Why is the Forest City, Iowa area so murdery, by episodes?

The Forest City area sits in the top row of Iowa counties, up against the Minnesota line. It is about as far from Minneapolis as it is from Des Moines. Forest City itself straddles Hancock and Winnebago counties and covers about four and a half square miles. It was first called Pucker Brush, and the town motto says nature is close and friends are closer.

Seven murders in this hotspot come in two bursts a decade apart. Episode 144 covers a February day in 1985 in Forest City, with two victims. Episode 645, from 2025, goes 23 miles away to Mason City, where dates in July and November 1993 account for five victims between them.

Both towns sit in the same stretch of north central Iowa, about two hours from Des Moines. The hotspot ranks 66 overall and third in Iowa, and the ranking rests on those two bad years.