HOMICIDE VICTIM, 1976
Update (September 2021): The "Woodlawn Jane Doe" has been identified after 45 years.
On September 12, 1976, Baltimore County detectives located the body of a young woman in the 5600 block of Dogwood Road near the Lorraine Park Cemetery in Woodlawn. The woman had been strangled and sexually assaulted. Over the years, the victim has become known as “Woodlawn Jane Doe,” named after the area of the County where she was found.
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 suspects responsible for her murder.
HISTORY OF THE CASE
View a timeline of this case.
The complexity of this 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 in 2021—with assistance from The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and Bode Technology, additional DNA testing was conducted. The results helped to identify “Woodlawn Jane Doe" as Margaret Fetterolf.
REWARD OFFERED
Anyone with information regarding this case may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000.