The person at the center of this case
Margaret Mary Hart
Cold Case · Open
MARGARET MARY HART
Margaret Mary Hart, a 25-year-old woman, was found dead on September 9, 1979, in the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas. Her badly decomposed remains were discovered by teenagers hiking near Transmountain Road on military property. She was found nude with distinctive jewelry including a necklace with an ivory heart and a ring inscribed 'Love M.W.B.' The case remains unsolved.
Franklin Mountains, El Paso, Texas
🏛️ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) El Paso Field Office
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Case Summary
Margaret Mary Hart, a 25-year-old woman, was found dead on September 9, 1979, in the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas. Her badly decomposed remains were discovered by teenagers hiking near Transmountain Road on military property. She was found nude with distinctive jewelry including a necklace with an ivory heart and a ring inscribed 'Love M.W.B.' The case remains unsolved.
Timeline of Events
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1979-09-09
Human remains discovered
Teenagers hiking in the Franklin Mountains near Transmountain Road found badly decomposed human remains on military property. Body later identified as Margaret Mary Hart.
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1979-01-01
Knee surgery
Hart had surgery on her right knee earlier in 1979, which hindered her mobility.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Points of Interest / Key Leads
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evidence
Lead #1Gold-colored ring inscribed with 'Love M.W.B.'
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evidence
Lead #2Necklace made of catgut or fishing line with small ivory heart framed by two metal doves
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evidence
Lead #3T-shirt with text 'Keep the Magic'
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clue
Lead #4Hart had previous ties to Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona
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clue
Lead #5Attended St. Joseph's Parochial School, Loretto Academy, and possibly Burges High School in El Paso
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Case Information
Case Type:
Cold Case
Status:
Open
Case Number:456
Started:September 9, 1979
Last Updated:April 26, 2026