 more in an ashtray on the right rear door.  In the glove compartment I found a number of letters addressed to Ernie Jordan from Dale Peyton.  All of these items were brought to the Detective Bureau, after receiving permission from Mrs. Jordan.  The car keys were then turned over to Mrs. Jordan.

Detective Trousdale and I went to 810 5th St. S.E. and checked the basement, reference the Paula Oberbroeckling murder.  We found several articles of clothing, mostly men’s.  In a corner in one area we found a blue headscarf which had the two ends tied together with a granny knot.  One of the light fixture pull cords was a heavy duty string similar to one of the implements used to tie Paula’s hands.  We removed a small section of this pull cord and brought it to the station.  In one area of the basement, we also found we have old traverse rods, containing a considerable amount of heavy cord.  We also removed a piece of that and brought it to the station.  In the main part of the basement we found a box, and in it a piece of cord approximately 70″ in length with an overhand knot tied at one end.  This was also similar to one of the implements used to tie Paula’s hands.  We also brought this to the station.  All three pieces were placed in an evidence bag, along with the blue scarf.  The shoes and champagne scarf were placed in another evidence bag.

We took the items and clothing and shoes to Paula’s mother Carol Oberbroeckling where she viewed them and stated that the two scarves could possibly have belonged to Paula.  She stated that Paula did have a champagne scarf and a blue scarf similar to these which are now missing but could not positively identify these as hers.  She looked at the sandals and stated that they could possibly be Paula’s as she had some sandals, however she stated that Paula seldom wore sandals but rather preferred shoes with heels.  A comparison with one of Paula’s old shoes revealed the sandals to be the same size.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Murder
Address: 1613 12th Ave. S.E.
Complainant: Ernest Lee Jordan
Investigating Officer: Ralph Myers
Date of Offense: 2-13-71
Date of This Report: 2-23-71

On 2/13/71 an Ernest Lee Jordan, age 38, was shot at 1613 12th Ave. S.E. and later died at Mercy Hospital at approximately 5:32 p.m. the same date.  Later in the evening a Perry Henry Harris was arrested and charged with this incident.  He was later questioned by Det. Millsap and during the questioning he informed Det. Millsap that a Corby Powell who is presently living with Ernest Jordan would have information as to why he had shot Ernest Jordan.

I contacted Corby on two different occasions ordering her into the Youth Bureau in reference to an attempted larceny at the Killian’s department store which occurred on 2/9/71. Both times she agreed to come into the station, but on each occasion failed to appear. On 2/20/71 I again contacted Corby and made arrangements to pick her up at the corner of 8th Ave. & 7th St. at about 6:30 p.m.  I then brought her into the station where I talked to her and blue sheeted her on the larceny by shoplifting and also on possession of prescription drugs.  The prescription drugs pill charge came from two pills found in a brown purse which belonged to her which she had left at the Killian’s department store on the day the attempted larceny occurred.  Corby admitted to me that she had attempted to steal a blue suede coat, that she had been accompanied by a Denise Morgan.  She told me in reference to the two pills which had been found in her purse, both had been identified as Fiorinal tablets.  She told me these pills had been given to her by Ernest Jordan who had been shot and killed on Saturday the 13th.  I then questioned Corby in reference to her knowledge of Ernest Lee Jordan and Perry Harris.

