By Anthony Watt , awatt@qconline.com

Area homicide investigators haven't been as busy this year.

In 2006 and 2007, there had been at least three homicides in the area by March. But 2008 has seen only one homicide -- Anthony Castro, 46, of Davenport -- who was fatally stabbed earlier this month in his apartment.

"I'm glad things have slowed down in that particular area," said Maj. Mike Brown of the Scott County Sheriff's Office, though he could not say why slayings were down.

Overall, counting murder-suicides and reckless homicide charges filed in fatal vehicle accidents, there were 11 homicides in 2007 and 16 in 2006, according to court records and The Dispatch and The Rock Island Argus archives.

At last report, six of those cases remained open. In some cases, there are no suspects. In others, police have suspects but can't arrest them, said the Davenport Police Department's Lt. Gene Wall.

"We know who did it," he said. "We just don't have the evidence to prove it."

The longer a case remains open, the harder it is to solve, police said.

Having an unsolved slaying can be frustrating for investigators, the major said.

"If you have one homicide open still, it weighs heavily on your mind," Maj. Brown said.

There had been arrests in 18 of the other homicides since 2006, while four other cases were closed because they were murder-suicides, records state. Seven of the arrests resulted in convictions, one person was found innocent, and 10 other cases are still pending in the Illinois and Iowa court systems.

The cases include:

2008

Anthony Castro, 46, Davenport

Details: Mr. Castro was stabbed multiple times March 4 in his apartment at 717 W. 4th St., Davenport, with a knife.

Status: Vail Gwynn Collins, 49, of Davenport, has been charged in Scott County District Court with first-degree murder in relation to Mr. Castro's death. She was in a romantic relationship with Mr. Castro at the time he was killed.

Ms. Collins' next court date is April 4.

2007

LaShaune Wright, 28, Rock Island

Details: Ms. Wright was found stabbed and bludgeoned Jan. 1 at her 714 5th St., Rock Island, home.

Status: Steven Douglas Hill, 44, of the 5th Street address, has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder. His next court date was not available.

Allen Christopher Johnson, 34, Davenport

Details: Mr. Johnson was stabbed Jan. 5 at 316 S. Elmwood Ave., Davenport.

Status: Megan Nicole Price, 22, was convicted in Scott County District Court of voluntary manslaughter in his death.

Angela Marie Hennes, 41, Davenport

Details: Ms. Hennes' body was found Jan. 13 in a farm field in the 15000 block of Davenport's 100th Avenue.

Status: Open case.

Nicholas Eaton, 20, and Christopher L. Rector, 21, both of Davenport

Details: Both men were killed April 29 when their car was struck by another on the Centennial Bridge.

Status: Matthew Irwin, 26, Rock Island, faces multiple charges in Scott County District Court, including vehicular homicide. His next court date is scheduled for April 16.

Darrell A. Little, 27, Moline

Details: Mr. Little was shot May 31 outside of his apartment, 833 18th Ave., in what authorities believe was a robbery attempt.

Status: The Moline Police Department has recently made multiple arrests in relation to Mr. Little's shooting. Ramah Speights, 17, Jeffery L. Banks, 21, Andre Allen Richardson Jr., 20, and Devonta McCaw, 18, all of Rock Island, have been charged in Rock Island County Circuit Court with attempted armed robbery. Mr. Banks' next court date is scheduled for April 1, while Mr. Richardson's and Mr. McCaw's next court dates are scheduled for April 18. Mr. Speights' next court date was unavailable.

Dax Llewellyn Lancial, 4 months old, Coal Valley

Details: Killed by blunt force trauma to the head.

Status: Dax's father, Nathaniel L. Onsrud, 21, of Coal Valley, has been charged in Rock Island County Circuit Court with first-degree murder in relation to his son's death. His next court date is April 4.

Carl "Barney" Rawson, 77, Las Cruces, N.M.

Details: Killed in an auto accident on June 24 on the Avenue of the Cities near 18th Street in Moline.

Status: Bryan J. Dickinson, 22, of Rock Island, the alleged driver of the speeding vehicle that struck Mr. Rawson's car, has been charged with reckless homicide in relation to Mr. Rawson's death. His next court date is April 7.

Edna Duarte, 35, Rock Island

Details: Found dead in a closet in her 2513 5-1/2 Ave. home as firefighters fought a fire at the residence. An autopsy showed she died of smoke inhalation, but a coronor's jury later ruled her death a homicide.

Status: Open case.

Christina Mejia, 22, Rock Island

Details: Authorities believe Ms. Mejia was strangled Nov. 17 or Nov. 18 at her 2512 8-1/2 Ave. home. Her body was found in a makeshift grave a few days later.

Status: Osbaldo Jose-Nicolas, 22, Moline, was charged in Rock Island County Circuit Court with two counts of first-degree murder in the case. Irma Jose-Nicolas, 29, Moline, Mr. Jose-Nicolas' sister, and a juvenile, reportedly the suspects' brother, are charged with concealment of a homicidal death.

Mr. Jose-Nicolas' next court date is today. His sister's next court date is April 3. Further details on the third suspect were not available.

Agnes McFedries Kennedy, 51, Davenport

Details: Ms. Kennedy's body was found Dec. 22 in an alley along the 1800 block of West 7th Street, Davenport.

