Edward Kriz, 43 — a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Army — was shot outside the Hamburg Inn No. 2 in Iowa City on November 10, 1962, when he startled a would-be robber.
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After closing George’s Buffet early on November 10, 1962, owner Edward Kriz, his wife Bernice, and a bartender walked to the Hamburg Inn No. 2 for coffee and a sandwich.
This routine turned tragic when, upon leaving through a backdoor, they heard a noise described as a “firecracker.” Kriz then struggled with a masked man before being shot twice and collapsing. The killer fled, and Kriz died minutes later, likely a victim of a would-be robber.
Edward and Bernice Kriz owned George’s Buffet Tavern in Iowa City. More than 50 years later, the case remains unsolved.
Despite the deaths of key figures from the time, advancements in forensic technology give detectives hope. “The family wants answers, and that’s what we’re working for,” said Detective David Gonzalez. They are currently exploring new DNA, fingerprint, and ballistics analysis to aid the investigation.
Hamburg Inn No. 2
In 1962, Kriz’s violent death shook Iowa City and created a sense of fear among residents, Hoffey said.
“We didn’t have very many armed robberies in Iowa City,” Hoffey said. “So when we had one, there was a great deal of concern.”
Kriz was “a good man,” according to Hoffey, and he left behind a wife and two sons.
Thomas Kriz, Johnson County treasurer and a distant relative of Edward Kriz, was 15 years old at the time of the crime and remembers the impact it had on Iowa City.
“Any time someone was murdered, it became a big thing,” Kriz said. “But this became bigger because they were so sure they knew who did it but couldn’t get the county attorney to prosecute.”
Hoffey said he’s met with Iowa City detectives about the investigation and is encouraged they’ve not given up on the case. But he’s only cautiously optimistic.
“I hope it doesn’t hang forever,” he said. “You always hope that the person who committed the crime will be found and will face justice, but it was a long time ago.”
Location: Facing towards George’s Buffett after leaving the back of Hamburg Inn No 2 heading. This would have been the direction Edward and his wife had started walking after leaving out the back of Hamburg Inn No 2.
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Robert Joseph Schneider, 18, was charged with Kriz’s murder, but charges were later dropped after an FBI lab in Washington, D.C. lost a key piece of evidence.
The case currently remains unsolved.
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