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 #1What is the significance of the jewelry found with Hart—the necklace with catgut/fishing line and ivory heart framed by metal doves, and the ring inscribed "Love M.W.B."? Who is M.W.B.?
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evidence
Lead #2Hart's t-shirt read "Keep the Magic"—does this phrase connect to any known associates, locations, or cultural references from 1979?
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clue
Lead #3Hart had knee surgery in 1979 that limited her mobility—how did this affect her movements and interactions in the weeks before her death?
Margaret Mary Hart, a 25-year-old woman, was found murdered in the Franklin Mountains near El Paso, Texas on September 9, 1979. Her body was discovered nude by hikers on military property, with distinctive jewelry and a t-shirt reading "Keep the Magic" nearby. Despite decades of investigation, the identity of her killer remains unknown, and the FBI continues to seek information from anyone who may have encountered her or have details about the circumstances of her death.
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.
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person
Lead #4Hart had previous ties to Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Arizona—could someone from her past in these states be connected to her murder?
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witness
Lead #5Who were the teenagers that discovered her remains, and did they provide any additional details about the scene or surrounding area?
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
Body Discovery
Teenagers hiking in the Franklin Mountains near Transmountain Road discovered badly decomposed human remains on military property. The body was 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:June 8, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:September 9, 1979
Last Updated:June 8, 2026