Authorities in St. Johns County, Florida, recently made a significant breakthrough in a decades-old case involving human remains found on a beach. The remains, initially discovered in 1985, have now been identified as belonging to Mary Alice Pultz, a woman who went missing in 1968 at the age of 25.
Mary Alice Pultz, a resident of Rockville, Maryland, had two children and was last seen with her boyfriend, John Thomas Fugitt, before disappearing. The case took a new turn when construction workers unearthed the remains in 1985, determining the cause of death to be a homicide.
Despite efforts to identify the victim over the years, the case remained unsolved until recently. In 2023, advanced forensic genetic genealogy techniques at a lab in Texas helped authorities connect the remains to potential relatives of the victim. Through DNA testing and collaboration with family members, officials were able to confirm the identity of Mary Alice Pultz in January 2024.
John Thomas Fugitt, also known as Tommy or Billy Joe Wallace, emerged as a person of interest in the case. However, investigations revealed that Fugitt had died while on death row for a separate murder conviction in 1981.
While the identification of Mary Alice Pultz marks a significant development, her homicide remains unresolved. Authorities are urging anyone with information about her whereabouts between 1968 and 1985 to come forward. Her son, Norman Jenkins, expressed a desire to learn more about his mother's life during that period.
As the investigation continues, detectives remain hopeful that new leads will emerge, bringing closure to the family of Mary Alice Pultz. The case serves as a reminder of the enduring efforts of law enforcement to seek justice for victims of unsolved crimes.
