After 45 years, 1976 rape, murder victim ‘Woodlawn Jane Doe’ identified
Yesterday, police in Baltimore County announced that a case that had been cold for 45 years had finally been solved, and the identity of a victim known previously only as “Woodlawn Jane Doe” has finally been revealed.
On September 12, 1976, Baltimore County detectives located the body of a teen aged girl in the 5600 block of Dogwood Rd. near the Lorraine Park Cemetery in Woodlawn. The young woman had been strangled and sexually assaulted. Over the years, the victim had become known as “Woodlawn Jane Doe,” named after the area of Baltimore County where her remains were discovered.
Jane Doe’s body was discovered along a cemetery access road. She was bound, beaten, and had been strangled with a ligature. Chlorpromazine was found in her system, which may have been used to sedate her. The victim was also violently raped.
Woodlawn Jane Doe was found with her hands bound behind her back.
At the time the investigation began, detectives learned that on the morning of September 12, 1976, a witness told them that a white van was spotted in the general vicinity where the body was found – sometime between 9:20 a.m. and 10:20 a.m. – the same time detectives believe Jane Doe’s body was dumped.
In a timeline of events shared by Baltimore County Police, detectives working the case shared images of the area where Woodlawn Jane Doe’s discarded body was found, along with other evidence recovered, like:
- a rawhide necklace with a turquoise bead,
- one of her shoes, and
- two keys on a safety pin found in her pocket.
Despite their investigative efforts and the evidence recovered, authorities still could not determine the true identity of Woodlawn Jane Doe – and her case grew ice cold.
Woodlawn Jane Doe Slideshow
The complexity of the Woodlawn Jane Doe case dates back decades. In the beginning, detectives relied on simple sketches of the victim to generate leads in the case. That began to change, as advancements in DNA testing were made.
Detectives soon found new avenues to pursue in hopes of identifying Jane Doe. In 2006, detectives requested evidence in the case be tested. In 2015, with the assistance of The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, pollen testing took Baltimore County detectives to the Boston area. The following year, which marked 40 years since the killing happened, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released a new facial reconstruction image of Jane Doe.
The biggest break in the case came earlier in 2021. With assistance from The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Bode Technology additional DNA testing was conducted. The results helped to identify “Woodlawn Jane Doe” as Margaret Fetterolf.
We now know Margaret Fetterolf lived in Alexandria, Virginia. She was 16 years old when she was killed. Family members say she went missing in 1975. By knowing Margaret’s identity, detectives are now one step closer to catching the people responsible for her murder.
Police want to move forward in the case and concentrate their efforts on finding Margaret’s killer.
Anyone who may have information about this case is asked to contact Baltimore County detectives at 410-307-2020.
(Source: Baltimore County Police Department)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
