ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. – Authorities in St. Louis County have disclosed new information about a cold case dating back 45 years involving the murder of Margaret Walsh. The 47-year-old mother of three was fatally shot on the night of April 23, 1980, at the Dairy Queen located on Clayton at Clarkson, where she was employed as a night manager. During the incident, the store’s office was found ransacked, and cash had been taken.
At the time of her death, Walsh’s children were 16, 18, and 21 years old. In addition to her duties at the Dairy Queen, she was employed as a secretary at Parkway South Middle School.
Although the case was reopened several times in 1991, 2006, and in recent years, it remains unsolved with no arrests made. The police continue to treat it as an ongoing investigation, holding out hope that someone might come forward with the information necessary to finally resolve the case.
A high-profile volunteer
Tim Fitch, a former St. Louis County Police Chief, has been volunteering in efforts to solve the murder for the town of Ellisville, where this stands as the only homicide on record. Presently, all three of her children, along with her ex-husband and boyfriend at the time, have passed away.
On that ill-fated evening, Margaret was closing the Dairy Queen with the assistance of three Lafayette High School students, who left around 10:30 p.m., leaving her alone at the establishment. Records indicate she clocked out near 11 p.m., but she never made it home.
The following morning at approximately 7 a.m., the co-owner of the restaurant discovered Margaret’s body. Her car remained at the scene, and she had suffered a gunshot wound in the back office area, which was also ransacked.
The evidence
Major Case Squad investigators were called to help solve the crime. Fitch reviewed the evidence they collected and believes that Margaret was confronted by someone when she tried to leave the restaurant. Margaret had already dropped the money from that day into the safe and did not have the combination to open it. They were able to take off with around $150 in money left in the register.
Why was Margaret killed for $150? Fitch believes that Margaret may have known the shooter or that the robber may have wanted to eliminate the only witness.
The case has been reopened several times over the last four decades. Investigators say that Maurice Oscar Byrd may have been the suspect in this crime. He admitted to the Pope’s Cafeteria murder and was later put to death by the state of Missouri. But Byrd has never been connected to Margaret’s murder.
Byrd worked as a St. Louis University security guard at the time of the murder. Records show that he was at work at the time of the murder. It would have been difficult for him to drive to the Dairy Queen to commit the crime and return to work.
How you can help
“This case is personal. We have fresh eyes and new tools, time can change what people remember and what they’re willing to share. Maybe you were young, maybe you were scared. Now is the time to speak,” said Tim Fitch, investigator, Ellisville Police Department.
Police are asking for the public’s help to catch the killer. Evidence in the case has been preserved, and new technology can help solve the crime. You can submit a tip through the St. Louis area CrimeStoppers to remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward, call 1-866-371-8477.
