In a startling development that has left the San Diego, California community in shock, the body of Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones, a woman who would be 81 years old today, was discovered in a chest freezer at a residence in the Allied Gardens neighborhood.
The body was found on December 22, 2023, and has opened a complex investigation into what appears to be a case that remained hidden for nearly a decade.
The San Diego Police Department, in conjunction with the medical examiner’s office, identified the body as that of Haxby-Jones.
The circumstances surrounding her death are enigmatic, with officials treating it as a suspicious case. Lt. Jud Campbell of the San Diego Police Department noted that there were no obvious signs of trauma on the body, which only adds to the mystery.
Authorities stated that Haxby-Jones, who had a 20-year career as a nurse anesthetist, might have been deceased or unaccounted for as long as nine years. Her body was found by relatives of the current resident, who were visiting from out of town. The relatives, not related to Haxby-Jones, discovered her remains inside the freezer at the house located in the 4900 block of Zion Avenue.
The case has drawn significant attention, partly due to the prolonged period she is thought to have been deceased or missing, with estimates suggesting it could be up to nine years.
Investigators are delving into the events leading up to her death and the period following it. No missing person’s report had been filed for her, but she is believed to have lived at the residence at some point before her body was discovered.
The case has prompted the involvement of the San Diego Police Department’s homicide unit, given the unusual nature of the discovery.
A relative of Haxby-Jones, who chose to remain anonymous, informed a local news outlet that the woman’s family was estranged. “The situation is quite sad with how everything is unfolding. We prefer not to comment at the moment because we weren’t present and don’t have answers to these questions,” the relative mentioned. They recalled her, whom they last saw in 1995, as a frequent smiler who enjoyed having her hair and nails done and was a military veteran.
The exact time of her death remains uncertain, and officials are urging those with knowledge about her or relevant details to step forward.
Findings from the medical examiner’s office are still pending, which could provide crucial insights into the cause of death of Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones.