Corby told me that she had lived with Ernest Jordan at 717 9th Avenue S.E. for approximately 3 weeks.  She said she lived there as a live-in babysitter, stating that she took care of the Jordan Children when Ernest was away and Ernest’s wife Corky was working at the Arlan’s department store.  She then told me that when she first heard that Perry Harris had shot and killed Ernie Jordan she thought the shooting had been because of her.  She went on to explain that when she moved in with Ernie Jordan he had attempted to persuade her into becoming a prostitute for him.  At first she thought it was a pretty good idea and a fairly easy way to make money.  She said that Ernie then had a young girl who is presently prostituting for him come in and talk to her in reference to what she would be expected to do.  Corby said this young girl, whose name she does not know, explained to her that she would not only have to stroke the male customers, which in her terminology means to have intercourse with them, but she would also be expected to go down on them, to have unnatural sex acts with them, also to include unnatural sex acts with other women.  Corby said this made her quite mad and she informed Ernie Jordan she would not prostitute for him.  Corby went on to say that shortly after moving in with Ernest Jordan she, along with a girlfriend of hers, had gone to a chiropractor by the name of Dr. Sturgeon located on 10th St. S.E.  Corby said her friend wanted a treatment from this doctor. Corby said that while her friend was in the treatment room she had an opportunity to go through the desk drawers, and inside one of the desk drawers she found a check which was made out to Dr. Sturgeon in the amount of $167.  She said she took this check and placed it in her purse.  She informed Ernie Jordan and Perry Harris what she had done.  She said this upset both Ernest Jordan and Perry and both told her that that was a quick way for her to be rubbed out, informing her that Dr. Sturgeon was a top gangster in town and that both Ernie and Perry worked for Dr. Sturgeon.  Corby said they both took her back to Dr. Sturgeon’s place of business where she was forced to give him back the check.  They both informed her to stay away from him or she would get into trouble.  Corby said that Perry Harris and Ernie Jordan were the best of friends and that they were both partners in different types of activities.  She later learned that they were also involved with Dr. Sturgeon but to what extent she did not know.  Corby went on to say that the reason she had first thought Perry had shot Ernie Jordan was because the week before on Saturday the 6th of February her and Perry Harris were at Ernie Jordan’s house and they were both upstairs in the bedroom.  Corby said that Perry was stroking her and that Ernie Jordan was downstairs in the front room talking to Dr. Sturgeon.  She said while her and Perry were stroking in the bedroom Ernie Jordan walked in and informed her that Dr. Sturgeon wanted some.  Corby said her first reaction was to ask Perry what he thought.  She said Perry informed her that she should not do it for nothing.  Corby said she then told Ernie that he could tell Dr. Sturgeon that she would not do it for nothing.  Corby said that Ernie then went back downstairs and a short time later Dr. Sturgeon came up and Corby said she told Dr. Sturgeon that she was not going to do it for nothing and that Dr. Sturgeon told her then that he would give her $10.  Corby said that this was not enough and the Dr. said he would give her no more than $15 as he did not feel that she was worth even that.  Corby said that she then asked Perry what he thought and Perry told her “well at least $15 wasn’t nothing.”  Corby said Perry went downstairs and Dr. Sturgeon handed her $15 and he then got in bed with her and they both had intercourse.  She said after Dr. Sturgeon left and went downstairs Ernie Jordan came upstairs a short time later and informed her he wanted $5 for the use of his room.  Corby said this made her mad as this was her room that she had been sleeping in since living with Ernie Jordan.  She said she gave Ernie the $5.00 and a short time later Perry Harris came up and Perry told her that he also wanted $5.00.  Corby said that she did not want to argue with him so she gave him the $5.00 too.  Corby said later on Ernie Jordan found out that she had given Perry Harris $5.00 and this made him quite mad as he informed Corby if she was going to prostitute it would be for him only and not for Perry.  Corby said that she then informed Ernie that the reason she had given Perry $5.00 was that she was quite fond of Perry, stating that she had been stroking him for some time.  Corby said that she thought possibly this might have caused an argument between Perry and Ernie and she thought at first that this may have been the reason for the shooting.

Corby did say that on one other occasion Ernie Jordan had taken her to the Red Carpet Lounge on 12th Ave. S.E. for the sole purpose of prostitution.  She said that inside the tavern they had stopped a subject who was quite intoxicated and Corby said she made out with this subject taking him back to Ernie’s house where they both got into bed and had intercourse.  Corby said that when this subject fell asleep she got up and went through his pants, but stated that she only found $7.00 in his wallet, but did say she kept this.  She said that she did not know if this would be considered prostitution or stealing, but she did say these were the only two incidents where she gave herself for money.

Corby was questioned in reference to any conversations she may have heard between Perry Harris and Ernie Jordan just prior to the shooting.  Corby told the officer that she had on many occasions been present when Ernie and Perry were discussing business, but she said that she never paid much attention and said that as long as she knew both of them they were the best of friends and that the only time she had seen them in an argument was in reference to the above incident.

Corby appeared to be sincere in her effort to help with the investigation, but told the officer that she does have problems with her memory, stating that this is caused by the amount of sniffing she has done in the past.  When questioned in reference to this Corby informed the officer that she has sniffed a lot of spot remover which she knows has caused some type of damage to her brain, especially in the memory area.  She went on to tell the officer that she is truthful in the fact that she has only engaged in prostitution in the two above mentioned times, but then told the officer that in the last year she figures she has stroked or had intercourse with approximately 21 black subjects here in Cedar Rapids and she gave quite a few names.  She also went on to say that in the last two months she has been raped twice, one time she made a complaint which she later asked to drop, this involved 7 subjects, and prior to that she said she had been raped on one other occasion by two subjects from Waterloo.  This first report had been reported to me, however, at that time Corby wished to take no action.

