Every town has its urban legends. An urban legend is a sort of folklore which consists of fictional stories surrounding a macabre location or event. One such location in our local area is the Linden Murder House in southwest Boise. Just off Broadway Avenue, along a peaceful tree lined street ,sits a beautiful craftsman style home. Built in 1910, this historic treasure became the subject of local urban legends following a brutal murder that took place on the evening of June 30,1987. According to court documents, twenty-one year old Preston Murr became the unfortunate victim of a fatal altercation between the house’s owner Daniel Rodgers and his friend David Cox. As the court documents detail the altercation, Murr was initially shot in the shoulder and then escaped the basement running to a neighbor’s house and pounding on the door for help. The neighbor inside the home was too frightened to open up the door and called the police. Cox and Rodgers found Murr on the neighbor’s porch, which the neighbor witnessed, and quickly dragged him back to the basement of Rodger’s home where 
Murr was then shot in the back of the head and then cut-up into thirteen pieces. The body parts were then placed into large plastic bags and placed in a car trunk. Rodgers and Cox then drove to Brownlee Reservoir just outside Weiser and dumped the body parts into the reservoir. All other remaining evidence, the gloves and bags, were then thrown into a dumpster outside a Meridian convenience store. In the morning, Boise police finally responded after the neighbor made a second call describing the event and that blood was found. Upon arrival, police found a trail of blood leading between the two homes and on the neighbor’s door and porch. Despite numerous attempts to get the occupants of the Rodger’s home to come to the door, a warrant was issued and served. The residence was then searched and a bloody crime scene was found in the basement. Both Cox and Rodgers were arrested and charged with murder following a detailed confession of the murder by Cox. Due to his cooperation with police, Cox received a lesser sentence of accomplice to murder while Rodgers was charged with first degree murder and is currently serving a life sentence at the Idaho Correctional Center. Over the years since the murder, urban legends have come to life surrounding the house, all of which have turned out to be untrue. Through an 
interview done by KBOI TV in Boise, the home’s residents describe living in the home with a heavy presence, especially so in the basement where the murder occurred. That is the only report of unusual nature by the home’s residents. Perhaps it is knowing the history of the murder or maybe there is indeed a presence. One thing is for sure, the legend is still of great fascination to people. It is still talked about to this day, and the residents of the home tell of how people want to come in and tour or investigate their home. Yes, the history of the story is interesting to me, but out of respect to the residents who call this their home and the in memory of Preston Murr, I find it disrespectful and in bad taste to even approach the home in this manner. If they ever want answers, they can seek us out and we would help them. Somethings are just better left alone. If you find your self curious, please respect the home owner’s privacy and just drive by or stay at a distance. Trespassing is illegal and we do NOT condone going onto people’s property without their permission EVER. Thank you for your support and time. ~Deborah Frediani-Founder/Case Manager
