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In Cold Storage: Sex and Murder on the Plains
In 1973 the small southwest Nebraska railroad town of McCook became the unlikely scene of a grisly murder. More than forty years later, author James W. Hewitt returns to the scene and unearths new details about what happened.
After pieces of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt’s dismembered bodies were found floating on the surface of a nearby lake, authorities charged McCook resident Harold Nokes and his wife, Ena, with murder. Harold pleaded guilty to murder and Ena pleaded guilty to two counts of wrongful disposal of a dead body, but the full story of why and how he murdered the Hoyts has never been told.
Hewitt interviews law enforcement officers, members of the victims’ family, weapons experts, and forensic psychiatrists, and delves into newspaper reports and court documents from the time. Most significant, Harold granted Hewitt his first and only interview, in which the convicted murderer changed several parts of his 1974 confession. In Cold Storage takes readers through the evidence, including salacious details of sex and intrigue between the Hoyts and the Nokeses, and draws new conclusions about what really happened between the two families on that fateful September night.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2015
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167 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 11, 2017
This one jumped out at me because of the title. When I picked it up and read the description, I saw that it took place in Nebraska, which is where I have lived for the majority of my life. I hadn't heard of this case before.
The story itself was pretty interesting. I was annoyed by the author's constant sex shaming. Also, the book jumped around quite a bit and seemed disorganized. There was a lot of repetition, especially when it came to the author's speculation.
I'd recommend this to people who are interested in small town true crime stories. As I said, it's an interesting case. The book itself could use some editing, but overall, I enjoyed it.
The story itself was pretty interesting. I was annoyed by the author's constant sex shaming. Also, the book jumped around quite a bit and seemed disorganized. There was a lot of repetition, especially when it came to the author's speculation.
I'd recommend this to people who are interested in small town true crime stories. As I said, it's an interesting case. The book itself could use some editing, but overall, I enjoyed it.
July 16, 2024
this was an okay book overall. I felt like the book jumped around a lot, was disorganized, and repetitive. The author repeated his speculation numerous times.
I picked this out at a Barnes bc I wanted a short true crime book. & then when I saw it took place right next to my hometown, I was intrigued.
this book did a good job laying out all the facts, the authors opinion was just everywhere and repeated.
I picked this out at a Barnes bc I wanted a short true crime book. & then when I saw it took place right next to my hometown, I was intrigued.
this book did a good job laying out all the facts, the authors opinion was just everywhere and repeated.
July 17, 2018
A short book about a notorious 1970s double murder in Nebraska. A promotional blurb inside the book calls it a "curious, tangled, and often sensational step-by-step recounting." I guess that's true, but it also raises more qusetions than it answers.
October 12, 2015
Interesting, you never know what's going on in other peoples houses.
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November 15, 2019Review by Sherry Preston
In Cold Storage by James Hewitt tells the story of a 1973 double murder in McCook, Nebraska. Hewitt revisits evidence, newspaper articles and interviews many of the witnesses, including the murderer himself, who was in prison at the time.
When body parts started showing up on the shores of Harry Strunk Lake, the citizens of “McCook feared a deranged lunatic was loose in the community.” Nobody suspected that one of their neighbors could have done this-in fact, a man encouraged his wife to stay with the murderers during the scare because he had to be out of town. After some investigation Harold and Ena Nokes were arrested for the murders of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt.
This slim volume recounts the details of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt’s murders. Both families were rooted in the southwestern corner of Nebraska. The 1970s brought new social behaviors to the community, including open promiscuity. It also brought new technology like wire-tapping which was at that time unregulated by the courts.
The character list was almost overwhelming for a 132 page book- a list at the back would have been helpful. It also could have benefited from more editing, while the book is interesting and well-laid out, it reads like a first book, it is choppy in places, repetitive, and in places bizarre. It seems unnecessary to explain to the reader that the body parts were placed in two caskets which remained closed at the funeral service.
