Murder At The Iowa State Fair: Couple Slain

DES MOINES, Iowa - A husband and wife who ran a concession stand at the Iowa State Fair were found slain at the fairgrounds, apparently the first killings in the festival's 138-year history.

The bodies of Bobie Blewer, 56, and his wife, Marilyn, 49, of Pierce City, Mo., were discovered yesterday in a camping area. The cause of death was not disclosed, and no arrests had been made.

The Blewers sold funnel cakes, made of batter dribbled through a funnel into a deep-fat fryer and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Fair officials said the bodies were found in the couple's camper, parked in an area for concession operators. The couple's pickup was discovered elsewhere in the Des Moines area.

Fair officials insisted there was no danger today, and crowds lined up for farm exhibits and carnival rides.

Some vendors collected donations for the slain couple's family. Others cleaned up their funnel-cake stand so it could be reopened for the family's benefit.

The Blewers' two children also had been working at the fair.

Deb Jesina, 35, of North Liberty, Iowa, said her family has camped at the fair all her life. "You feel it's safe here. It's like a little town that takes care of itself. Suddenly, all that is taken away from us," she said.