Corby was then asked by the officer to give a signed statement in regards to the information she had given me, however, she said that she did not wish to give one fearing that she would be picked up by the Probation Office and placed in some institution and she did not wish this to happen.  Corby informed the officer that if for any reason she was wanted in the future she would more than likely be at 717 9th Ave. S.E. living with Corky Jordan, or she plans sometime in the near future to take up an apartment with Micky Johnson, stating we would be able to contact her if she was living with Micky by contacting Denise Morgan who lives at 712 9th Ave. S.E.

Corby was questioned regarding any information she had reference the Paula Oberbroeckling murder.  She stated she had no knowledge of this murder and stated she did not know this girl.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: P. Oberbrockling Case
Investigating Officer: Staves
Date of This Report: 3-6-71

I was instructed to talk to Vera at Siegel’s reference conversations she has had with Art Pennington* concerning Vera’s granddaughter’s death. Vera said that on Feb. 27th, 1971, Art came into the store saying he was gathering information and that he was going to break the above case wide open. He said that he was carrying a tape recorder in his pocket and also intended to talk to Dale Peyton at Rockwell saying she knew all about it.

His story was that E. Jordan and Perry Harris pimp for Dr. Sturgeon, bringing prostitutes into C.R. from Chicago and lining up girls who need abortions. These abortions are performed in the house next to the Boston Fish Mkt. on 5th St. S.E. (810) by Sturgeon and that Paula had gone there for an abortion after becoming pregnant from Bob Williams.  Something happened during the abortion and Paula lost consciousness and when she couldn’t be revived, was loaded into the trunk of Jordan’s car, still alive. They couldn’t stem the bleeding and tied her hands and legs together in case she came to. They then deposited her along the railroad tracks and that Jordan had quite a time trying to clean up the mess in his car. (Jordan at this time had a 1969 Mercury, Lic. #57-56448 (70)  Art said that Sturgeon owed Harris a lot of money for the above services and that he wouldn’t be surprised if the 801-5th St address was given to Harris in payment.  He also told Vera that Sturgeon was present at the card game on the nite of Jordan’s death and that the argument between Jordan & Harris was over money owed Harris which Jordan had refused to pay and this was the reason Harris killed Jordan.  That both Harris and Jordan were in Siegel’s the day Jordan was killed, that Jordan pawned a gun and the two of them had been driving around all day in Sturgeon’s Cadillac. That there was another girl in town who is very sick now because she had an abortion thru Sturgeon.

Vera said that she called Bob Williams in Aug. of 1970 and he admitted that Paula was carrying his child. That when Vera asked where Paula was, that Williams said she was all right and would be home around Xmas.

Vera gave me a Panasonic tape recorder that Perry had brought in on Nov. 14th and I ran both sides of the tape. Nothing but music on one side and the other side was blank.

I found that Jordan’s Mercury had gone back to Merchant’s Bank and they had resold it on Dec. 28th, 1970 to a Richard Green of 1454 Bever Ave S.E. Apt. D.  However before the car was sold, it was run thru Custom Auto of 209-6th ST. S.E. (John Gravitt, mgr.) This is a clean-up process in which everything is steam cleaned. Floor mats, upholstery, trunk, etc.  At this time I have not contacted the above service or Mr. Green.

This particular car was the one that we took the seat and floor mat from which had blood on them which was supposed to have happened when a subject cut his hand during the commission of a larceny in Sept. 1970. Seat was returned.

Trousdale and I showed Vera the clothing taken from 810-5th St. & from 57-189 however she was unable to identify any of it as belonging to Paula.  We then checked with the Richard Green family who now own Jordan’s 1969 Merc. And they let us go thru the car.  Nothing could be found to connect it with Paula’s death due to the cleaning done by Custom Auto before Greens purchased it.  We contacted Mr. John Gravitt and he said that he remembered the car and that it had no mat in the trunk at the time he cleaned it.  He said that of all the cars he has cleaned, this one was probably the dirtiest one he’s had.  They had to do it over twice because of so much mud, sand, etc. in the trunk and rear end.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: RE: Paula Oberbroeckling Death
Investigating Officer: Det. Myers
Date of This Report: 3-19-71

At about 8:30 PM on March 19, 1971, I received a phone call at my residence from an adult female subject who wished to remain anonymous.  She informed me that she had information reference the death of Paula Oberbrockling and wished to give it to me provided I kept her name confidential.  She told me the following  information is information she knows personally as being true and she had received some of it from a Luther Ballew, a local colored male adult.

