What happened to Ruth Marie Terry? Details about Born Evil: The Serial Killer and the Savior subject explored 

Ruth Marie Terry disappeared in the summer of 1974 and her remains were found in the Race Point Dunes of Provincetown, Massachusetts. With her remains staying identified for nearly five decades, she was locally referred to as the "Lady of the Dunes."

Investigation Discovery's true-crime docuseries Born Evil: The Serial Killer and The Savior briefly covers her case, describing her disappearance and eventual murder. Ruth's remains were identified in 2022, and her husband, Guy Rockwell Muldavin, was officially named her killer in 2023. He had, however, died decades earlier in 2002, so no further action could be taken.

Ruth's case put a seal on one of those most horrific true crime stories. The murder of the girl and the long path of identification are emblematic of cases that remain unsolved for decades. Her tragic life, disappearance, and eventual identification are detailed in the ID series.

Although the focus of Born Evil rests on the crimes of Hadden Clark, another suspected serial killer, Ruth Marie Terry's story creates an additional layer of grime on the timeline of violent crimes against women in the 20th century.

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Ruth Marie Terry's life before she vanished

Ruth Marie Terry was born on September 8, 1936, in Whitwell, Tennessee, into a family that had seen quite enough hard times. She had lost her mother young, then started an adult life by moving to Michigan when she was in her early 20s.

Following a short-term marriage and the birth of her son, Richard, Ruth had to experience economic hardships to such an extent that she gave up her child for adoption by the superintendent at work in exchange for paying all her expenses. In search of her renewal, Ruth moved to California.

In 1974, she became married to an antique dealer known as Guy Rockwell Muldavin. Her family considered that she was getting her life anew by marrying Muldavin. Ruth's grand-niece has said that after marrying Muldavin, who was possessive and controlling, Ruth was never the same.

The couple's one of last known visits with her family, that spring, would be the last time Ruth was seen before she disappeared later that year.

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Discovery and identification of the remains of Ruth Marie Terry

The remains of this unidentified woman, found by a 12-year-old girl in the Race Point Dunes of Provincetown, Massachusetts, on July 26, 1974, showed evidence of blunt force trauma to the skull. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that she was sexually assaulted. While authorities dug up her body multiple times with the advancement of technology, they still had difficulty identifying her for decades.

It wasn't until October 31, 2022, almost 50 years later, that her identity was finally confirmed through investigative genealogy. The woman in the dunes was revealed to be Ruth Marie Terry.

This provided long-awaited closure to her family, which has been searching for her since she suddenly disappeared. Though identification finally had a name and face to go along with the story, it still left questions about her death unanswered.

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The case against Guy Rockwell Muldavin

After some time, the case of Ruth Marie Terry's murder attracted the police's interest to her husband, Guy Rockwell Muldavin. In 1974, when Ruth disappeared, Muldavin informed her family of the fact with scarce details. Suspicious behaviors and a history of violence turned him into the prime suspect.

Muldavin had long been suspected of the disappearance and presumed murder of his former wife, Manzanita Mearns, and her daughter, Dolores Ann, back in the 1960s. Investigators found dismembered human remains in a septic tank at their Seattle residence but, without evidence, were unable to charge him at the time.

Authorities finally identified Muldavin as Ruth's murderer in August 2023, decades later. Since he had died in 2002, no litigation could be pursued, and as such, many details of the case remained under wraps. A motive for her murder and exact circumstances are speculative, but Muldavin's pattern of suspicious behavior does suggest a history of violence against women in his close circle.

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The life and case of Ruth Marie Terry are enveloped in mystery, tragedy, and a multidecade-long pursuit of justice. In 2019, after almost 50 years, she was identified as the "Lady of the Dunes." Her case is just one harsh reminder of the complications in solving cold cases.

Eventually, her husband, Guy Rockwell Muldavin, was named as her killer, but he died in 2002 and never faced justice for his crime. Born Evil: The Serial Killer and The Savior briefly touches upon her case.