The person at the center of this case
Margaret Mary Hart
Cold Case · Open
46 years waiting · since 1979
MARGARET MARY HART
Justice for Margaret Mary Hart — the trail went cold in 1979, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1The ring inscribed 'Love M.W.B.' - who was M.W.B. and what was their relationship to Margaret?
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evidence
Lead #2The necklace made of catgut or fishing line with ivory heart and metal doves - was this a gift or personal keepsake that could identify an associate?
💡
clue
Lead #3Margaret had knee surgery in 1979 that limited her mobility - could this have affected her ability to reach the remote discovery location?
Margaret Mary Hart, a 25-year-old woman, was found dead on military property in the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas on September 9, 1979. Her body was discovered nude by hikers, with distinctive personal items including a necklace with an ivory heart and a ring inscribed 'Love M.W.B.' that may help identify who knew her. Despite decades of investigation, her killer remains unknown, and the FBI continues seeking information from anyone who knew Margaret or witnessed suspicious activity in the Franklin Mountains during 1979.
Case
#456
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) El Paso Field Office
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👤
person
Lead #4Margaret had ties to Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona before El Paso - did someone from her past follow her to Texas?
👁️
witness
Lead #5Hikers found the body on military property - were there other visitors or activity in the Franklin Mountains during this period?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Homicide Victim El Paso, Texas September 9, 1979 The Federal Bureau of Investigation's El Paso Field Office is seeking information regarding the death of Margaret Mary Hart. On September 9, 1979, a group of teenagers hiking in the area near Transmountain Road found badly decomposed human remains on military property in the Franklin Mountains.
The body was later identified as Margaret Mary Hart. Hart's body was found nude, with her clothing nearby.
Her t-shirt read “Keep the Magic.” Hart was found with two pieces of jewelry. Her necklace was made of catgut or fishing line with a small ivory heart framed by two metal doves, and her gold-colored ring was inscribed with, "Love M.W.B.” Hart had surgery on her right knee earlier in the same year in which she was murdered, which hindered her mobility.
Remarks: Hart previously had ties to Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona. She attended the following schools in El Paso: St.
Joseph’s Parochial School, Loretto Academy, and possibly Burges High School.
Timeline of Events
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1979-09-09
Human remains discovered
Teenagers hiking near Transmountain Road found badly decomposed human remains on military property in the Franklin Mountains, later identified as Margaret Mary Hart.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:September 9, 1979
Last Updated:July 22, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 9, 1979
Last Updated:July 22, 2026