A cold case homicide in Florida that had remained unsolved for nearly four decades has recently been identified, thanks to advances in DNA technology. The victim, Mary Alice Pultz, was found in a shallow grave on Crescent Beach in April 1985, around 50 miles south of Jacksonville. The initial investigation determined that Pultz was a white female, possibly between 30 and 50 years old at the time of her death, and that she had been the victim of homicide. After the remains were sent to a private forensics lab in 2023, they were identified as Pultz in January 2024.
Pultz, born in 1943 and raised in Maryland, was last seen by her family in 1968 after leaving with her boyfriend, John Thomas Fugitt. Investigators believe that Pultz may have been involved in some type of event that caused a traumatic brain injury, as she had burr holes in her skull that suggested she underwent brain surgery after 1968. Chief Medical Examiner Wendolyn Sneed discovered evidence of an abscess in her upper gum line that would have caused pain and discomfort. Fugitt, who changed his name to Billy Joe Wallace and was sentenced to death in Georgia for a 1981 murder, is considered a person of interest in the case, even though he died in prison before his execution.
Sheriff Rob Hardwick praised the dedication and perseverance of the Major Crimes detectives in working on solving this long-standing case, highlighting the importance of bringing closure to victims’ families. The sheriff’s office is actively investigating the homicide and is seeking any information related to the case from the public. The identification of Pultz after almost 40 years is seen as a powerful example of the collaboration between skilled detectives and advanced DNA technology in providing answers to families of missing persons and homicide victims.
The efforts to identify Mary Alice Pultz’s remains involved the use of DNA extracts to build a DNA profile that was then submitted to consumer genealogy databases for comparison searches. Possible relatives of the victim were identified through this search, ultimately leading to the confirmation of Pultz’s identity. Investigators believe that Pultz had moved to either Florida or Georgia with her boyfriend after 1968, and they theorize that she may have been involved in a traumatic event that caused her fatal injuries and required hospitalization.
Mary Alice Pultz’s case is one of many cold cases that have been solved through the use of advanced DNA technology and forensic techniques in recent years. The sheriff’s office highlighted the significant findings from the Chief Medical Examiner regarding Pultz’s injuries, indicating severe trauma that would have required hospitalization, potentially from a vehicle crash or being struck by a vehicle. The discovery of the abscess in the victim’s skull provided further insight into her medical history and possible sources of discomfort and pain before her death. The investigation into the homicide remains ongoing, with the sheriff’s office urging anyone with information to come forward to help bring justice to the victim and her family.