Status: Open case.

2006

Lemon Horton Jr., 74, Silvis

Details: Mr. Horton was stabbed to death on Jan. 3. His house also was set on fire.

Status: Joshua Larson, 24, was convicted of first-degree murder for Mr. Horton's death.

Nicholas Atwater, 34, Rock Island

Details: Mr. Atwater was found shot to death between two cars on Jan. 8 at 280 W. 20th Ave., Milan.

Status: Open case.

Kevin L. Mosier, 29, Davenport

Details: Mr. Mosier was stabbed to death Jan. 13. on the porch of a mobile home in the Lake Canyada Mobile Home Park, Davenport, during a fight with Mark L. Hatch.

Status: Mr. Hatch was charged in Scott County District Court with first-degree murder, but has been found unfit to stand trial. A court hearing on his competency is scheduled for May 21.

Mark S. Brown, 30, Rock Island

Details: Mr. Brown was found dead in a parking lot March 26 after an argument with several people outside Jimmy's Tap in Rock Island.

Status: Open case.

Kevin Horne, 30, Rock Island

Details: Mr. Horne was killed April 2 in a drive-by shooting at the Century Woods apartment complex, Rock Island.

Status: Napoleon Jackson, 20 , stood trial in Rock Island County Circuit Court for first-degree murder in Mr. Horne's death, and was found innocent.

Andrell Hearn, 20, Rock Island

Details: Mr. Hearn was shot on April 19 in an alley in the 1200-1400 blocks of 15th Avenue in Rock Island.

Status: Jermil E. Miller, 27, was found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with his death.

Brian Sinnott, 39, Davenport

Details: Mr. Sinnott was killed May 6. Police believe he was shot to death by his ex-wife, Molly J. Lincoln, 35, at his 1310 W. 51st St., Davenport, home. Ms. Lincoln then shot herself, police believe.

Charlene Cook, 68, Rock Island

Details: Mrs. Cook was killed June 15. Authorities believe that her husband, Donald Cook, 73, shot his wife, then himself in their apartment in the 1200 block of 51st Avenue, Rock Island. The couple's deteriorating health appeared to be the motive.

Tristan James "T.J." Menzl, 24, Davenport

Details: Fatally shot July 5 while trying to break up a fight at a party at 3424 Heatherton Drive, Davenport.

Status: Canares D. Ivy, 30, was accused of shooting Mr. Menzl during a fight with Delbert A. Blake, 20. Both men pleaded guilty in Scott County District Court in plea deals. Mr. Ivy pleaded to attempted murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm, while Mr. Blake pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and assault causing bodily injury.

Michelle White, 23, Bettendorf

Details: Ms. White was shot to death July 22 in the parking lot of the former Eagle's grocery store at 2850 18th St., Bettendorf. Investigators believe her former boyfriend, Jason Crowe, 25, shot her, then himself.

Michael M. Jones, 25, East Moline

Details: Mr. Jones was shot July 26 in the 400 block of Rock Island's 15th Avenue, in the Century Woods apartment complex.

Status: Jason J. Thompson, 24, of Rock Island, was found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with his death.

Sean Michael McGrath, 28, Moline

Details: Bludgeoned to death Aug. 8 in his apartment at 3135-1/2 Avenue of the Cities, Moline. Police believe his roommate, 36-year-old Timothy Andre Hunt, killed him then started a fire in the apartment. Mr. Hunt died of apparent smoke inhalation.

Vincelina Howard, 19, Davenport

Details: Ms. Howard was fatally shot Aug. 19 in the yard of 130 E. 12th St., Davenport, while attending a party. Ms. Howard was shot by someone in a vehicle driving past the house. She later died at Genesis Medical Center's East Campus in Davenport.

Status: Don White Jr., 22, Ron Millbrook, 22, and Rasheem Bogan, 16, were found guilty of first-degree murder in connection with the drive-by shooting. Terrill Lobley, 20, was found guilty of second-degree murder.

Paul Miller, 22, Rock Island

Details: Mr. Miller was fatally shot Sept. 7 at his apartment at 506 14th St., Rock Island.

Status: Open case.

Kaydon Carlson, 2 months old, Milan

Details: Kaydon was a victim of shaken baby syndrome and died of his injuries Sept. 11.

Status: His father, Thomas E. Jones, 22, Milan, was found guilty of aggravated battery to a child and is scheduled to be sentenced April 2.

Miriam Salazar Carmona, 21, Muscatine

Details: Ms. Carmona's body was discovered Oct. 22 in rural Rock Island County, but authorities believe she was killed in the Muscatine area. At the time of her death, she was five months pregnant. She had been strangled and beaten.

Status: Victor Serrato, 20, and Edgardo Serrato, 18, both of Muscatine, have been charged in relation to her slaying. Victor Serrato is facing several charges, including first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, and non-consensual termination of a human pregnancy, according to Muscatine County District Court records. His next court date was unavailable.

His brother is charged with being an accessory after the fact to first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, obstruction of prosecution and non-consensual termination of a human pregnancy, according to court records. His next court date is today.

Can you help?

Anyone who has information that could help authorities solve open homicides in the Quad-Cities area, or other open cases, is asked to contact his or her local law enforcement agency or Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities at (309) 762-9500.