Cold Case Victim Could Be Framingham Runaway

FRAMINGHAM, MA — A 42-year-old cold case has a new lead that could tie a murder victim back to Framingham. Pennsylvania State Police are asking for the publics help in identifying a woman who was viciously murdered in 1976 and found along the banks of the Lehigh River in Carbon County, PA.

Pennsylvania State Police received a tip that the victim, known only as 'Beth Doe' of the December 1976 murder, could be Maggie Cruz, a young woman who ran away from her foster home in Framingham in 1974 and was never seen again, according to the National Center For Missing and Exploited Children or NCMEC. Police are asking people with possible information about 'Beth Doe' or Madelyn “Maggie” Cruz in an effort to rule her out or confirm her as the victim, to contact investigators.

The unidentified woman was found within days of her death in December of 1976. Officials said she was dismembered and placed inside three suitcases with pieces of a pink bedspread. She was estimated to be 15-25 years old and in her third trimester of pregnancy at the time of her death, carrying a baby girl. She had a 2 inch scar on her left calf, a small mole above her left eyebrow and another small mole on her left cheek.

After receiving the tip about the victim possibly being Maggie Cruz, officials researched the woman's history and found, as a young teenager in the early 1970's, Cruz may have been in the care of New Jersey Social Services, according to NCMEC. Cruz attended Rockwood Academy in Lenox, MA before she was taken in by a foster family in Framingham, NCMEC said. She may have attended Framingham North High School, although records of her attendance have not been found.

Around 1974, at just 16-years old, Maggie ran away from Framingham, making that the last time anyone saw her, NCMEC said. Authorities suggest that Maggie may have traveled to Tarrytown, NY after leaving Framingham. The only other time anyone heard from her was two years later when NCMEC said she called a friend to ask for money and said she was pregnant, although she did not give her location.

Anyone with a tip about the case can call the Pennsylvania State Police at 1-570-459-3890 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

Photo Credit: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children