Georgetown author retells her own true crime story
Are you an armchair detective? If so, you’re not alone.
It’s a good time for true crime as interest in this genre continues to grow. A YouGov poll found more than half of Americans consume true crime content in podcasts, television shows and youtube. Books and movies are also in on the trend.
There’s a curiosity about the motivations of criminals. What drove a person to murder? Statistics show most murderers know their victims. What was the dynamic of the family relationships? Were disloyal friends or jealous coworkers involved?
At-home detectives listen to the evidence to figure out what happened to a seemingly perfect marriage or family. Experts weigh in, toxicology results are given and the killer’s identity is revealed. Ideally a sense of justice comes as prosecutors convince a jury and sentencing takes place.
Georgetown resident Marcella Lynn Hatcher-Atkison is aware that not all crimes are resolved so tidily. On September 13, 1980, a police detective informed Marcella that her husband and his lover had been hacked to death. The Iowa case remains unsolved. Marcella now lives in Georgetown, and she shared her insights for this column.
In 2024, Ms. Hatcher-Atkison wrote Axed! The 1980 Amana, Iowa Ax Murders. She shared details about the murders, the investigation and her experience as the wife of a murder victim. The book is also a testament to her faith throughout the ordeal.
Ms. Hatcher-Atkison found herself suddenly immersed in the public's interest when the murder dominated the local and state news. Later, the mystery became the subject of two podcast series: The Murder in My Family and The DNA of Murder by Mike Morford. Crime sleuths discuss the evidence on the website Crimelines True Crime.
In 2019 “The Amana Ax Murders” was the first episode of The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes. The investigator returned to the crime scene at the Amana Holiday Inn and used his forensic skills and the latest technological advancements to “solve” the case. In his opinion, the murder was committed by a serial killer/drifter. Ms. Hatcher-Atkison doesn’t agree.
“It seems personal,” she explained.
Over the years, Ms. Hatcher-Atkison was encouraged to write a book. She kept up with the progress of the investigation and obtained photos of the crime scene through the Freedom of Information Act. Newspaper articles were clipped and kept.
The book is written “in memory of David Woltz,” who volunteered hours with the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office.
“He wanted the case solved almost as much as I did,” she said.
There are several suspects, including co-workers and relatives of the victims. Motivation theories center around jealousy or revenge.
Ms. Hatcher-Atkison believes the true crime genre is popular because the crimes happen to ordinary people.
“I was just living my life like everyone else and then bam”, she explained. “My whole life was turned upside down.”
Her interest in other crime stories is always focused on “how did that one get solved” and “how can that help solve our case.”
Ms. Hatcher-Atkison and her current husband moved to Texas four years ago to be closer to grandchildren. Her strong faith has carried her through the 45 years following the crime that thrust her into the news. She is now ready to share her story with interested parties. Copies of her book can be obtained directly from her by emailing marcelyn1952@yahoo.com or through Amazon.