← Back to United States casesRobert Duly, Edward Duly, and others Disappearance Involving Anna Elizabeth Trueblood and David Minon, Twin Falls, Idaho, United States
Case Summary
Anna Elizabeth Trueblood, also known as Lida or Flypaper Lida, was convicted of second-degree murder in Idaho after investigators linked arsenic poisoning to the 1920 death of her fourth husband, Edward F. Meyer. The source reports that several other husbands and her brother-in-law died under suspicious circumstances between 1915 and 1920, often after life-insurance policies were obtained. Trueblood was arrested in Honolulu, extradited to Idaho, convicted, sentenced to 10 years to life, escaped prison in 1931 with assistance from David Minon, was recaptured in Kansas, later paroled and pardoned, and subsequently married Hal Shaw, whose later disappearance was never conclusively linked to her.
Basic Information
Country: United States
State/Province: Idaho, United States
City/Region: Twin Falls
Incident Type: Family Homicide
Relationship Status: Married
Relationship Duration: Approximately 3 weeks (marriage to Edward F. Meyer)
Affair / New-Partner Context
Recorded context: New relationship started
Reported initiator: Alleged suspect / offender
Relationship timing: During marriage or ongoing partnership, before separation
Incident Date: Sept. 7, 1920
Incident Sequence and Additional Victims
Primary reported outcome: Homicide
Reported self-harm outcome: No suicide or attempt reported
Reported sequence: Order not reported / unclear
Additional victims reported: 4
Additional victim events:
- Edward Duly — Family or household member; Killed; Order not reported / unclear
- Robert Duly — Family or household member; Killed; Order not reported / unclear
- William G. McAfee — Family or household member; Killed; Order not reported / unclear
- Harland C. Lewis — Family or household member; Killed; Order not reported / unclear
Relationship Journey
Relationship Origins:
- Met at Workplace
- Family introduction
Relationship Stages:
- Engaged
- Married Living Together
- Police report filed
Analysis
Contributing Factors:
- Financial Issues
- Domestic Conflict
- Money / Financial Gain
- Family pressure
Red Flags:
- Secretive communication patterns
- Unusual closeness with a specific third person
- Financial secrecy
- Sudden change in routine or habits
- Deception after incident
- Suspects identified
Motives:
- Money / Financial Gain
- Eliminate spouse
- Inheritance dispute
Relationship Outcomes:
- Divorce filed
- Legal case ongoing
- Homicide during marriage
- Arrest made
- Relationship ended
- Missing
- Weapon recovery
- Deadbody recovery
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Robert Duly, Edward Duly, and others Disappearance Involving Anna Elizabeth Trueblood and David Minon, Twin Falls, Idaho, United States
Relationship Journey Graph
Origin
- Met at Workplace
- Family introduction
How the relationship or connection began.
Status
- Married
Approximately 3 weeks (marriage to Edward F. Meyer)
Stages
- Engaged
- Married Living Together
- Police report filed
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Warning Signals
- Secretive communication patterns
- Unusual closeness with a specific third person
- Financial secrecy
- Sudden change in routine or habits
- Deception after incident
- Suspects identified
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Pressure Points
- Financial Issues
- Domestic Conflict
- Money / Financial Gain
- Family pressure
- Money / Financial Gain
- Eliminate spouse
- Inheritance dispute
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
Incident
1920-09-07
Outcome
- Divorce filed
- Legal case ongoing
- Homicide during marriage
- Arrest made
- Relationship ended
- Missing
- Weapon recovery
- Deadbody recovery
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
AI Intelligence Assessment
Relationship Pattern
Financial Conflict
Pattern Analysis
The source describes a repeated pattern in which Anna entered rapid marriages, obtained or benefited from life-insurance arrangements, and was connected to multiple suspicious deaths. The strongest documented criminal finding concerns Edward F. Meyer, whose exhumation reportedly revealed lethal arsenic and whose death led to Anna's conviction. Other deaths were later associated with arsenic findings or suspicious circumstances, but the source does not establish the same legal outcome for every reported victim.
Investigative Notes
Deputy Virgil Ormsby reportedly reopened questions about Edward Meyer's death and traced Anna's prior relationships and movements. Investigators reportedly found arsenic in Edward's exhumed body and lethal quantities in other exhumed husbands, while a barrel of arsenic-containing flypaper and residue in a pot were cited as investigative clues. Anna was arrested in Honolulu on 1921-04-22, extradited to Idaho, tried in 1921, and convicted of second-degree murder. She received a sentence of 10 years to life, escaped in 1931 with assistance from David Minon, was recaptured in Topeka, Kansas, paroled in 1941, and pardoned in 1943. She later married Hal Shaw, whose disappearance was never conclusively linked to her.
Investigation Confusion
Early deaths were attributed in records or family accounts to typhoid fever, influenza, kidney disease, gastroenteritis, or contaminated food and water. The source reports conflicting dates for William McAfee's death and conflicting accounts concerning Lorraine Duly's death. Investigators also considered whether arsenic could have been introduced after burial, but chemists reportedly rejected that explanation. Hal Shaw's disappearance remained unresolved and was not conclusively connected to Anna.
Case Reconstruction / Puzzle Pieces
Anna married Robert Duly in 1912 and lived with him and his brother Edward near Twin Falls. Edward, Robert, and Robert and Anna's child Lorraine died in 1915 under reported illness-related explanations, while insurance proceeds or suspicious circumstances surrounded the deaths. Anna then married William McAfee, Harland Lewis, Edward Meyer, and Paul Suther in rapid succession, often moving between states and using different names. Edward's 1920 death prompted an investigation, and exhumation reportedly revealed arsenic, leading investigators to examine earlier deaths, arrest Anna, and obtain her conviction. Her later prison escape and subsequent marriages extended the relationship-driven pattern but did not result in a reported conviction for additional killings in this source.
Risk Assessment
The reported pattern involved rapid relationship transitions, aliases, pressure around wills and insurance, suspected poisoning through food, concealment, and movement across jurisdictions. The risk indicators were especially significant where a partner became ill after meals, insurance or beneficiary arrangements changed, and prior deaths were not independently investigated. The source includes allegations and historical accounts that vary in certainty, so conclusions about individual deaths should remain source-limited.
Key Takeaways
The case illustrates the investigative importance of repeated deaths within one intimate and family network, beneficiary changes, rapid remarriage, aliases, suspicious food-related illness, and unexplained movement after a partner's death. It also shows how historical medical explanations could obscure poisoning and how delayed exhumations changed the understanding of earlier deaths. The account should be used as historical relationship intelligence with clear separation between conviction, allegation, and unresolved disappearance.
AI Case Q&A
What early signals mattered most?
The most important reported early signals were multiple deaths among Anna's husband and in-law within a short period, life-insurance benefits, alleged friction with Edward Duly, Anna's reported purchase of large quantities of flypaper, and her efforts to control beneficiary or estate arrangements. Witnesses also described suspicious statements, unusual caregiving conduct, and alleged threats toward William McAfee.
Which clues helped connect the case?
Investigators reportedly connected the case through Edward Meyer's exhumation, arsenic findings in his body, arsenic findings in other exhumed husbands, the flypaper barrel found at the McAfee residence, residue reportedly found in a pot, insurance records, aliases, and Anna's movements across Idaho, Montana, California, Mexico, and Hawaii.
Which evidence types appeared strongest?
The strongest reported evidence was the forensic testimony concerning arsenic in Edward Meyer's remains and other exhumed bodies, together with insurance and death records. Court testimony from a doctor, neighbors, and other witnesses also contributed. The source reports that chemists rejected the defense possibility that arsenic had been introduced after burial.
Witness / Eyewitness Statements
A doctor reportedly testified that William McAfee was found uncovered and in a dying condition despite instructions to keep him warm. A neighbor reportedly said William told her he was being poisoned. Other witnesses attributed statements to Anna about prior exhumations, a fortune teller, children, and a threat involving a gun. The source also reports that Paul Suther later expressed fear of Anna. These accounts were presented as historical testimony or reported statements.
How did follow-up reports change the understanding?
Follow-up investigation changed the case from a series of apparently natural or infectious deaths to a suspected poisoning pattern after Edward Meyer's exhumation reportedly revealed lethal arsenic. The inquiry then expanded to earlier husbands and resulted in Anna's arrest and conviction. Later reporting added the prison escape, recapture, pardon, and the unresolved disappearance of Hal Shaw.
What remained unclear?
The precise cause and legal status of every reported death remain unclear in the source, especially Lorraine Duly, William McAfee, Harland Lewis, and Hazel Whitlock. The source does not establish that Anna caused Hal Shaw's disappearance. Some names, dates, and historical details are presented through a modern narration with conflicting or uncertain accounts.