Cecil MANLEY charged with two murders -- 1973

MANLEY, SKIRVIN, ZUEHLKE

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 11/15/2012 at 22:16:10

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Saturday, March 31, 1973
Front Page

2 Local Women Slain; Cecil MANLEY Charged

Cecil MANLEY, 58, Fairfield factory employee, is being held for murder today in the holding facilities at the Jefferson County Law Enforcement Center.

He was taken in custody by City Police Officers shortly after 9:40 p.m. Friday after the officers had been called to the MANLEY home at 505 North C.

Upon their arrival they found the bodies of Theresa Marie SKIRVIN, 39, and Alice Mae ZUEHLKE, 52, both of Fairfield, who had been slain by gunshot wounds.

MANLEY, who was at the scene, was placed under arrest. He was arraigned in justice of peace court on two open charges of murder late this morning.

Investigating officers so far have shed no light on what they believe led to the double slaying which apparently took place in the kitchen of the MANLEY home.

The two murder victims were slain by a blast from a shotgun according to reports.

Police found the body of Theresa Marie SKIRVIN on the kitchen floor, and the body of Alice Mae ZUEHLKE on the ground just outside the back door of the large two-story home.

Authorities said a 12 gauge shotgun was used in the double slaying. Theresa Marie SKIRVIN was hit in the neck by a blast from the weapon and Alice Mae ZUEHLKE suffered fatal wounds in the back.

Unofficial reports said MANLEY went to the home of a neighbor from where the call was made to the police department. It was not determined if MANLEY made the call himself or if the neighbor made the call for him.

Throughout the remainder of the night the incident was investigated by officers of the Fairfield Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Iowa Bureau of Investigation and the Jefferson County Attorney's Office.

An area office of the Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation was at the scene within a short time after the bodies were found.

Officers from the crime laboratory in Des Moines arrived sometime later. They returned to Des Moines early this morning after completing their investigation.

A check with Fairfield funeral homes revealed no funeral arrangements have been made for the shooting victims. Their bodies have been taken to Iowa City for autopsy and were scheduled to be returned to Fairfield later today. As a result funeral arrangements are pending.

Mrs. ZUEHLKE is the widow of the late Russell ZUEHLKE who owned and operated the Laundry and Dry Cleaning Village at 1100 W. Burlington prior to his death.

Mrs. SKIRVIN was the wife of Leonard SKIRVIN, Fairfield.

MANLEY, a native of Fairfield, is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force after serving for several years. He was released sometime ago on a medical discharge according to reports.

The report of the slaying was received at the Jefferson County Law Enforcement Office at 9:40 p.m. when a telephone call stated that two people had been shot at 505 North C.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, April 2, 1973
Front Page, Columns 5-8

MANLEY Not Guilty Plea

Cecil MANLEY, 58, Fairfield, facing a double murder charge, is being held without bond after pleading not guilty to the charges when he was arraigned in justice of peace court Saturday.

MANLEY appeared in court with his attorney, Robert D. Parkin, Fairfield. After the charges had been pronounced by Justice of the Peace Bill Foshier, Parkin entered a plea of not guilty in both charges on behalf of his client, waived preliminary hearing and asked that bond be set.

County Attorney Ed Kelly protested the request for bond which was sustained by the magistrate, and MANLEY was returned to jail.

MANLEY is being held in the Van Buren County jail at Keosauqua because the new Jefferson County Law Enforcement Center isn't ready to accommodate prisoners for any length of time.

MANLEY was charged with murder Friday night after officers found the bodies of Theresa SKIRVIN, 39, and Alice ZUEHLKE, 52, both of Fairfield, at MANLEY's home, 505 North C.

Dr. R. A. Ryan, acting as county medical examiner, ruled both women met death by a blast from a shotgun.

The investigation which followed was carried out by Fairfield Police, Jefferson County Sheriff, Iowa Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the County Attorney's Office.

The bodies were taken to Iowa City for autopsy early Saturday morning and returned to funeral homes about 4:30 p.m. the same day.

Funeral services for both shooting victims will be held Tuesday, one in Fairfield and one in Ottumwa.

(Note: The remainder of the column consists of the obituaries for the two women, which appear individually on the Obituary Board.)

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*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I am not related to the person(s) mentioned.