Podcast Summary: Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore
Episode: The Oslo Woman: The Case That Still Haunts Norway
Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Crime House
Overview
In this episode, hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore unravel the enduring mystery of the “Oslo Woman”—an unidentified woman found dead in room 2805 of Oslo’s Plaza Hotel in 1995. With nearly all traces of her identity meticulously erased and the circumstances of her fate clouded by missing evidence and suspicious details, the case remains one of the most haunting unsolved mysteries in Norway. Morgan and Kaelyn guide listeners through the forensic evidence, botched investigative steps, and the fascinating web of theories and clues that have kept this story alive—asking, was it suicide, murder, or international espionage?
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Discovery and Initial Investigation
[05:30-08:14] The Mysterious Death in Room 2805
- The case begins on June 3, 1995: a receptionist at the Oslo Plaza Hotel notes an unpaid bill for a Belgian couple, “Jennifer and Luis Fargate.” Multiple messages sent to the room go unanswered.
- Security visits the room at 7:50pm; after knocking, a gunshot is heard. Security leaves, returns with the head of security after 14 minutes, and finds a woman dead on the bed, gun in hand.
- Immediate oddities: The deadbolt is engaged from the inside, but the woman left few personal items. Clothing had tags removed, and the provided identity is clearly fake.
Quote:
"So one, I'm like, Caitlyn's cold open. And here we are with one. He should have at least stayed outside the room. How do you know someone didn't escape? Come on." — Morgan Absher [08:14]
2. Timeline and Mysterious Movements
[10:45–19:57] Key Card Clues, Phone Calls, Gaps in Evidence
- Check-in: May 31, 1995. The woman asks for a German-speaking receptionist, checks in as Jennifer & Lois Fargate.
- Discrepancies noted: Different spellings on electronic record and handwritten slip; handwriting and signatures differ as if by two people.
- Provided address and employer (“Service” in Belgium) are close to real names but ultimately fabricated.
- Electronic keycard logs reveal comings and goings: Long periods where the room is unoccupied; only brief, confirmed uses.
- Odd detail: Extension of her stay is granted without payment or proper identification.
3. The Crime Scene Details & Autopsy Findings
[20:46–35:50] Evidence, Forensics, and Inexplicable Omissions
- Gun: 9mm Browning semiautomatic, serial number professionally removed, no fingerprints found.
- Gunshot Details: Reverse grip on the gun, little to no blood or gunshot residue on her hand—highly suspicious for a suicide ruling.
- Belongings: Minimal personal items; all tags cut from clothing; toiletries, wallet, keys, and most luggage missing.
- Autopsy: Reveals woman is about 30, not the declared 21; recently eaten food (bratwurst and potato salad), teeth with dental work common to Germany, Netherlands, US.
- DNA & Teeth Analysis: Exhumation (2016) confirms European, not Scandinavian, origin. Tests suggest she was likely born in 1971 and grew up in Northern Germany.
Quote:
"The gun was in her hand backwards, resting on her chest—I'm twisted up." — Morgan Absher [67:02]
4. Missing Items and Suspicious Circumstances
[26:07–31:35]
- Notable absence of standard travel items; one cleaner recalled seeing brightly colored shoes later missing.
- The travel bag was too small for all the clothes found; a suitcase likely missing.
- Only personal item: a nearly empty bottle of men’s cologne; more clues pointing to a possible male companion.
- Expensive citizen Aqualand diving watch with batteries engraved "W395," likely changed three months prior to her death.
5. Witnesses, Hotel Staff, and Botched Evidence Handling
[37:54–44:36]
- Housekeeper confirms only one bed used until the final night, after which both duvets appear slept in.
- Hotel staff discarded mattress and bedding after the investigation, eliminating further DNA avenues.
- A USA Today newspaper intended for another room found in her room, with an unidentified fingerprint. Police never followed up with the recipient guest.
- Odd behavior of the neighbor in room 2804 (“Mr. F”): a Belgian who is evasive and contradicts basic facts about the timeline of the death.
