Earl Franklin Frank Goff, a 36-year-old white man, was shot in the neck on January 24, 1977, in Des Moines after a violent argument with his brothers, Jerry and George. Family accounts say the brothers lured him to their parents’ home on Southeast Jackson Avenue where a party was underway; Frank was taken to a local hospital and died the next day. His children, then 13 and 10, never saw him alive again.

Des Moines police focused on Jerry and George Goff early in the investigation. Detectives reportedly believed Jerry fired the shot and cited inconsistencies in his statements. Investigators say they recovered the gun believed to be used and interviewed dozens of partygoers, but prosecutors never had enough physical evidence to make charges and the case went cold.

Jerry Goff died in 2002 of a respiratory illness and George Goff died years later. The Des Moines police now consider the case closed and will not release further details. Does anyone remember the Goff family or the party that night and have information that could shed light on what happened?