She informed me that on the night Paula Oberbroeckling met her death, Paula had become involved in an argument with her black boyfriend, Robert Williams, and she had run from the house because she was mad at Bob, she went to Ernie Jordan’s house and at this time Paula had been pregnant.  At Ernie’s house, she asked him to assist her in getting an abortion.  She went on to say that Ernie then drove Paula Oberbroeckling to Iowa City where a Doctor Jake performed an abortion on her.  This informant went on to say that she does not know if this is the doctor’s first or last name, but knows this doctor has provided narcotics to Ernie Jordan in the past.  She went on to say that Ernie then returned Paula to Cedar Rapids to his home where he had some medicine given to him by the doctor in Iowa City for Paula, but she went on to say that Paula became severely ill and began hemorrhaging and that Ernie did not know who to turn to, but then remembered that Melinda Love, the former wife of Willie Love, had been a practical nurse and he then drove Paula to Melinda Love’s house and it was at her house that Paula Oberbroeckling died.

She went on to say that Ernie then contacted the doctor in Iowa City informing him of what had happened and that this doctor had told Ernie he would pay him $6,000 to dispose of the body.  She went on to say that Ernie then contacted Perry Henry Harris to assist him in disposing of the body and agreed to pay Harris half of the money he was to receive from the doctor.  She went on to say that Perry and Ernie then disposed of Paula’s body off of Otis Road.  She went on to say this eventually led to the shooting of Ernie Jordan, stating that Ernie Jordan received the $6,000 from the doctor in Iowa City, but then refused to give Perry any of the money.  This woman also told me that there were several in the Oak Hill area who knew the whole story, these included Luther Ballew and Dale Peyton, who is now presently in Rockwell City.

I called Detective Evans in Iowa City and he informed me that Dr. Jake that Detective Myers is referring to is Dr. Jake H. Jacques.  Jacques’ office address is 625 East Market and his home address is 404 West Park Court.  Detective Evans further advised that Jacques is a “pill” doctor and also has a reputation as being a big gambler, gambling and then not paying his gambling debts.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Oberbroeckling Case
Investigating Officer: Det. C. Jelinek
Date of This Report: 5-13-71

At 4:30 p.m., May 12, 1971, Dale Peyton contacted me at the station and asked if I might assist her in being able to visit Perry Harris.  I talked to Dale for quite a while and she agreed that any information that Perry gave her pertaining to the Oberbroeckling case or any other investigations that might be pending, she would be glad to turn over to me.  I then arranged for Dale to visit Perry Harris at 10:00 a.m. May 13, 1971.  I picked Dale up at her place of residence, 818 10th Street SE, where she is staying with the Larry Tobins, and took her to 3rd Avenue and 1st Street SE.  From there she walked to the jail.

After she returned, we discussed at length things that Perry had said and he insisted to her that he knew nothing about the Oberbroeckling case or whether or not Dr. Sturgeon or the late Ernest Jordan were involved in it.  However, she said that she felt sure that Perry would talk to me if I went to visit him.  After I dropped Dale off at her place, I went back to the County Jail and according to a pre-arranged plan between Dale and myself, I told Perry that Dale had called me this morning and stated that Perry wanted to talk to me.

Perry stated that Dale must have misunderstood him, however, being that I was there, he did not object to a visit.  Nothing that Harris gave me was of any particular significance, however, he related the following information to me.  He stated that he had been involved in breaking into places for Dr. Sturgeon for several months prior to Ernest Jordan’s death.  He said that he met Sturgeon through Jordan and that Jordan had been working for Sturgeon for some time before he started.  He stated that Jordan met Sturgeon as a result of an accident Jordan had while working at the Quaker Oats and along with Sturgeon they were framing up an injury to Jordan with which to use in a law suit against the Quaker Oats.

He also told me he is positive that Dr. Sturgeon burned down his former offices in an effort to collect insurance and to also sue the utilities company claiming that they were to blame, which apparently did not work out.

