Mary Alice Pultz: Cold case of missing mother-of-two who disappeared with BF in 1968 finally solved after almost 6 decades

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND: After nearly six decades, the mystery behind the disappearance of Mary Alice Pultz, a mother-of-two who vanished with her boyfriend in 1968, has finally been solved.

Raised in Rockville, Maryland, then 25-year-old Pultz's abrupt departure from her family occurred when she eloped with John Thomas Fugitt, as revealed by the St Johns County Sheriff's Office.

Mary Alice Pultz's skeletal remains identified

The last known contact with Pultz occurred in 1968. Her family was left in the dark about her fate all these years until a recent breakthrough.

Last week, the sheriff's office confirmed that skeletal remains discovered on Crescent Beach, Florida, in 1985 belonged to Pultz, marking a pivotal moment in the decades-old case.

The initial investigation revealed the victim was a White female, possibly between the ages of 30 and 50 at the time of her death.

Initially classified as a cold case, renewed efforts in forensic anthropology and genetic genealogy led to the identification of potential relatives, including Pultz's son Norman Jenkins and her sister Patricia Allamong.

Through DNA sampling and extensive testing, authorities positively identified the remains in January 2024, reported Daily Mail.

Investigators treat Mary Alice Pultz's death as homicide

Further examination of the remains by medical examiner Dr Wendolyn Sneed uncovered a series of injuries, including fractures and surgical burr holes on Pultz's skull, suggesting severe trauma caused "in a vehicle crash or being struck by a vehicle" that may have required hospitalization.

The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, prompting investigators to treat the case as a homicide, with John Thomas Fugitt named as a person of interest.

Who was John Thomas Fugitt?

Fugitt, also known as Tommy and under the alias Billy Joe Wallace, had a criminal history, including a conviction for the 1981 murder of his male roommate in Georgia.

He was sentenced to death in that case but the sheriff's office stated he died in prison before he could be executed.

Despite these developments, it remains uncertain whether Pultz accompanied Fugitt to Florida, as there are no records of her whereabouts between her departure from Maryland in 1968 and the discovery of her remains in 1985.

St Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick emphasized the relentless pursuit of justice, stating, "This investigation is a powerful example that we will never give up."

For Pultz's family, including her son Norman, closure remains paramount as they seek answers about her disappearance after nearly four decades of uncertainty.

"I would just like to know if anyone ever saw her or knew her," Norman said.