Episode #58: Margaret Martin - Murdered (1938)
Updated: Nov 17, 2022
Smart, young, recent college grad Margaret Martin went missing after responding to a call for a job interview in December of 1938. She had no clue she was walking to her death at only 19 years old. Just 4 days later another 19-year old was checking his muskrat traps when he discovered something floating in the creek. Unfortunately, he had just found Margaret’s body.
Margaret Martin
Birth: 1918/19 - Death: Dec 1938
Ethnicity: Caucasian - Sex: Female
Other: According to Betty Hopkins, a former classmate,
Martin was "a shy, studious, friendly girl who had many friends."
Her parents described her as "a living saint." She was also a devout Catholic.
Hometown: Kingston, PA - Luzerne County
Crime Scene: Her body was found in a creek in the woods of Wyoming County
Last Known Location Alive: Leaving her home in Kingston, PA allegedly getting into a dark colored sedan
Injury Description: **CW GRAPHIC**
Margaret was severely abused, beaten with an object that was likely a rock, strangled and brutally raped.
It appeared as if the murdered had tried to dismember her, but had failed.
Suspect Description: sandy blond hair, late 20s-early 30s, slightly overweight, smartly dressed
Additional Information: Very shortly after her college graduation, Margaret received a call that a man wanted to set up an interview with her for a position. Allegedly, he told her that he was forming an insurance business and was in need of a secretary. She set up that interview for December 17, 1938 at Kingston Corners. She left for this interview and was never seen alive again.
DNA: No
Fingerprints: Unknown
Even though this is not an active case, if You have any information, no matter how small the detail please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-1800-4PA-TIPS or the Wilkes-Barre State Police at 570-697-2000
Sources
https://morbidology.com/the-unsolved-sawmill-murder-margaret-martin/
https://www.unsolvedcasebook.com/the-murder-of-margaret-martin/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3188770/the-mercury/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3189928/the-bristol-daily-courier/
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3189812/warren-times-mirror/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Margaret_Martin