As the investigation unfolds, the author finds discrepancies between the 1974 confession of the murderer and his personal interview of Nokes in 2007. Hewitt goes on to speculate about the actual timeline and the implementation of the murders in the last two chapters. Sometimes a horrific crime just doesn’t make sense.
In Cold Storage by James W. Hewitt is true crime book which deals with a horrific murder. The author describes the murder scene in graphic terms. If this sort of thing bothers you, you might want to skip it. If you are interested in true crime and 1970s Nebraska, you might enjoy it.
In Cold Storage by James Hewitt tells the story of a 1973 double murder in McCook, Nebraska. Hewitt revisits evidence, newspaper articles and interviews many of the witnesses, including the murderer himself, who was in prison at the time.
When body parts started showing up on the shores of Harry Strunk Lake, the citizens of “McCook feared a deranged lunatic was loose in the community.” Nobody suspected that one of their neighbors could have done this-in fact, a man encouraged his wife to stay with the murderers during the scare because he had to be out of town. After some investigation Harold and Ena Nokes were arrested for the murders of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt.
This slim volume recounts the details of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt’s murders. Both families were rooted in the southwestern corner of Nebraska. The 1970s brought new social behaviors to the community, including open promiscuity. It also brought new technology like wire-tapping which was at that time unregulated by the courts.
The character list was almost overwhelming for a 132 page book- a list at the back would have been helpful. It also could have benefited from more editing, while the book is interesting and well-laid out, it reads like a first book, it is choppy in places, repetitive, and in places bizarre. It seems unnecessary to explain to the reader that the body parts were placed in two caskets which remained closed at the funeral service.
As the investigation unfolds, the author finds discrepancies between the 1974 confession of the murderer and his personal interview of Nokes in 2007. Hewitt goes on to speculate about the actual timeline and the implementation of the murders in the last two chapters. Sometimes a horrific crime just doesn’t make sense.
In Cold Storage by James W. Hewitt is true crime book which deals with a horrific murder. The author describes the murder scene in graphic terms. If this sort of thing bothers you, you might want to skip it. If you are interested in true crime and 1970s Nebraska, you might enjoy it.
January 21, 2019
There are a few things that are important to know about this book. If you’re not from Nebraska, specifically Southwest Nebraska, you probably don’t care about this story. If you’re not interested in investigative journalism, this isn’t for you. Finally, if you’re expecting a grisly, Dateline-esque expose, then this isn’t for you. That doesn’t mean this was bad or poorly written, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. This title is part of a series on the Nebraska court system and some of its failures. Knowing that, this book did a good job of making the justice system in the 1970s look faulty at best. A lot of information seems to be missing in this case and the victim’s family will probably never know what happened because Harold Nokes is now dead. Interesting read, but a bit dry and too many unanswered questions for it to be satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2024
This book is very disjointed and repetitive at times. However, since it took place when and where my mom was 14 and that my grandfather worked closely with the murderer made it more intriguing to me. I am quite angered by the author’s attacks on Kay. It seems like she drew the shortest stick of all and yet he seems intent on trying to put the blame at least partly on her just because her sexual activity doesn’t fit into the monogamous standards. I do agree with the author’s assessment that Ena received far too light of a punishment for her part in the murders. I googled her and found her obituary and it reads just like she was a sweet little lady. Ummmm, no. I think if you have a connection to the story like I did, you’d find it interesting but if you don’t, I’d say find an Ann Rule book for a good true crime story.
August 2, 2020
This should be a movie. The details of this true-crime murder are crazy! The story itself is great. I think I would have rated it higher if it were better written; the author would dwell on certain points or legal details that I was like “man if I were the editor I would have cut this.” There were repetitive parts, especially where the author speculates or calls to question certain gaps in people’s stories. If I were writing the book I would have also fleshed out more about Kay and all her theatrics. My guess is that in real life she caused more drama than the book let on!
