Authorities have finally unraveled the complex mystery surrounding the gruesome murder of Ruth Marie Terry, dubbed as the "Lady of the Dunes." According to a WHDH report, investigators determined that Terry's late husband, Guy Rockwell Muldavin, was responsible for her death in 1974. This development came about after DNA analysis enabled them to positively identify Terry as the victim from a cold case nearly 50 years ago.
Tragically, Terry's mutilated body was discovered on Race Point Beach in Provincetown back in July 26, 1974. For decades, various agencies and investigators struggled to crack the case and put a name to the face of the unknown victim. However, in October 2022, state and federal officials confirmed Terry's identity through DNA analysis, paving the way for further investigation into her death. The authorities tracked down Muldavin, who had married Terry just months before her death and had a history of criminal suspicions.
As NBC News reports, Muldavin, an antiques dealer who went by several aliases, was suspected of having a hand in the deaths of his previous wife and stepdaughter in Seattle during 1960. However, he had evaded justice for his alleged crimes by dying in 2002. With this recent revelation, Muldavin's dark history has finally come to light, exposing the extent of the atrocious crimes that had been buried and forgotten for more than half a century.
Finding the 'Lady of the Dunes' and apprehending her alleged killer might have marked an end to this harrowing story, but the case had its share of controversies. Meredith Lobur, a former Provincetown police detective, became embroiled in a scandal when allegations surfaced that she had exhumed Terry's body improperly. According to a WBUR article, the Cape and Islands District Attorney's office accused Lobur of acting "without lawful authority" and placed her name on a misconduct list and the infamous "Brady List."
