Key West, Fla. – In a breakthrough that underscores the power of modern forensic science, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that they have identified the suspect responsible for the 1973 murders of teenage sisters Margaret “Maggie” Jenkins, 18, and her 16‑year‑old sibling Mary.
Cold case solved through DNA genealogy
Margaret and Mary Jenkins traveled from New Jersey to the Florida Keys for a vacation in April 1972. On May 2, 1973, the sisters were last seen hitchhiking on Stock Island. Their bodies were discovered the following day in a wooded area near U.S. 1 Mile Marker 99.5 in Key Largo, both showing severe blunt‑force injuries and gunshot wounds.
The case went cold for decades. In 2018, FDLE technicians extracted a partial male DNA profile from a bloodstain on one of the victims’ garments. No match was found in national databases, leaving investigators without a suspect.
That changed in 2023 when FDLE’s Genetic Genealogy Investigations team used advanced genealogy techniques to build a family tree from the DNA profile. The research pointed to David Allen Snyder, a former Key West resident who died in Idaho in October 2008. Earlier this year, a DNA sample taken from a living relative of Snyder confirmed the match, allowing authorities to officially name him as the perpetrator.
Law‑enforcement officials praise the result
Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay issued a statement thanking the Major Crimes Division detectives and FDLE partners for their perseverance. “This case highlights the importance of our law‑enforcement partnership with the FDLE and our commitment to solving crimes no matter how long it may take,” Ramsay said.
FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass added, “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. Florida’s visitors should never worry about their safety when they travel to our great state.”
Impact on the community
The identification brings a measure of peace to the Jenkins family, who have endured years of uncertainty. It also demonstrates the value of investing in forensic capabilities that protect both residents and the millions of tourists who visit the Keys each year.
Local law‑enforcement agencies plan to continue leveraging genetic genealogy in other unsolved cases, signaling a broader commitment to justice across Monroe County and the state of Florida.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