March 25, 2024
This book covered the case of Harold and Ena Nokes, a couple accused of murdering their lover's parents. This case took place in Nebraska in 1973. Harold had been having an affair with the daughter of the murdered Edwin and Wilma Hoyt. The author of this book discusses the relationships between the couples, and the events leading up to the murders. This book is available to listen to on Audible Plus, and was around four hours to listen to. The paperback copy is about 160 pages.
February 25, 2023
True crime in my own state!
I got this book on the Libby, the Library app, this is my honest review. An intriguing non-fiction novel, that happens in my own state of Nebraska. I have been to some of the areas described herein , and yet I didn't know about this story , until I came across this book. I recommend you read this story!
I got this book on the Libby, the Library app, this is my honest review. An intriguing non-fiction novel, that happens in my own state of Nebraska. I have been to some of the areas described herein , and yet I didn't know about this story , until I came across this book. I recommend you read this story!
June 28, 2025
good grief. I don't know where I got this book...it just appeared on my desk. I took it, because I do like true crime. shockingly repetitive. This story could have been told in a newspaper article. Some stories are not worth retelling. This is one of them. May Wilma and Edwin rest in peace.
May 21, 2023
3.5 stars
An interesting case. Nothing grabs headlines like sex and murder together. The facts of the case are mostly known; a sex triangle but the motive is still not quite resolved. Why kill someone because they want out a polyamorous relationship?
An interesting case. Nothing grabs headlines like sex and murder together. The facts of the case are mostly known; a sex triangle but the motive is still not quite resolved. Why kill someone because they want out a polyamorous relationship?
March 19, 2024
I had never heard of this double murder from 1973.
This true crime book gives a speedy (short) read into the case however I found it somewhat dull. On the other hand I wouldn’t have heard about the case if it wasn’t for this book.
*this review is placed on multiple platforms
This true crime book gives a speedy (short) read into the case however I found it somewhat dull. On the other hand I wouldn’t have heard about the case if it wasn’t for this book.
*this review is placed on multiple platforms
July 10, 2017
In Nebraska?
Quite interesting this should happen in small town America especially during that time period. I have visited the area but never knew is story.
Quite interesting this should happen in small town America especially during that time period. I have visited the area but never knew is story.
October 13, 2019
A sad true crime account that unfortunately does not have a clear resolution. Some historical aspects of Nebraska included.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2021
Gruesome, with a strong focus on Nebraskan history and small-town politics.
October 23, 2022
It was hard to keep everything straight. It seemed the author jumped around a lot. There were a lot of theories...on and in
February 9, 2023
The author states that the constant harrassment and stalking of Kay was ONLY because he loved her and wanted her back. WTAF??
April 20, 2024
This book was good, but drug out a lot and had so much in it to take In. I had to reread it a lot to get through.
November 19, 2024
3.5 stars
It's good to be reminded that people are evil murderous freaks everywhere, including rural Nebraska
It's good to be reminded that people are evil murderous freaks everywhere, including rural Nebraska
May 31, 2025
True crime at its gruesome finest. Small town politics with promiscuous shenanigans and trigger happy decisions. Yikes!
June 23, 2025
oh great there are evil people in my state too
October 30, 2025
Interesting but I felt like the story was a little hard to follow at times and mostly speculative. Crazy I’ve never heard about this before now.
January 6, 2017
An interesting read.
The book is set in McCook, Nebraska and is about Harold and Ena Nokes and how-why they murdered Edwin and Wilma Hoyt.
This crime occurred back in the 1970's. The writing is not the best as the author is a lawyer. At times I had to reread parts to follow the storyline.
In the end Harold is still in prison and will be until he dies. Though it is unclear as to exactly why he killed two people. He has given a statement back in the 70's as to what happen and then decades later said another statement that contradicts what he admitted to earlier.
The Hoyt family has been torn apart not just from the murders but from the siblings being divided as the middle child was imvolved with the Nokes. The Nokes children also undoubtedly affected though they were hardly mentioned in this story.
