True County Crime

Local author David K. Dodd has released his fourth book, Furnace Murder: True Story of the Horrific Murder of Mrs. Cody. The murder of 85-year-old Sadie Cody catapulted Sturgeon Bay into the national spotlight in 1948. The small town was unaccustomed to violent crime and unprepared for the media circus that followed. Justice was swift – the killer was captured, convicted and sentenced to life in prison, all within 20 days. Still, mysteries surrounding the murder persist even today.

Furnace Murder unfolds through the eyes of 14-year-old Harvey Rowe, son of the local sheriff, who lived in the family’s quarters in the county jail. Rowe began writing his manuscript in the early 1990s and finished it 10 years later. Unfortunately, he died in 2004 before his work could be published. Dodd revised and modified the manuscript, adding several chapters to show the true nature of Mrs. Cody’s killer and his possible involvement in the death of his first wife.

Dodd, a former psychologist, explains his motivation for coauthoring Furnace Murder. “Longtime residents of Door County will surely remember the Cody murder, and many will have known Harvey Rowe. This book provides a close look at life in Door County, especially Sturgeon Bay, nearly 70 years ago. As I read Harvey’s original manuscript and explored further the events of the day, I became hooked on the story and wanted to discover more about the underlying motivations of everyone involved in the case. The victim, her murderer, the police officers, and even young Harvey are all intriguing characters.”

Furnace Murder is available at Untitled Used Books and Birmingham’s Bar in Sturgeon Bay and at Main Street Market in Egg Harbor. It is also available in print and eBook formats at online retailers, including Smashwords. For more information visit DavidKDodd.com.