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Ruth Marie Terry, previously known as Lady of the Dunes, (September 8, 1936 - July 1974), was a woman found murdered in Provincetown, Massachusetts in 1974.

She was identified in October 2022 by the FBI with aid from Othram. Until her identification, her case was the oldest unidentified decedent case in the state of Massachusetts.

On August 28, 2023, authorities announced they believe her late husband, Guy Rockwell Muldavin, was responsible for her murder and her case has now been closed.

Disappearance[]

Terry was last seen by relatives in Tennessee months before she would eventually be found. After contact between the victim and her family ceased, a private detective was hired in the hope of locating her. On behalf of surviving family members, Terry’s grand-niece stated there was no reason for loved ones to believe Terry would be in the state of Massachusetts.

Terry was said to have desired life beyond her home state, having spent time in various states across the country. Her parents believed her location, before disappearing, was in the state of California, where she resided with boyfriend Guy Muldavin, whom she eventually married in Reno, Nevada, a month prior to seeing family for the last time. Muldavin informed her parents she was missing. Terry’s father proceeded to arrive in the state and after hiring the private investigator, it was learned she had left the state and many personal items of hers had been sold.

Discovery[]

The victim's body was found in an advanced stage of decomposition on July 26, 1974. Her hands had been severed from her body and were never located. This suggested she may have been fingerprinted during life, possibly from criminal activity.

Her killer made additional efforts to hinder identification by removing some of her teeth.

She had been struck on the side of the head, which caused a massive injury, and she was nearly decapitated. A block of wood was used in a sexual assault.

Investigation[]

Whitey Bulger, a former FBI Top Ten Most Wanted fugitive was reportedly seen in the area with a woman matching the victim's description. He was listed as a person of interest in the case. Bulger was murdered in prison in late 2018.

Hadden Clark, who was convicted of two murders, confessed to the victim's murder. His statement is believed to be untrue, as he suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

In 2015, Joe Hill, the son of famed author Stephen King, introduced a theory that the Lady of the Dunes may have been an extra in the 1975 film Jaws, which was filmed in Massachusetts during the summer of 1974. The extra in question is a young woman wearing a bandana and jeans, which were coincidentally worn by the victim. Authorities have, however, stated that this theory was "wild speculation." Nevertheless, the observation triggered significant attention from the public; this theory was reported on several times from 2015 and 2018.

After her identification, it was announced that Guy Rockwell Muldavin was responsible for her murder. He was a criminal who used various aliases and is suspected of killing his first wife and daughter in 1960 while living in Washington. Terry married Muldavin in 1973 or 1974. After their wedding, they stopped in Tennessee to visit with Terry's family. Muldavin returned from the trip alone and stated Terry had passed away while he was believed to be in possession of her vehicle. Her brother tried to find out what happened to Terry, but Muldavin stated they had a fight during their honeymoon. Muldavin died in March 2002.

Characteristics[]

  • Auburn hair.
  • Physically fit.
  • She had painted her toenails pink.
  • She had a large amount of expensive dental work.

Clothing and accessories[]

  • A pair of blue jeans were placed under her head.
  • A blue bandanna was found with the remains.
  • The body was left on a green beach towel.
  • Her hair was tied back with a hair-tie with gold-colored flecks.

Gallery[]

Media[]

  • The case appeared on an episode of Haunting Evidence.
  • The Shanty: Provincetown's Lady in the Dunes was published by Sandra Lee, who claims to have initially found the body with her sister.
  • The 2022 book Through Her Eyes - The Untold Story of Ruth Marie Terry, The Lady of the Dunes recounts the details of the case.

Sources[]

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