marguerite mayden
Missing since: April 30, 1980
White female
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Green
Height: 5’3’’
Weight: 125 lbs.
Age (at time of disappearance): 60
case details:
Mayden left a gathering at her nextdoor neighbor’s home at around 7:15 p.m. on the evening of Wednesday, April 30th, 1980. She told the people at the gathering that she was going home to prepare herself a hamburger. She walked in the direction of her home which was directly beside that home at 108 Hickory Hills Circle in Biloxi, Mississippi. This would be the last known sighting of Mayden.
Mayden was recently widowed and lived alone in Ancient Oaks, an upper-class neighborhood in Biloxi. Mayden was an avid golfer and played several mornings each week. When her neighbor had not seen her for a couple of days she went over to check on her. She opened the door and saw blood on the floor and cabinets in the kitchen, as well as a blood trail leading from the kitchen, through the living room and dining room, and into a bathroom at the rear of the home. She was unable to locate Mayden and called 911. An investigation began immediately.
When law enforcement arrived, her home was cleared and Mayden was not located.They also could not locate her pit bull, Macho. Also missing from her home was Mayden’s 1974 Buick Rivera.
Mayden was reported missing on May 1st, which is the same day her car was found abandoned at the Holiday Inn on Highway 90 in Biloxi. There was a large blood stain in the trunk of the vehicle. Witnesses staying at the hotel said that they witnessed a man park the car there, get out, and walk away from the hotel. Several days later, Macho was found in north Gulfport, about 15 miles from Mayden’s home. He was unharmed.
The investigation would show that there was evidence of a struggle in the kitchen of Mayden’s home. Pools of blood were found on the floor and on the cabinets. There was also a crack in the cabinet above the drainboard and her hair was present. It appeared as if her head had been forced into the cabinet so hard that it cracked the cabinet door.
There was a smeared, bloody handprint found on the wall near the entrance to a bedroom. Further down the hall another bloody handprint was found near a bathroom. There was another trail of blood found from that bathroom back to the kitchen. Authorities believe that the suspect carried Mayden from the kitchen to the bathroom to clean her up. It also appeared that they had attempted to clean up the crime scene.
Two impressions of a rubber-soled running shoe were left on the linoleum in the kitchen, which were removed as evidence. The shoe is believed to be a size 10.
Authorities believe that more than one person was involved in Mayden’s attack and disappearance. They also speculated that one of the suspects may be a female due to the attention to detail when attempting to clean up the scene.
The motive for Mayden’s disappearance and presumed murder is unclear. Nothing appeared to be missing or taken from her home and nothing appeared to be rifled through. There was also no sign of forced entry, which investigators believe implies that Mayden may have known her attacker(s).
Due to the amount of blood present in her home and in the trunk of her car, Mayden is presumed deceased and the victim of homicide. Her body has never been located and her case remains unsolved at this time.
Investigating Agency Information:
Biloxi Police Department
(228)392-0641
Agency Case #: 80-05039
NamUs ID#: MP9486
Additional Resources:
The Daily Herald (April 30, 1981)
The Daily Herald (June 3, 1980)