He said that their arrangement would be when Sturgeon had a job for them that someone would call Big Man’s house and tell him that the doctor was ready to keep the appointment.  At that time Jordan and Harris would go to Dr. Sturgeon’s office and enter the back door and Dr. Sturgeon would have all the plans laid out for whatever he wanted them to do. Harris told me that Dr. Sturgeon had some kind of a vendetta against beauty shops because most of the break-ins he and Ernie pulled were on beauty shops and all they did take was money, which Dr. Sturgeon stated he did not want any of, but he just wanted to harass the beauty shops, although after each job Jordan would insist that Sturgeon take at least a few dollars “to tie him in with the job.”

Perry also told me that at the time of Ernie’s death, plans were afoot to commit armed robbery at the Mt.  Vernon Avenue Me Too Store and also the Sun Mart Store on Rockford Road and 3rd Avenue.  He also stated they had planned to take a safe from a house on Forest Drive about two blocks north of Mt. Vernon Avenue. He said that he had even gone so far as to rent a truck and go into the area, but each time something would foul up such as police cars being close. This they knew because Sturgeon always had a police receiver in his car and therefore knew of their whereabouts.

He stated that on several of the house breakings they were involved in, Sturgeon received information of what might be in the house from other doctors.  Perry thinks that there are several doctors, probably chiropractors or osteopaths, involved in Sturgeon’s illegal dealings and give him information so that he might have someone take the place, and Perry thinks that these people no doubt share in the money.  The only one he knows specifically that has dealings with Sturgeon is a Dr. Olson in the Iowa Theater Building.  Perry used the name Dr. Owen in the Iowa Theater Building, but after checking I find that there is no Dr. Owens.  Perry became acquainted with Dr. Olson as a result of his contracting a venereal disease and he went to Dr. Sturgeon and Sturgeon stated that he wanted him to meet one of his partners so he sent him to Dr. Olson for his treatments.

Perry also informed me that Dr. Sturgeon is a homosexual and has a definite fondness for boys.  He stated that his why he is so friendly with Smiley Burns and his wife because both Smiley Burns and his wife are sexually deviated.  He told of one incident where Smiley Burns gave Ernest Jordan a juke box if Ernest would come over and have sexual relations with his wife, which Mr. Jordan did.  Perry stated that while Ernie was in bed with Smiley Burns’s wife that Smiley Burns sat at the bedside watching and masturbating.

Perry also feels that Smiley Burns is involved with a lot of the criminal activities surrounding Dr. Sturgeon.

I constantly kept questioning Harris about the Oberbroeckling case, but I am convinced that if Sturgeon and Jordan were involved in it, Perry knew nothing of it.  However he said that he knows Sturgeon practices abortions because at one time Sturgeon told him that if he knew of any girls in trouble to check them out and send them to him and he would take care of the problem.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Armed Robbery – Sheronick’s
Address: 1436 L. St. S.W.
Complainant: Aleck Sheronick
Date of Offense: 7-5-71
Investigating Officer: Millsap & Rosdail
Date of This Report: 7-13-71

At about 8:30 a.m., 7-13-71, having received information that Rosetta Harris, listed as a deserter by the Air Force, was living with a Irv Johnson at the Allison Hotel, we went there and in checking with the desk clerk, we found that he occupied Room #407.  We then went to Room 407.  We knocked on the door and were met by a subject who identified himself as Irv Johnson.  He first denied that Rosetta Harris was there, however later admitted it and Rosetta then came out of the bathroom.  We brought Rosetta to the station where she was booked in as a deserter.  The Air Force was notified.

At the station we talked to Rosetta regarding the above mentioned robbery.  Rosetta refused to give us a typewritten statement.  She first denied any knowledge but later told us in confidence that the subject who had been involved in the robbery was a man by the name of Nonnie Green from Chicago, Illinois.  She stated that she had met this subject in Chicago in December, 1969, and at that time had married him.  She said that Nonnie lives in Chicago, as does his mother Mrs. Dorothy Green at 2420 Sough State Street, Apt. 105, and that she is employed as a night clerk with the Chicago Police Department.  Rosetta was reasonably sure that the Chicago Police Department held several warrants for Nonnie.  One she believed was Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia, and the other she wasn’t sure of, however she didn’t think it was of a real serious nature.  She further stated that Nonnie has a brother, a Robert Green that lives in Chicago and is a social worker for the Cook County Jail, working 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. shift.  Rosetta stated that Nonnie was known by his friends and acquaintances as Lonnie, and usually when he was in town he stayed with Darwin Ambers at 903 5th St. S.E. She also stated that Nonnie was involved in drugs and had a bad heroin habit.  She believed that this subject could be in the Chicago area, however thought her brother Roy, she had heard, might be in the St. Paul area.

