Map: Johnny Gosch's house

1004 45th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266

The map below shows the house (black marker) and its related locations.

You can use one of the following shortcuts to open this location in Google Maps or Apple Maps:

Google Maps Apple Maps


Main Article

The map above belongs to the following article:

Johnny Gosch's house

Missing Person House in West Des Moines, Iowa

On September 5th, 1982, Johnny Gosch left this house in West Des Moines to deliver newspapers.

Shortly afterwards, the 12-year-old vanished without a trace.

Related Locations

The following locations are related to the house. Please note that the descriptions for these images may lack context if you have not read the main article.


Paper drop

Paper drop

Gosch spoke with Mike after he reached the corner of Ashworth and 42nd Street.

As the boys were chatting and loading up their wagons, the stranger in the blue car returned and started asking them for directions again.

While Gosch was talking to the man, a neighbor named John Rossi arrived at the corner to pick up newspapers for his two sons, who were also paperboys.

When Gosch saw Rossi, he asked him to speak to the man in the blue car and give him directions to 86th Street.

Rossi agreed and walked over to the car. Meanwhile, Gosch grabbed his wagon and started heading north along 42nd Street (in the direction of the red arrow).

While Rossi was giving the man directions, he noticed that he seemed somewhat agitated. Moments later, the man turned his interior lights on three times and then sped off.

The man reportedly drove east along Ashworth Road before turning north onto 39th Street.

Rossi said that the man was unshaven, with black hair and beady eyes. He also seemed high.

Abandoned wagon

Marcourt Lane and 42nd Street

Gosch's red wagon was found abandoned on the corner of Marcourt Lane and 42nd Street.

The paperboy often left the wagon here while he was delivering papers to a nearby cul-de-sac called Francrest Circle.

Notably, there were no signs of a struggle.

Follow

Follow us on Facebook or Twitter:

Facebook X Twitter