"What are the odds that some random person picks a pay phone in the parking lot of a place, where the manager is a guy with the same name that our perp is using as fake name." — Ashley Flowers
"$10,000 might be a lot of bread, but your daughter's life is a butter topic." — Unknown Caller (Transcribed Audio Clip)
"I mean, this has to be a mix-up, maybe a transposed number or something. Nothing bad could have happened." — Ashley Flowers (Describing Mrs. Fox's initial thoughts)
This episode of Crime Junkie focuses on the 1974 disappearance of 14-year-old Margaret Fox. Margaret, who had just graduated the 8th grade, sought to earn money by placing an ad for babysitting services with her cousin. A man named John Marshall contacted them, offering a well-paying job for his son in a neighboring town. Despite initial parental concerns about the distance, Margaret eventually agreed to start the job. However, on the day she was supposed to begin, her parents became worried when she did not call to confirm her arrival as requested. Their attempts to contact her led to a disturbing discovery: the phone number provided by Mr. Marshall was a payphone located outside an AMP store, and the assistant manager of that store shared the same name, John Marshall.
The investigation faced immediate challenges. Early police efforts to rule out the assistant manager based on personal acquaintance rather than thorough verification were questioned. The case took a more sinister turn when similar babysitting job offers were reported for other young girls, suggesting a targeted pattern rather than an impulsive act. Four days after Margaret's disappearance, a ransom call was made to the Fox residence, demanding $10,000. The chilling audio clip, released years later by the FBI, contained peculiar phrasing that the host suggests might be a key to identifying the caller, potentially linking them to the area or the AMP store. A subsequent note detailing ransom preparation further complicated the investigation, though it was ultimately rescinded.
Despite extensive efforts over decades, Margaret Fox's case remains unsolved. Leads included the identification of a suspect sketch, the investigation of individuals with similar modus operandi or proximity, and the examination of unidentified remains. However, these avenues did not yield conclusive results. A jawbone found years later and a potential Jane Doe match that ultimately proved negative highlight the persistent questions and the lack of definitive answers. The episode concludes by urging listeners to remain vigilant, share information, and help bring closure to this enduring mystery, emphasizing that public awareness is crucial for solving cold cases.