Cold Case 1975:  Kathy Beatty 

 On July 25,1975, 15-year-old Kathy Beatty was found unconscious in a wooded area in the rear of the Kmart department store located at Georgia Avenue and Connecticut Avenue in Aspen Hill, Maryland.  The hospital examination revealed that she had been sexually assaulted and hit on the head with a blunt instrument.  Kathy never regained consciousness and died on August 8, 1975. 

Kathy was a student at Parkland Junior High School.  In 1975, the surrounding area near Georgia Avenue and Connecticutt Avenue was referred to as the "hill" or the "rocks".  Parkland Junior High School, the Aspen Hill shopping center, and the "hill" were a gathering place for local teenagers that lived and grew up in the neighborhood.  Kathy was known to frequent these areas.  She was last seen on July 24, 1975 at approximately 9:00 p.m. walking on West Frankfort Street near Parkland Junior High School.  She was alone at the time.

The keys photographed above were found next to her purse at the time of her discovery.  The keys do not belong to her.  The automobile key is from a 1972 General Motors vehicle.  The house key was from a door knob type lock approximately 10 years old.  The leather strap was probably made as a school project. 

At the time of the homicide, investigators interviewed numerous friends and acquaintances of Kathy Beatty.  Several of those interviewed gave inconsistent statements to police as to their whereabouts on the night that Kathy was last seen. 

Two witnesses observed two male suspects carrying the body of a white female fitting the description of Kathy Beatty.  The suspects were seen heading eastbound crossing Georgia Avenue towards the 7-Eleven convenience store and continuing on towards the "hill" area.  Suspect one is described as a white male, mid to late teens, wearing a dark-colored jacket.  He was taller than suspect two.  Suspect two is described as a white male, mid to late teens, wearing dark clothing.  He had fluffy, light brown hair that had grown below his ears. 

Investigators believe that the information obtained from the witness is consistent with the chronology of events leading up to the discovery of Kathy in the area of the "hill".