48-Year-Old Cold Case Reopened: Chilling Ransom Tape Released in Margaret Ellen Fox Disappearance

Margaret Ellen Fox Cold Case: Newly Released Audio Offers Hope After 48 Years Burlington County, NJ – The disappearance of 14-year-old Margaret Ellen Fox in 1974 remains one of New Jersey's most enduring cold cases. This week, however, a significant development has emerged, offering a renewed glimmer of hope for her family and investigators. For the first time, the FBI has released an audio recording of a ransom call made shortly after Margaret vanished. Margaret was last seen boarding a bus on June 24, 1974, headed for a babysitting job. She was described as having blue eyes, brown hair, and two missing top right teeth. She wore glasses, jeans with a yellow patch, a blue blouse, a white and black checkered jacket, and brown sandals. She carried an eyeglass case featuring Huckleberry Hound. In the recently released audio (partially transcribed below), a voice demands a $10,000 ransom for Margaret's safe return. "Ten thousand dollars might be a lot of bread," the caller states, "but your daughter's life is a better topic." The chilling call has reignited interest in the case and renewed efforts to find Margaret. "This is a huge step forward," said [Name and Title of someone involved in the case]. "We hope this audio will jog someone's memory and lead us to answers." The FBI is offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to Margaret's location or the arrest of those responsible. The release of this audio underscores the enduring hope for closure in Margaret's case and the power of renewed public attention in solving long-unsolved mysteries. The hope is that this new information will finally bring Margaret's family some answers and justice.