Unsolved: The Tracy Kirkpatrick Murder Mystery

Tracy Kirkpatrick was a 17-year-old high school student who worked two part-time jobs at the Westridge Square Shopping Mall in Frederick, Maryland. She was a bright and diligent student with a promising future ahead of her. However, her life was cut short on March 15, 1989, when she was found dead in the storeroom of

Tracy Kirkpatrick was a 17-year-old high school student who worked two part-time jobs at the Westridge Square Shopping Mall in Frederick, Maryland. 

She was a bright and diligent student with a promising future ahead of her. However, her life was cut short on March 15, 1989, when she was found dead in the storeroom of the Aileen Women’s Sportswear store where she worked.

Despite numerous efforts by detectives to identify her killer, the case remained unsolved for many years. Tracy’s family and friends were left without closure, wondering who could have committed such a heinous act.

Tracy was described as a hardworking and responsible teenager who was saving money for her college education. She had a bright future ahead of her and was planning to study accounting at Mount St. Mary’s University with the goal of becoming a lawyer.

On the day of her murder, Tracy left school and drove to the Westridge Square Shopping Mall where she worked at two stores as part of a work-study program. She worked at Barnett Shoes and Aileen Women’s Sportswear, two adjacent stores located on the Golden Mile. 

Tracy was last seen alive at around 8:45 pm when she was alone in the Aileen Women’s Sportswear store, just 15 minutes before the scheduled closing time. Her mother, Diane, visited the store throughout the day to check on Tracy, and the business manager also stopped by to see how she was doing. 

However, when the mall security guard noticed the store’s lights were still on at around 10:50 pm, he became suspicious and entered the store to investigate. He discovered Tracy’s body in the storeroom after calling out repeatedly but receiving no response.

The investigation into Tracy’s murder was extensive, with detectives following up on countless leads and tips. However, despite their efforts, they were unable to identify any suspects or find any conclusive evidence that would lead to an arrest.

Tracy’s family and friends were left devastated by her murder and struggled to come to terms with their loss. They were desperate for answers and justice, but their hopes were dashed year after year as the case remained unsolved.

In 2019, the case was reopened by the Frederick Police Department’s Cold Case Unit, which was dedicated to investigating unsolved homicides. The unit reviewed the evidence and interviewed witnesses, hoping to uncover new leads that could help solve the case.

Despite the passage of time, the unit remained optimistic that new information could come to light and lead to a breakthrough in the case. They urged anyone with information about Tracy’s murder to come forward and help bring closure to her family and friends.

Tracy Kirkpatrick’s murder is a tragic reminder of the impact that violent crimes can have on families and communities. It is a testament to the dedication and tireless efforts of law enforcement officers who work tirelessly to bring justice to victims and their families.

While the case remains unsolved, it serves as a reminder that justice is not always immediate, but with persistence and dedication, it can be achieved. The hope remains that one day, someone will come forward with information that will finally bring closure to Tracy’s family and help identify her killer.

Who was Tracy Kirkpatrick’s killer?

The identity of Tracy Kirkpatrick’s killer remained an enigma that left the Frederick Police Department puzzled. They had no concrete leads or evidence to pursue, leaving them baffled about why she was murdered or who could have done it.

Reports indicate that Diane had visited the store at 6:00 pm to bring food for her daughter and found her engrossed in a book alone. The cash register showed no sales after 8:00 pm, and the store manager also checked on Tracy.

Investigators had questioned Don Barnes Jr., the security guard and deputy sheriff of Frederick County, but their investigation yielded no results. 

Tracy’s father had mentioned seeing her with a man and assumed that her car might have been experiencing technical issues when he picked her up the previous evening.

Despite their efforts, the homicide investigation grew stale after a few weeks because the police could not find any physical evidence that would link the boyfriend to Tracy’s murder. The killer’s identity remained a mystery.

The mysterious call received from the killer

In June of 1989, just over a month after Tracy Kirkpatrick’s murder, the case took a peculiar twist when a person claiming to be her killer phoned a Las Vegas crime hotline.

The caller, identifying himself as “Don,” claimed to have known Tracy for some time and spoke with her frequently while she worked at the shopping center.

“Don” admitted that on March 15th, he had gotten into a fight with Tracy, which ultimately led to her being fatally stabbed. However, he refused to reveal his true identity, citing Maryland’s death sentence laws.

The call was traced to a grocery store, but authorities found no evidence linking the caller to Tracy’s murder. Despite the passage of over three decades, Tracy’s murder has remained unsolved.

According to reports, the investigating officers made several errors during their investigation, including failing to seize the rear doors through which the perpetrator may have fled and subpoenaing the store’s phone records.

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