Major Fitzsimmons, My Hero, and the HBO Special

My Dad, Major HT Fitzsimmons, is retired from the Davenport Police Department, and is a real hero of our eastern Iowa community, and not just because he's my Dad. My Dad had one of the toughest jobs in the world, running part of the Davenport Police Department, especially the Detective Bureau, which was responsible for investigating murder cases.

I remember my Dad's face and name in the newspaper quite a bit during my school years for cases under investigation.  I really wasn't too popular in school, but I know it's because I was the cop's  daughter from the newspaper articles, so my Dad tried to keep his name and not make statements to the press.  Even today, he's modest and likes to remain behind the scenes.

The most notable murder case, and the one I recall most vividly growing up, was the Klindt case.  In this case, Joyce Klindt was reported missing in 1983 (I was a High School Junior at the time).  A month later, a torso was found in the Mississippi  river, a torso that had the limbs cut off by a chainsaw (arms, legs, head were missing).

This is one of the most gruesome stories anybody will ever hear of, and it was the first time DNA was used to solve a murder case in Iowa.  William Davis, Scott County prosecutor at the time, calls the case “the grandfather of all DNA cases.”

My Dad was in charge of the Detective Bureau at the time and his team conducted the investigation.  I recall my Mom and Dad talking about events in the community at that time.  I remember my Dad talking about buying a freezer to store remains.   I recall sitting with William Davis at Mac's tavern with my parents, and I recall Mr. Davis attending my wedding years later.  Most of all,  I remember how stressful it was on all of us.   I was in high school in 1983-1984 and the story was in the newpapers and on TV .

In 1995, HBO made a documentary of this murder, and how it was solved.  The episode from HBO and is available for purchase from MedLibrary.org  and is called: The Case of the Unidentified Torso: The murder of Joyce Klindt, identified by just her pelvic bones.

James Klindt, was convicted of murder and spent 20 years in prison for murdering his wife.  James Klindt died just this past November 2010.

You can read more about this Klindt case, how it was  “the grandfather of all DNA cases” at these links:

Case Defines Prosecutor's Career

Klindt Released

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