This story had been developing and below are the latest updates related to the recent news from the Jasper County Sheriff’s office. FindJodi.com has followed the Copper Dollar Murders for the last decade. Check back for more in-depth posts related to the arrest of Terri Supino. Gary Peterson and Beth Bednar visited with Supino in August of 2012. At the time, she vehemently declared her innocence in connection with the murders. We will have more details as they become available.
Terri Supino mugshot (Source: KCCI-TV)
Arrest made in 1983 murders (Des Moines Register)
Authorities have made an arrest in a 31-year-old double homicide in Jasper County, officials announced Monday.
Terri Supino and her children in December 1982. (Source: Terri Supino)
Theresa Supino, 53, of Altoona, was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Steven Fisher, 20, and Melisa Gregory, 17, both of Newton.
The two were found on the morning of March 3, 1983 at the Copper Dollar Ranch, northwest of Newton, according to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office.
A medical examiner ruled the deaths homicides.
Exactly 31 years after the bodies were discovered, Altoona police arrested Supino at her Altoona home. She remains in the Jasper County Jail on a $400,000 bond.
In 1983, Supino was known as Theresa Fisher and was married to Steven Fisher, said Jasper County Sheriff John Halferty.
“For the last 31 years, the deaths of Steven and Melisa have weighed heavy on the Fisher and Gregory families, this sheriff’s office and many in Jasper County,” Halferty said. “Since the bodies of Steven and Melisa were discovered, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Newton Police Department, the Jasper County Attorney’s Office, the Office of the State Medical Examiner and the Division of Criminal Investigation, have continued to work to bring justice for Steven and Melisa.”
Source: Des Moines Register
2:05 p.m. – COLD CASE: 1983 Jasper County Murders (WHO-TV)
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office is holding a Monday afternoon news conference to release information in the case of a 31-year-old double murder.
Officials haven’t released any other information, but the news conference is expected to be about the Copper Dollar Ranch murders in 1983. According to IowaColdCases.org, 20-year-old Steven Fisher and 17-year-old Melisa Gregory were found dead on March 3rd, 1983 at the ranch where Fisher worked, northwest of Newton.
Their deaths are the only unsolved Jasper County murders from 1983.
In a 2011 interview, then-Jasper County Sheriff Mike Balmer, told Channel 13’s Aaron Brilbeck officials originally though the two had been shot in the head because there was so much blood.
“I think that’s the original reason it came out as a gunshot case ‘til we go there and actually looked at the scene and realized…these people had been bludgeoned to death.”
The news conference is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. We’ll bring you more information as it becomes available.
Source: WHO-TV
1:48 p.m. – Related posts to the Copper Dollar Murders (Josh Benson)
Here are some related posts to the Copper Dollar Murders. The FindJodi.com team, especially Beth Bednar and Gary Peterson have worked very closely with authorities in Jasper County, Iowa as well as the family of the victims over the past few years. Here is a collection of related posts related to the Copper Dollar Murders. We are standing by for the news conference out of Jasper County.
Twenty-five years ago today, 17-year-old Melisa Lynn Gregory and 20-year-old Steven Joseph Fisher were found brutally murdered northwest of Newton at the Copper Dollar Ranch (courtesy: Newton Daily News)
- Sins of the Past: Part 1
- Sins of the Past: Part 2
- Sins of the Past: Part 3
- Sins of the Past: Part 4
- Sins of the Past: Part 5
- Sins of the Past: Part 6
- Copper Dollar Murders Anniversary Vigil
- Two Years Later
1:37 p.m. – Shocking Development (Beth Bednar)
Terri Supino sits down with Beth Bednar and Gary Peterson of FindJodi.com in August, 2012, to discuss the Copper Dollar Murders nearly thirty years ago.
Exactly thirty one years to the day after a brutal double murder in Jasper County, Iowa, the widow of one the victims has been arrested. Terri Supino was taken into custody this morning and charged with two counts of capital murder in connection with the infamous Copper Dollar Ranch case in 1983. Hal Snedecker, the former owner of the ranch, confirmed the news to me this morning.
The bodies of twenty year old Steven Fisher and his girlfriend, seventeen year old Melisa Gregory were found early in the morning of March 3, 1983 by a worker at the Copper Dollar Ranch. It was believed they were killed several hours earlier. Teri Supino, Fisher’s estranged wife and the mother of his two children, had been at the ranch the previous evening to confront the lovers.
Gary Peterson and I visited with Teri Supino in August of 2012. At the time, she vehemently declared her innocence in connection with the murders. We will have more details as they become available.
A press conference is scheduled for 1 p.m. CST today at the Jasper County Sheriff’s office.
12:44 p.m. – Breaking news (Josh Benson)
This is some breaking news we just got into FindJodi.com.
According to KCCI-TV, The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office is holding a news conference Monday to discuss new developments in a 31-year-old double homicide case
The news conference will be at the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office at 1 p.m.
Authorities said KCCI they will discuss “something new” in the Copper Dollar Ranch murders. Melisa Gregory, 17, and Steven Fisher, 20, were killed March 3, 1983, at the ranch near Newton.
“I feel deep down inside of me that someday it will be solved,” Thelma Fisher told KCCI during an interview in 2007.
Look for updates on KCCI-TV, KCCI.com and on our mobile website and apps.
Source: KCCI-TV
