Margaret Fetterolf Murdered in Woodlawn Maryland

In September 1976, a grim discovery in the quiet community of Woodlawn, Maryland would launch one of the most haunting unsolved murder cases in Baltimore County history. For decades, investigators and the public only knew the victim as “Woodlawn Jane Doe.” Her identity remained hidden behind layers of mystery, frustrating countless detectives, forensic experts, and volunteer organizations. Forty-five years later, the truth emerged: the young woman was sixteen-year-old Margaret “Margie” Fetterolf of Alexandria, Virginia. Her tragic death, the circumstances surrounding it, and the long path to uncovering her identity form one of the most significant examples of the power of modern forensic genealogy.

Early Life of Margaret Fetterolf

Margaret Fetterolf, born on December 27, 1959, grew up in Alexandria, Virginia, just across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. She was part of a large family and attended Hayfield Secondary School. By all accounts, she was a typical teenager of her era—curious, social, and in the middle of her formative years. She had friends, dreams, and a life still unfolding before her.

In 1975, Margaret disappeared. She was only fifteen at the time, and while her family reported her missing, there was little media coverage or investigative momentum. Like many missing teenagers of the 1970s, her case became overshadowed by assumptions that she may have run away. However, her disappearance was anything but voluntary.

The Discovery in Woodlawn

On the morning of September 12, 1976, a passerby made a disturbing find along an access road near Lorraine Park Cemetery in Woodlawn, Baltimore County. Lying near a wooded area just off Dogwood Road was the body of a young woman. The location was a quiet suburban stretch, better known for cemeteries and family neighborhoods than for violent crime. The discovery shocked the community and quickly drew police to the scene.

The body was partially wrapped in a white sheet. She had been strangled with a ligature, sexually assaulted, and severely beaten. There were indications she had been drugged with chlorpromazine, a powerful antipsychotic medication. Near her body, investigators found several personal effects that would later become crucial clues: distinctive striped knee-high socks, rawhide necklaces with turquoise beads, two sets of keys attached to a safety pin, and one lone shoe.

Evidence at the Scene

The items found with the victim suggested she was not a transient or unidentified wanderer, but someone with ties to a stable life. The safety-pinned keys in particular stood out—this was a habit often used by young women to keep their belongings together securely. The socks were strikingly bright and recognizable, making investigators hopeful someone would recognize them.

Perhaps the most unusual clue was a crude homemade tattoo found on her right upper arm. The letters were difficult to decipher, but seemed to form combinations such as JP, JS, JD, JB, SP, SS, SD, or SB. This suggested she may have been close to someone who had tattooed her initials alongside theirs, a trend not uncommon among young people in the 1970s.

A witness later recalled seeing a white van parked near the area around the time her body would have been dumped. This detail added a chilling possibility that she may have been transported across state lines or held captive before her death.

The Struggles of the Investigation

Despite the evidence, the investigation quickly ran into roadblocks. Without the victim’s identity, detectives were left piecing together a life story they could not confirm. Local missing person cases did not align with her features. Her height, weight, and hair color—around 5’8”, 159 pounds, with long brown hair and brown eyes—fit a broad description that could have matched countless young women across the East Coast.

The autopsy confirmed strangulation as the cause of death, alongside evidence of sexual assault and physical restraint. Toxicology revealed chlorpromazine in her system, raising questions: Had she been given the drug by someone she knew? Was it used to incapacitate her? Or was there a deeper connection to mental health institutions or individuals with access to such medications?

Over time, police pursued leads tied to Massachusetts and New York. Forensic pollen analysis suggested she may have traveled in those states before her death. Clothing fibers and materials hinted at connections to regions outside Maryland. Yet no definitive answers emerged.

Becoming “Woodlawn Jane Doe”

As the years passed, the young victim was referred to simply as “Woodlawn Jane Doe.” Law enforcement agencies circulated facial reconstructions, hoping someone might recognize her. Artists and forensic specialists created clay busts, sketches, and computer renderings. Each attempt brought new attention but no breakthrough.

Her case became one of Baltimore County’s longest-running mysteries. Family members of missing girls from across the country would call in, wondering if the girl in Woodlawn might be their lost daughter or sister. Each time, DNA tests or dental record comparisons came back negative.

For her family back in Virginia, life went on without answers. They had no idea that Margaret’s body had been found in Maryland, nor that she had become the center of one of the state’s most infamous unidentified homicide cases.

Advances in Forensics

The case remained cold through the 1980s and 1990s. However, with the rise of DNA technology in the 2000s, renewed hope surfaced. By the 2010s, partnerships with organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Bode Technology, and Othram introduced the possibility of forensic genetic genealogy.

In 2021, genealogical experts worked tirelessly to build a family tree using DNA extracted from the victim’s remains. By cross-referencing distant relatives and narrowing down family connections, they arrived at a name: Margaret Fetterolf of Alexandria, Virginia. Her family was contacted and, after decades of not knowing, they received confirmation of the fate of their missing loved one.

Identification of Margaret Fetterolf

In September 2021, the Baltimore County Police announced that “Woodlawn Jane Doe” was in fact Margaret “Margie” Fetterolf. She had been just sixteen years old when she was murdered. The announcement was both a moment of closure and heartbreak. For forty-five years, she had been buried without her name. Now, she was finally returned to her family’s memory.

The identification also reignited the homicide investigation. Detectives once again examined the evidence, hoping the new context might generate leads. Unfortunately, no arrests have been made, and the perpetrator of Margaret’s murder remains unknown.

Community and Family Impact

The news of her identification sent ripples through both Baltimore and Alexandria. In Alexandria, Margaret’s surviving family members expressed sorrow but also gratitude that she had finally been found. In Baltimore County, the case served as a reminder of the importance of persistence in cold cases.

The community around Lorraine Park Cemetery still remembers the story of the girl found decades ago. With her name restored, the tragedy carries an even deeper sense of humanity. She was not just a mystery victim—she was a teenager with family, friends, and a life unjustly cut short.

Ongoing Investigation

To this day, the Baltimore County Police Department continues to seek leads. They urge anyone with knowledge of the case, particularly individuals who may have lived in or traveled through the Maryland-Virginia area in the mid-1970s, to come forward. The memory of the white van sighting, the tattoo, and the unusual items found with Margaret remain open clues that may someday point to her killer.

Legacy of the Case

Margaret’s case is now used as an example of the importance of forensic genealogy. Without modern technology, she may never have been identified. Her story stands alongside other once-anonymous victims who have recently regained their names through genetic science.

Her murder also underscores the vulnerability of teenagers during an era when missing children were often dismissed as runaways. Many cases from the 1970s were never investigated as thoroughly as they would be today. Margaret’s tragedy is a sobering reminder of how easily lives could slip into obscurity.

Conclusion

The murder of Margaret Fetterolf on September 12, 1976, remains unsolved nearly five decades later. What began as the discovery of an unknown young woman in Woodlawn has evolved into a deeply personal tragedy for a family who spent years wondering about their missing daughter. While her identity has finally been restored, justice has yet to be served.

For the detectives who continue to pursue the case, the hope remains that someone, somewhere, knows the truth. The clues—the tattoo, the keys, the van—still exist, and with each passing year, advances in technology increase the possibility that Margaret’s killer may one day be identified. Until then, Margaret Fetterolf’s story endures as both a cautionary tale and a symbol of perseverance in the fight to give every victim their name and their justice.