A Florida cold case has been solved 53 years after two teenage sisters were found dead, authorities announced Sept. 2.
Marguerite “Maggie” Jenkins, 18 and Mary Jenkins, 16, were vacationing in Key West from New Jersey in May 1973. They were last seen hitchhiking May 2, 1973.
The following day, their bodies were discovered in a wooded area 100 miles away from US-1 in Key Largo. They were severely beaten and suffered gunshot wounds, according to a press release from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
Who killed 2 sisters in Florida 53 years ago?
Investigators had no suspects at the time of the murders.
But forensic advancements led detectives to David Allen Snyder as a possible suspect in 2023. Snyder died in Idaho in Oct. 2008 at the age of 57 of natural causes.
Detectives took a DNA
sample from one of Synder’s relatives in 2026 and sent it to the FDLE crime laboratory for analysis. The results, along with Snyder’s whereabouts around the time of the killings, confirmed he was responsible for the murders.
“Whether a violent crime was committed two days ago or two decades ago, FDLE will use every resource and technology available to search for answers for the victims and their families,” FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said. “Florida’s visitors should never worry about their safety when they travel to our great state. I commend our FDLE agents and the Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy team for their dedication to bringing answers to the Jenkins family.”
Michelle Spitzer is a journalist for The USA TODAY NETWORK-FLORIDA. As the network’s Rapid Response reporter, she covers Florida’s breaking news. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Murder of sisters solved 53 years later, Florida officials announce
