Mary Anderson (unidentified decedent)

Mary A. Anderson is the pseudonym of an unknown woman who committed suicide in a Seattle, Washington hotel room in October, 1996. Investigations by multiple agencies following her death have failed to identify her. Death and discovery of the body: On Wednesday, October 9, the woman reserved a room by telephone at the Hotel Vintage Park about 90 minutes before checking in. She arrived with two bags and paid cash for two nights. In the hotel's register, she entered the name Mary A. Anderson, along with a New York City address and telephone number, all of which investigators later determined to be false. On Friday, October 11, her body was discovered by hotel staff after she failed to check out. She was found reclining in the bed, clasping a bible to her chest with the pages open to Psalm 23. A suicide note was found on the bedside table. She left no identification. The Medical Examiner later determined she had consumed a lethal mixture of Metamucil and cyanide and ruled her death a suicide. She was white, estimated to be between 30-50 years old, and well-groomed with manicured nails and neatly combed hair. She had a copper intrauterine device inserted and she appeared to have had breast surgery at some point in her life. Investigation: When her hotel registration information proved false, investigators unsuccessfully attempted to identify her through fingerprint records on file with the FBI, as well as through missing person reports filed in the U.S., Canada, and through Interpol. They were also unable to trace the origins of the cyanide she had used to end her life. The medical examiner’s office stated that the woman had "intentionally obliterated" any means of identification.