Disappearance of Margaret Ellen Fox

Margaret Ellen Fox was a 14-year-old girl who vanished in suspicious circumstances in Burlington, New Jersey, in 1974. Disappearance: On June 24, 1974, Fox had plans to meet with a man who called himself "John Marshall" in regards to a babysitting job. She had advertised her services and on June 19; Marshall responded to the advertisement and stated he needed a babysitter the following weekend but he postponed the first several meetings with her. He finally said that he would meet her in a red Volkswagen. Fox took a bus to get to Mount Holly, New Jersey. Her younger sister accompanied her to the bus stop and saw her get onto the bus. Witnesses reported seeing the girl near Mill and High streets after she got off the bus in Mount Holly. She was never seen again. Investigation: After Fox failed to return home, her family notified authorities of her disappearance. They immediately began investigation into her disappearance. "John Marshall" gave Fox a phone number to contact him at prior to her disappearance. The number was later traced to a supermarket in Lumberton, New Jersey. Marshall has never been identified. Authorities immediately knew that the circumstances surrounding Fox's disappearance were suspicious in nature. They believed that the girl became the victim of an abduction. Several other parents complained of men trying to lure their daughters with fake job offers. In 1976, a suspect in her case confessed to involvement in her disappearance but it turned out to be false. The Ransom Call: In the hours after Fox was reported missing, authorities started to record all phone calls that went to and from the Fox residence. One of these phone calls was from a man who demanded $10,000 for her safe return. The man stated "10,000 might be a lot of bread, but your daughter's life is the buttered topping." The caller has never been identified. Efforts have been made in recent years to identify this man who police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation believe to be Fox's abductor. 2019 Updates: The Burlington City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have reevaluated their efforts to find Fox and her abductor. The audio recording of the ransom call has been uploaded to the FBI website in an effort to see if someone might recognize the voice of the man who claimed he had Fox and wanted $10,000 for her safe return. In 2017, a retired police officer entered into a partnership with the Burlington PD to review and hopefully solve the case. A $25,000 award is being offered for information leading to the arrests of Fox's abductor(s). There have been no arrests made since.