Quote:
"Mr. F asked, 'There was a woman who died, wasn't there, a suicide?'" — Kaylin Moore, [45:00]
6. Theories and Community Insights
[51:16–62:40] Theories: Spy Games, Suicide, or Honeytrap
- Possibility of murder staged as suicide, linking to spycraft due to erased identity, missing items, untraceable gun, and Oslo’s history of intelligence activity.
- Kaelyn doubts a true professional spy would make identity errors; posits she may have been a low-level operative or honeytrap (sex worker used for espionage), likening her to the “Easdal Woman” case.
- Suicide theory: Some propose she came to Oslo specifically to die, explaining the lack of items and payment.
- Internet communities are split; Mr. F’s strange knowledge prior to the body's discovery is heavily debated.
- Hosts lament loss of forensic opportunities (discarded bedding, limited DNA policies), noting limitations in Norway’s database-sharing.
Quote:
"If you're a professional spy... you have your backstory locked and loaded. You are not giving addresses that don't really exist." — Kaylin Moore [57:08]
Notable Quotes and Moments (with Timestamps)
-
On the haphazard investigation:
"Treating things like a crime scene, which we talk about on the show, you have to pretty much immediately treat everything like a crime scene." — Kaylin Moore [08:26] -
Muliple fake details:
"Everything's like, close but not quite. Right." — Morgan Absher [12:33] -
Fingerprint & evidence critique:
"There weren't fingerprints on the gun. I mean, it just seems, like, so odd." — Morgan Absher [67:02] -
Espionage & plausible theories:
"Being a spy like that is... It is a thing. Like, I know we joke and there's spy novels and James Bond, but it's for sure a thing." — Morgan Absher [58:25] -
On forensics and technology:
"Look at how many cases we're solving now with forensic genealogy—had you kept some DNA." — Morgan Absher [40:21] -
Community engagement:
"I'm just know gonna be spinning on this one. Maybe we should do a poll on this one." — Morgan Absher [66:35]
Case Theories and Unanswered Questions
- Murder staged as suicide: Strange absence of residue and forensics suggesting her hand never fired the gun.
- Espionage: Wiped identity, German connection, strange behavior by staff and possible male companion, Oslo's history with intelligence.
- Suicide: The bare possessions, avoidance of payment, and the food timeline might fit, though details are off.
- Honeytrap/Disposability: Sloppy details could mean she was a low-level informant or expendable "asset."
- Neighbor (Mr. F): How did he know of the death before the body was found? Is his evasiveness meaningful or coincidental?
Important Timestamps for Segments
- [05:30]: Hotel notices unpaid bill, security called
- [08:14]: Scene and initial police assessment
- [20:46]: Police arrive, details of gun and body
- [31:35]: Watch and battery engraving discussion
- [35:09]: Autopsy details, the “Oslo woman” sketch
- [37:54]: New investigation, clues from duvets and missing evidence
- [42:24]: Newspaper bag fingerprint
- [45:00]: Conversation with Mr. F (neighbor)
- [47:27]: Body exhumation and analysis leads
- [51:16]: Theories on murder, suicide, espionage
- [59:41]: Internet and Reddit community theories
- [61:11]: Community call for input, teeth science rabbit holes
Conclusion & Call to Audience
Despite DNA advances and international exposure (including Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries), the true identity of the Oslo Woman and the real events leading to her death remain unsolved. The hosts invite listeners—particularly any with knowledge of Norway or the Plaza Hotel in 1995—to share theories and engage in renewed community sleuthing, hoping that someone, somewhere, recognizes details and can help crack the case.
To submit tips:
- Unsolved Mysteries tip page: www.unsolved.com/tips
- Clues Podcast on Instagram or YouTube (@CluesPodcast, @CluesPod)
Final Thought:
"Honestly, you could convince me of pretty much anything right now because I, I don't know. I genuinely don't know." — Morgan Absher [66:53]