Murder of Marsha Corder-1987.

CORDER

Posted By: Anne Hermann (email)
Date: 1/12/2009 at 23:24:00

Oelwein Daily Register
March 27, 1987

MAQUOKETA, Iowa (AP) – A 37-year-old Maquoketa woman was stabbed to death before fire gutted the small single-story house where she lived with her husband and 16-year-old stepson, an autopsy shows. The body of Marsha Corder was found late Wednesday night on the floor between the kitchen and living room of the burning house. Neighbors told firefighters that Corder’s stepson, James, escaped through a window and ran to a nearby house to report the fire about 11:30 p.m. He was later taken to Jackson County Public Hospital and held overnight for observation. He was released Thursday.

Quad City Times, February 14, 2009.

Article on prison inmates who started life sentences as juveniles:

James Corder was convicted for the 1987 killing of his stepmother in her Maquoketa home. Marsha Corder, 37, was found stabbed 34 times in the family's burning home the night of March 25, 1987. His first trial ended in a hung jury. He was convicted the second time around.