After nearly five decades authorities have officially closed the case of the brutal murder of the “Lady of the Dunes.” Her long-suspected husband, Guy Muldavin, murdered Ruth Marie Terry.
The case dates back to 1974 when Terry’s partially decapitated body was discovered on the sand dunes of Provincetown, Massachusetts. Her remains were not identified until 2022.
Her body was found bearing signs of horrific mutilation. She had been brutally murdered, suffering blunt force trauma to the skull, with her hands removed.
“The skull was placed in police custody and was never sent to the cemetery for burial with the rest of the remains,” the district attorney’s office stated. “Over the years and with the development of technology, portions of the skull had been tested for potential DNA testing.”
Othram, a forensic genetic genealogy company, successfully extracted a DNA profile from a portion of the victim’s jaw. This crucial piece of evidence led to the identification of Ruth Marie Terry, nearly half a century after her death.
Lady of the Dunes Finally Identified
The announcement of Terry’s identity in October 2022 by the FBI marked a turning point in the investigation. With her identity established, the Massachusetts State Police intensified their efforts to solve the case.
