Oxygen’s new three-part true crime documentary, “Lady of the Dunes: Hunting the Cape Cod Killer,” revisits a chilling unsolved murder from 1974. The victim, found brutally murdered on a Cape Cod beach, remained unidentified for nearly five decades, known only as the “Lady of the Dunes.” In 2022, DNA technology finally revealed her identity: 37-year-old Ruth Marie Terry. Now, a curious theory linking Terry to the iconic film “Jaws” has added even more interest in the case.
Author Joe Hill ignited the speculation , suggesting Terry might have been an extra in Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster. Filmed near the murder scene during the summer of 1974, “Jaws” features numerous extras in its bustling beach scenes. Hill drew parallels between Terry’s appearance and a woman spotted in the film’s Fourth of July sequence. While discrepancies in hair color and clothing exist, the resemblance is striking enough to warrant further examination.
Naturally, law enforcement officials met the theory with a healthy dose of skepticism. While acknowledging the possibility, investigators pointed out the inherent difficulties in verifying such a claim after so many years. Yet, even the doubters conceded the “Jaws” angle might jog memories and possibly generate new leads in the long-dormant investigation.
The timing of Terry’s death and the film’s production certainly align. Her body was discovered posed on a beach towel, her head nearly severed, indicating a calculated and brutal murder. The documentary will chronicle the investigative journey, from the initial discovery of Terry’s remains to the DNA breakthrough that finally gave her a name. The “Jaws” connection, while speculative, provides an intriguing wrinkle to an already compelling case.
“Lady of the Dunes: Hunting the Cape Cod Killer” aims to shed light on not only Terry’s identity but also the circumstances surrounding her tragic demise. The two-part premiere airs on Oxygen; Part 1 on Friday, November 29, 2024 at 8/7c and concludes with Part 2 on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at 9/8c.
