Summary
On May 3, 1973, the bodies of sisters Marguerite “Maggie” Jenkins and Mary Jenkins were discovered in a wooded area near mile marker 99.5 in Key Largo, Florida. The discovery was made by a local resident approximately 100 yards off U.S. Highway 1 and notified law enforcement. The sisters had been vacationing in the Florida Keys from New Jersey and were last seen hitchhiking. Investigators determined that 18-year-old Maggie and her little sister Mary, who was 16, were brutally beaten and both suffered apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigators collected forensic evidence from the scene and worked to identify the person responsible for their deaths. Despite extensive investigative efforts, the case remained unsolved for more than five decades.
In 2018, Florida Department of Law Enforcement Forensics developed a partial STR profile for an unknown from evidence collected at the crime scene. The partial profile was uploaded to (CODIS), but there was no match to a known individual.
In 2024, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), working with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, submitted evidence to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas. At Othram, scientists used Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing® to build a comprehensive DNA profile from the provided evidence. FDLE used the profile in a forensic genetic genealogy search, developing new investigative leads in the case.
Using this new information, a follow-up investigation was conducted leading investigators to David Allen Snyder as a potential contributor to the DNA evidence. Investigators obtained a reference DNA sample from a relative of Snyder and compared it to the DNA profile developed from evidence collected during the original investigation. The comparison assisted investigators in identifying David Allen Snyder as a suspect in the murders of Marguerite “Maggie” Jenkins and Mary Jenkins.
Investigators determined that Snyder lived at several locations in Key West between 1972 and 1974. Snyder died in Idaho in October 2008.
The identification of Snyder as a suspect represents a significant development in an investigation that remained unresolved for more than 50 years.
This is the 66th publicly announced case in the State of Florida where investigators have used Othram’s technology to identify an individual. Learn about other cases by visiting Othram's website.
Dan Miller
Director of Customer Service
Dan guides law enforcement agencies across the United States and internationally through every step of the forensic process—from crime scene to courtroom. He ensures investigators have the support and resources they need to navigate advanced DNA testing and maximize the impact of forensic evidence in their cases.