South Gate Resident Confessed to Iowa Killings to ‘Clear his Conscious’

Jack Wendell Pursel, 66, a resident from South Gate was charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the 1981 killings of Robie, 85, and Goldie, 77, Huntbach an elederly farming couple at their home in Waterloo, Iowa. No arrests were  made following the investigation, and the case had remained cold until Pursel’s confession to the Waterploo Police Department, last Tuesday.

“[Pursel] said he wanted to clear his conscience,” responded Captain Tim Pillack of the Waterloo Police Department, when asked if the suspect had given any reason for turning himself in. “If he is convicted of these two crimes he could spend life in prison.”

Pursel stated that his decision to kill the couple was part of his plan to rob them. Both victims were tortured before being shot in the head with a .22 caliber rifled that Pursel found at the Huntbach’s home, reported the Pasadena Star News, citing the police report.

The Pasadena Star News, also reported that Pursel, who also used a Pasadena mailing address, was a registered sex offender in California, after having been convicted twice for “forced oral copulation” with a minor.

Investigators are taking the confession made by Pursel very seriously, adding that the particulars his story are convincing.

“Pursel gave Police Investigators details of what happened that only a person involved with the crime would have known,” said a press release from the Waterloo Police Department.

It is believed that Pursel travelled all the way from California to Iowa for his confession, confirmed Cpt. Pillack.

The home address that Pursel submitted to the booking clerk was 8459 Otis Street. The location of a two-story blue colored senior apartment complex, called Hacienda de Felix.

Neighbors of the suspect either did not respond to our request for interviews, or said that they preferred not to comment at this time. 

Pursel’s name was still listed in the building’s intercom directory, but no one in his apartment responded when we buzzed. The property manager was also unavailable to answer any questions at the moment of our visit.  

Law enforcement officials do not know for how long Pursel managed to live in South Gate undetected. They also could not say with certainty whether he was living in Iowa at the time of the homicides.

“That is currently being investigated,” said Cpt. Pillack.

The South Gate Police Department is helping detectives that have travelled from Iowa to South Gate in an attempt find out more about Pursel.

“We are just acting in an assisting role,” said Captain Keith Hupp of the South Gate Police Department, who added that the  visiting investigators arrived last Sunday. “The detectives [from Iowa] are doing interviews and conducting an investigation here.”

Pursel is expected to have a preliminary hearing on Friday at an Iowa courthouse. 

See our photo gallery for a picture of the Hacienda de Felix apartment complex and Jack Pursel's name on the building's resident directory. 

Keep up with South Gate Patch Latino by subscribing to breaking news alerts, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Have an event or announcement you'd like to publicize? Submit them for free.