The Cold Case Of Cecil Travis Gaddy

When it comes to true crime, I'll be the first to admit I love it. Whether it's a documentary about serial killers, a news article, or a random video I come across, I'm too intrigued to pass it up. Something inside me is compelled to find out and learn all the details involved in the case.

The case I chose happened in my hometown of Osceola, Iowa. It’s a fairly small southern Iowa town about 45 minutes away from the State Capitol Des Moines. We don’t usually have too many murder cases around here and this one unfortunately still It isn’t deemed one. I was drawn to this case for the simple fact that the investigation, or lack there of was appalling.

This is the case of Cecil Travis Gaddy. He was born on April 8th, 1984, and died on January 31st, 2004 at the age of 19. Before I get into all the details of his death I want to mention he was a hero to his family. At the age of 16 he was involved in a car accident with his pregnant sister, her husband and a friend. The driver lost control and the vehicle started to roll. Cecil used his body to protect his sister and her unborn baby. He ended up being thrown through the windshield and was left paralyzed from the waist down. Leaving him confined to a wheelchair. His sister and unborn baby survived because of his quick and heroic actions.

It was a battle for him at first to recoup and gain his independence back. He soon would learn he could accomplish most things with his hands and wheelchair. Cecil went on to graduate high school and was able to support himself and rented a small house on East Shaw Street.

Sadly, things for Cecil took a turn for the worse. Some friends starting hanging around his house and took advantage of him. His belongings started going missing. They would even steal his prescription pain medications and money leaving him with nothing for himself. These so-called friends even went as far as to ask if they could set up a meth lab in his house. He told them no. Cecil grew tired of all of it and cut them off. He felt as if he had no true friends. After this, he started to fear they might try and do something to him and called his sister to explain how he was getting scared.

Less than a week later on January 31st, 2004 Cecil’s house caught on fire. The fire officials found his deceased body in the back bedroom laying face down on the bed. A day later, they promptly ruled his death an accident by fire. The State Fire Marshal said the fire had started in the living room on the sofa but never determined the cause of the fire. Now Cecil was a smoker so I'm guessing they just assumed a cigarette was the cause of the fire.

I know this seems pretty cut and dry, but it's not. Here's the kicker Cecil’s wheelchair, you know the one he had to use to get around, was found outside of his house at the time of the fire. It was in 8 inches of snow quite a few feet away from the ramp he used to get inside his house. His sister had gotten a call that her brother's house was on fire with him still inside and immediately went over there. The first thing she noticed upon arrival was his wheelchair outside. She quickly brought it up to the police and fire officials and voiced her concerns. The family knew there was no way Cecil would leave his wheelchair outside let alone drag himself into the house. Not only that but if he was in his bedroom at the time of the fire, how did it start in the living room? That is one of many questions in this case.

The lead investigator also found it odd his wheelchair was left outside. He questioned several friends, but they all claimed they had no contact with Cecil before the night of the fire. They kept the case open for three months, and with no evidence of foul play, closed it and still ruled it as an accident.

How did this not seem suspicious? Why would a paralyzed person leave their wheelchair outside? The family believed it was put outside to keep Cecil from getting out of the house. There were some other things that didn't add up. According to the death certificate, Cecil had no smoke inhalation found in his lungs. So how is it if he died in the fire he didn't inhale any smoke. If that was the case wouldn't he of been dead before the fire started. The cause of death on the certificate was burns- total body. It was also completed before his autopsy was even finished.

The family suspected arson from the beginning and has since then reached out to Iowa Cold Cases. They took on the case and have tried to acquire any information they can. WHO Channel 13 a news station in Des Moines did a follow up in February of 2011 with the Osceola Police Department. They stated they will not reopen the case unless new evidence is found or someone comes forward.

Cecil's sister is still fighting to this day to get closure and answer to her brother's death. Unfortunately, this cold case may never be solved.

If by some chance you have any information about Cecil Gaddy’s unsolved murder, please contact Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Special Agent in Charge Mike Motsinger at (515) 725-6010 or the Iowa State Fire Marshal’s Division at 515-725-6145.