Not a nice happy read but an unfortunate part of society that had bad things happen.
January 6, 2025
“In Cold Storage” by James Hewitt tells the story of a 1973 double murder in McCook, Nebraska. Hewitt revisits evidence, newspaper articles and interviews many of the witnesses, including the murderer himself, who was in prison at the time.
When body parts started showing up on the shores of Harry Strunk Lake, the citizens of “McCook feared a deranged lunatic was loose in the community.” Nobody suspected that one of their neighbors could have done this-in fact, a man encouraged his wife to stay with the murderers during the scare because he had to be out of town. After some investigation Harold and Ena Nokes were arrested for the murders of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt.
This slim volume recounts the details of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt’s murders. Both families were rooted in the southwestern corner of Nebraska. The 1970s brought new social behaviors to the community, including open promiscuity. It also brought new technology like wire-tapping which was at that time unregulated by the courts.
The character list was almost overwhelming for a 132 page book- a list at the back would have been helpful. It also could have benefitted from more editing, while the book is interesting and well-laid out, it reads like a first book, it is choppy in places, repetitive, and in places bizarre. It seems unnecessary to explain to the reader that the body parts were placed in two caskets which remained closed at the funeral service.
As the investigation unfolds, the author finds discrepancies between the 1974 confession of the murderer and his personal interview of Nokes in 2007. Hewitt goes on to speculate about the actual timeline and the implementation of the murders in the last two chapters. Sometimes a horrific crime just doesn’t make sense.
“In Cold Storage” by James W. Hewitt is true crime book which deals with a horrific murder. The author describes the murder scene in graphic terms. If this sort of thing bothers you, you might want to skip it. If you are interested in true crime and 1970s Nebraska, you might enjoy it.
When body parts started showing up on the shores of Harry Strunk Lake, the citizens of “McCook feared a deranged lunatic was loose in the community.” Nobody suspected that one of their neighbors could have done this-in fact, a man encouraged his wife to stay with the murderers during the scare because he had to be out of town. After some investigation Harold and Ena Nokes were arrested for the murders of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt.
This slim volume recounts the details of Edwin and Wilma Hoyt’s murders. Both families were rooted in the southwestern corner of Nebraska. The 1970s brought new social behaviors to the community, including open promiscuity. It also brought new technology like wire-tapping which was at that time unregulated by the courts.
The character list was almost overwhelming for a 132 page book- a list at the back would have been helpful. It also could have benefitted from more editing, while the book is interesting and well-laid out, it reads like a first book, it is choppy in places, repetitive, and in places bizarre. It seems unnecessary to explain to the reader that the body parts were placed in two caskets which remained closed at the funeral service.
As the investigation unfolds, the author finds discrepancies between the 1974 confession of the murderer and his personal interview of Nokes in 2007. Hewitt goes on to speculate about the actual timeline and the implementation of the murders in the last two chapters. Sometimes a horrific crime just doesn’t make sense.
“In Cold Storage” by James W. Hewitt is true crime book which deals with a horrific murder. The author describes the murder scene in graphic terms. If this sort of thing bothers you, you might want to skip it. If you are interested in true crime and 1970s Nebraska, you might enjoy it.
July 13, 2016
Not a light & fluffy beach summer read. Not a well written book. Interesting only because I live in Nebraska and it takes place in our state. I was a child when this event happened so I don't remember it, nor have ever heard anything about it. I wouldn't have read this book if it hadn't been a book club selection for my group. Luckily it read fast and was fairly short so I survived it.
June 15, 2015
This book is about a murder in my home town. My mind is blown!!!! I will never look at my neighbors the same!!!
December 15, 2015
Slice of life true story. The author is a lawyer who lays out the facts. Not a great story-teller perhaps but the story is amazing.
Read
July 9, 2016Lots of good historical content about McCook.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews