Dennis Michael Clougherty
23 years of age
U.S. Highway 20
Cedar Falls, IA
August 12, 1974

The following is a brief synopsis of the only Cedar Falls Police Department homicide case which remains unsolved.

At 6:18 a.m. on Tuesday, August 13, 1974, a motorist discovered the body of a man lying in the ditch of Union Road just south of U.S. Highway 20 (which is now Highway 57 or W. 1st Street) located in the extreme northwest corner of Cedar Falls, Iowa. The victim was Dennis Michael Clougherty, date of birth 1-31-51. A coroner's report indicated Mr. Clougherty had died of five gunshot wounds to his body. About twenty minutes later, on the same date, a motorist located the victim’s backpack on Viking Road east of U.S. Highway 58 (which is now Hudson Road). This is approximately five miles south and one and one half miles east of where the body was located.

Upon investigation, it was learned that Clougherty had been living in Madison, Wisconsin where he was a graduate student. He left Madison around 4:00 p.m. on Monday, August 12 enroute to Torrington, Wyoming. His method of travel was hitchhiking as his motorcycle was broken down in Torrington. Upon his arrival in Wyoming, his plan was to repair his motorcycle and then ride it to Detroit, Michigan to attend a wedding that weekend. His route from Madison, Wisconsin to Dubuque, Iowa was never determined, however the police investigation confirmed that a motorist picked Clougherty up while traveling westbound on Highway 20 near Dubuque. This was approximately 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 12. Clougherty rode with this motorist to Independence, Iowa where he was dropped off at a cafe around 8:15 p.m.

Clougherty ate at the cafe in Independence and then left around 9:15 p.m. walking westbound on Highway 20 where he was again picked up by a motorist. This motorist drove him to Waterloo, Iowa (which shares a border with Cedar Falls) where he was dropped off at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 63. Here, he was picked up around 10:30 p.m. by two male subjects in their early 20's driving a brownish/gold 1962-1964 Chevrolet car, possibly a four-door, with a beige interior. This was the last time that Dennis Clougherty was seen alive.

It is believed that the victim was shot between 10:45 and 11:00p.m. on the night of Monday, August 12, 1974. There was no property missing from his person and no motive or suspects have been identified in the case. Dennis Michael Clougherty was a white male, 23 years of age at the time of his death, 5'8" tall, 145 pounds, with brown somewhat curly hair, mutton-chop type sideburns and a very light mustache.

If you have any information about this homicide, please contact the Investigative Unit of the Cedar Falls Police Department at (319) 273-8614, or call your local law enforcement agency.

References: Cedar Falls Police Department