An Unsolved Mystery: The Morgantown Co-Eds Murders
The brutal and unsolved murders of two West Virginia University (WVU) freshmen, Mared Malarik and Karen Ferrell, in Morgantown, West Virginia, remain one of the most haunting cold cases in the state’s history. In January 1970, the disappearances and later discovery of the decapitated bodies of the two young women after a night at the movies indelibly marked the Morgantown community. Despite decades of investigation, theories, and even a conviction that was later overturned and retried, the case remains unresolved.
The Disappearance
On January 18, 1970, Mared Malarik and Karen Ferrell attended a screening of Oliver! at the Metropolitan Theatre in downtown Morgantown. The two friends, both 19 years old, were freshmen at WVU and planned to return to their dormitory at Westchester Hall after the movie. They never made it back.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the pair outside the theater entering a car, presumably hitchhiking—a common practice at the time due to limited public transportation options in Morgantown. Tragically, their decision to accept a ride would seal their fate. The next day, when neither woman showed up for classes or contacted anyone, alarm bells rang.
The Grim Discovery
A National Guard unit discovered their decomposed bodies almost three months later, on April 16, 1970, in a wooded area near Goshen Road. The remains lay stacked on top of each other in what appeared to be a makeshift grave. The killer had decapitated both women.
The discovery came after police received an anonymous letter postmarked from Cumberland, Maryland. The letter contained cryptic directions to the bodies’ location. While initially helpful in locating the victims’ remains, subsequent letters from the same author only deepened the mystery. One letter asserted they had buried the heads separately for “other purposes,” suggesting ritualistic or ceremonial motives. Despite following these directions with cadaver dogs and ground-penetrating radar decades later, investigators have yet to locate the missing skulls.
Early Investigative Challenges
The investigation into Mared and Karen’s murders faced significant hurdles from the start. Eyewitness accounts about the car and driver varied widely, making it difficult for authorities to establish a clear suspect early on. Forensic science in 1970 was far less advanced than it is today. Investigators lacked DNA testing capabilities and relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and witness statements.
Detectives interviewed hundreds of students, faculty members, and residents. Police also explored potential connections to other crimes in the area but struggled to find concrete leads. As time passed with no significant breakthroughs, the case went cold.
Confession & Controversy
In 1976, six years after the murders, Eugene Paul Clawson confessed to killing Mared and Karen while serving time for an unrelated sexual offense. His confession led to Clawson’s conviction, but he later retracted his statement. He claimed authorities coerced him into confessing and that he lacked proper legal counsel during interrogation.
The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia overturned Clawson’s conviction in 1980 due to procedural errors during his trial. Key issues included gruesome photographs being admitted as evidence despite lacking probative value and concerns about his confession’s legitimacy. He was retried in 1981 and convicted again but maintained his innocence until his death in prison in 2014.
Many have questioned whether Clawson was truly guilty or if he falsely confessed under duress. His conviction has done little to quell speculation about other potential suspects or motives behind the crime.
Renewed Interest
Over five decades later, Mared and Karen’s murders continue to draw attention from law enforcement, true crime enthusiasts, and local historians. In recent years, advancements in forensic science have prompted renewed efforts to solve this cold case.
In 2022, retired contractor Albert “Rod” Everly revisited the crime scene with cadaver dogs after studying letters sent by the anonymous tipster in 1970. The dogs alerted at locations matching descriptions from one of the letters regarding where the skulls might be buried. However, excavation efforts led by retired State Police Lieutenant Michael Kief yielded no definitive results due to changes in terrain.
The cryptic letters remain a focal point of ongoing investigations. Some believe someone with firsthand knowledge of the crime—possibly even the killer—wrote them, while others dismiss them as an elaborate hoax.
Lingering Questions
The case has spawned many theories over the years:
Were there ritualistic motives? Some speculate about occult or ritualistic elements, prompted by the claim that the skulls were removed for “other purposes.”
Did the killer have local knowledge? Investigators have noted that the person who disposed of the bodies likely knew the remote area intimately.
Was there a serial killer operating in West Virginia? Some suggest that Mared and Karen may have fallen victim to a serial killer operating in West Virginia or neighboring states during that era.
Was Clawson actually guilty? Although Clawson confessed and a court convicted him twice, inconsistencies in his statements and flaws in the trial procedures fuel continuing doubts about his guilt.
Community Impact
The murders devastated both families and Morgantown’s close-knit community. Karen Ferrell’s cousin Holly Naylor recalled how her aunt Bess and uncle Richard were never the same after losing their daughter. They spent years seeking justice but passed away without answers.
Similarly, Mared’s family endured decades of grief compounded by uncertainty about what truly happened that night in January 1970.
For Morgantown residents who lived through those events—or grew up hearing about them—the case remains a chilling reminder of how quickly life can change.
Hope for Justice
Despite its age, this cold case remains in people’s memories. Investigators continue to encourage anyone with information about Mared Malarik and Karen Ferrell’s murders to come forward. Advances in DNA technology offer hope that additional evidence may emerge, or that investigators may reanalyze existing evidence with modern techniques.
For now, though, justice for these two young women remains elusive—a painful reminder of lives cut short under horrifying circumstances. Their story endures as both a cautionary tale and a call for persistence in uncovering truth, no matter how much time has passed.
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