We were advised by Detective Arnett that this subject might have been involved in a forgery, complainant Martha Turner of 1322 11th St. SE.  The larceny date was 9-17-70.  When Rosetta was questioned in regard to this incident, she at first denied having any knowledge of it and later stated that along with her brother Archie, she believed his last name to be Bell, a half-brother, while they were staying with a Martha Turner, they both stole a Quaker Oats employees bonus check, $358.93, and went to the Peoples Bank and Trust Company, East Side Branch, where Rosetta cashed this check.

Rosetta stated that she had a $180 a day heroin habit and would be in need of medical treatment.  She told us that she made arrangements through the Special Problem Center to turn in at the VA Hospital in Iowa City.  In checking with Master Sgt. Collins at the Air Force base in Antonio, Texas, CDPRS Division, we were authorized by him to transport Rosetta to the VA Hospital, and place a hold on her with their authorities.

While taking Rosetta to the hospital, she confided in us that her brother Perry Harris had told her that Tom Sturgeon was connected with the syndicate and that he and Ernie Jordan had been involved with him for some time.  She said that he told her that Sturgeon was giving abortions and that she knew of several girls who had gone to him for that purpose.  She said that Perry told her that the Oberbroeckling girl had died in the process of an abortion given by Sturgeon and that Ernie Jordan had removed the body and dumped it in the ditch along Otis Road.  She said that Ernie had been blackmailing Sturgeon and that Perry had told her that originally Sturgeon had hired two subjects from out of town to come in and eliminate Jordan.  She said that the gun that Perry used to kill Ernie was given to him by Sturgeon and that he left the scene after the shooting in Sturgeon’s car.  She said that after Perry was arrested, he was contacted by Sturgeon and told to sit tight and keep quiet and they would get him out.  She said that Perry is very afraid of Sturgeon and feels that if he revealed this information to us, Sturgeon would have him murdered.

At the VA Hospital in Iowa City, we talked to a Dr. Paul Penningroth, a resident psychiatrist, who stated that he had conferred with McGarrity of the Special Problem Center about Rosetta.  We then turned Rosetta over to him and advised him that the Air Force authorities would be after her and that she was to be detained.  He then advised us that he would assume the responsibility for her.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: Re: Paula Oberbroeckling
Investigating Officer: Jelinek & Huston
Date of This Report: 1-6-72

On the morning of 1-6-72, we returned a copy of “Seventeen” magazine dated February, 1968, to Vera Oberbroeckling at Seigels Store.  This is a magazine that contains a picture of her granddaughter Paula Oberbroeckling.

This was returned by request of Vera Oberbroeckling, and was Ok’ed by Lt. Byrne.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa Police Department Investigative Report
Offense: RE: Paula Oberbroeckling Death
Investigating Officer: Ass’t. Chief Vanous
Date of This Report: 3-4-72

On 3-4-72, I received information from a fairly reliable informant of the following circumstances surrounding Paula Oberbroeckling’s disappearance and death: Two weeks prior to Paula’s disappearance she had gone to Dr. Thomas Sturgeon’s office, where she had received an apparent successful abortion.  On the night of her disappearance she had started hemorrhaging and called Dr. Sturgeon who told her that he would get a nurse and meet her at the Eagle’s Store parking lot on Mt. Vernon Road.  Dr. Sturgeon then contacted a friend of his in the colored district who told him that Wendel Beets, our #15266 had a sister who was home on leave from the Medical Corps and was either in the WACs or the Airforce.  Wendel Beet’s sister then met Dr. Sturgeon and they in turn met Paula at the Eagle’s parking lot where they took her to an unknown location where she continued to hemorrhage and subsequently died.

Dr. Sturgeon then called Ernie Jordan and told him of his problem and Ernie Jordan enlisted the aid of a guy by the name of Harris and that they then got rid of Paula’s body for Dr. Sturgeon.

My informant indicated that Wendell Beets has full knowledge of the whole case, including his sister’s activities involved in stopping the hemorrhaging.

Ernie Jordan then was blackmailing Dr. Sturgeon and received in the area of $6,000 from the doctor and then Roy Harris shot Ernie Jordan for two reasons, #1 was that he was not getting his cut of the blackmail and #2, as he is to receive a sum of money from Dr. Sturgeon for doing away with Ernie and also keeping his mouth shut.