Investigators in Suffolk County, New York, announced Thursday that they have identified the woman long referred to as “Montauk Mary.” Using advanced DNA analysis, detectives confirmed the victim was Sofia Margherita Marrone, a 19‑year‑old from Pleasantville, New Jersey, who vanished in March 1978.
Discovery and identification
Marrone was last seen leaving a hospital in Somers Point, New Jersey, on March 16, 1978. Six days later, an Airman on a lunch break discovered her body near the Camp Hero radar tower in East Overlook Park, Montauk, on Long Island. The autopsy revealed three bullet wounds to her legs and a fatal chest wound.
For nearly five decades the case remained unsolved, with the victim’s identity unknown. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said the breakthrough came from newly applied DNA techniques that matched the remains to Marrone’s family records.
Possible link to the “Thrill Killer”
Tierney’s office believes Marrone may have been a victim of Richard Biegenwald, the notorious “Jersey Shore Thrill Killer.” Biegenwald, who died in prison in 2008, was convicted of six murders between 1958 and 1982 and was suspected in three additional killings. Investigators noted that Marrone was killed with the same rare .22‑caliber short‑round ammunition Biegenwald used when arrested in New Jersey in 1983.
A contemporary witness reported seeing a bearded man in a gold‑colored car with New Jersey plates near the Montauk park where the body was found. Biegenwald was known to have a beard and owned multiple vehicles, one of which matched the description.
Cold‑case task force progress
Marrone’s identification is part of a larger effort by a cold‑case task force that has recently named six previously unknown victims. Retired NYPD cold‑case sergeant Joseph Giacalone said the model could be replicated nationwide, emphasizing the importance of dedicated squads, federal and state partnerships, and sustained funding.
“Every person deserves to be known by their name, and every victim deserves answers and justice,” Tierney said. He added that while the investigation into Marrone’s murder is ongoing, the task force remains committed to solving the remaining cases.
Community impact
The breakthrough offers closure to Marrone’s family and highlights the value of modern forensic tools in resolving historic crimes. Local law‑enforcement officials hope the success will encourage other jurisdictions to invest in similar cold‑case initiatives.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
