Cold Case Files: "Reopened: Vintage Murder" - Detailed Summary

Hosted by Paula Barros

Introduction

"Cold Case Files," hosted by Paula Barros, delves into some of America's most perplexing unsolved murders. In the episode titled "Reopened: Vintage Murder," aired on February 6, 2025, the haunting 1973 murder of Dawn Maguyar from Chesnigh, Michigan, is meticulously examined. This summary captures the key points, discussions, insights, and conclusions of the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those unfamiliar with the case.

Case Overview

In January 1973, 20-year-old Dawn Maguyar embarked on a routine shopping trip in her small town of Chesnigh, Michigan, along with her husband and one-year-old son. On January 27th, she dressed warmly in a black sweater, blue slacks, and a brown leather jacket, preparing for the cold Michigan winter. After saying goodbye to her family, Dawn set out for groceries and a visit to the local mall.

However, during her drive, Dawn's car began to malfunction. She stopped at a service station where her car battery was recharged. Needing a reliable vehicle, she called her father-in-law to borrow his truck, trading her problematic car for it. Dawn resumed her shopping trip around 4 PM. When she failed to return home, her family initiated a search but only found the abandoned truck in a store parking lot. The truck's driver's side door was unlocked, with one key on the seat and another on the floor. Inside, bags of groceries, clothes, and new baby clothes suggested that Dawn had finished her shopping. Despite these findings, no witnesses came forward, and the evidence provided no leads, leaving investigators and Dawn's family in a state of uncertainty.

Initial Investigation

Six weeks after Dawn's disappearance, in 1973, an 11-year-old boy named Wayne Summers was working on his father's farm, collecting buckets of sap for maple syrup. During his routine task, Wayne discovered something unusual:

Detective [02:55]: "I did notice a very bright color on the ground... it was a person lying on the ground, and a woman. I could tell by the hair."

Upon closer inspection, Wayne and his older brother recognized Dawn from television reports.

Detective [03:29]: "And lo and behold, here she was."

Tragically, Dawn had been killed execution-style with three bullets to the back of her head and spine. An autopsy revealed that she had also been raped. The bullets recovered were from two different .22 caliber firearms: two Remingtons and one Winchester. Initial forensic analysis determined that all bullets had been fired from the same weapon, despite the different brands, posing a unique investigative challenge.

Struggle for Leads

For nearly a year, the case remained unsolved. A significant breakthrough occurred in June 1974 when four boys swimming in the Shiawassee River stumbled upon a revolver.

Detective [05:20]: "He stepped on this revolver... and saw that it was a revolver."

Detective Bart Barnes took custody of the weapon and, after cleaning it, found similarities in the barrel grooves with the bullets from Dawn's case. The revolver contained two Remington bullets and one Winchester, mirroring the ammunition found in Dawn's body. Detective Barnes traced the gun to a pawn shop in Yuma, Arizona, where it had been sold to a Robert Shaw. However, Shaw had left Yuma without a forwarding address, leaving investigators without a direct lead.

Reopening the Case

Twenty years later, in 1994, Detective Gail Tobin reopened Dawn's case. Leveraging advancements in forensic technology, Tobin focused on the biological evidence, particularly DNA extracted from the rape kit.

Detective Tobin [09:04]: "When I read that case and I saw the evidence that was available, there was no question that we could solve this case."

The DNA profile obtained was compared against potential suspects, including Robert Shaw and others connected to Dawn Maguyar. Unfortunately, none of the available suspects matched the DNA profile, creating further challenges in the investigation.

Detective Mark Pendergraaff's Investigation

In 1998, Detective Mark Pendergraaff took over the case, determined to trace the revolver's path to Michigan. By narrowing down the list of potential Robert Shaws in Michigan, Detective Pendergraaff focused on one individual who had moved from Yuma, Arizona, to Lansing, Michigan. Despite extensive questioning, DNA testing ultimately excluded Shaw as the perpetrator.

Detective [14:01]: "The lab confirmed that the DNA was not a match."

A New Lead: Gerald Wingart

Unfazed by the setback, Shaw provided the name Gerald Weingart—a former neighbor with a criminal history involving kidnapping and rape. Although Shaw hadn't personally met Wingart, he believed Wingart might have had access to the murder weapon. Detectives sought a DNA sample from Wingart but faced challenges initially.

Detective Pendergraaff observed Wingart's smoking habits, noting his use of Merit brand cigarettes:

Detective [18:52]: "I could see that a pack of cigarettes on the dash. And I could see what the brand was. It was Merit brand."

By collecting and analyzing garbage from Wingart's residence, detectives retrieved cigarette butts containing DNA. This DNA matched the profile from the murder scene with a probability of 15.9 quadrillion to one, providing irrefutable evidence.

Trial and Conviction

Gerald Wingart was brought to trial, where he testified that his encounter with Dawn was consensual. However, forensic expert Ann Chamberlain disproved his account by analyzing sperm cells, indicating that sexual contact occurred within six hours of Dawn's murder—making consensual claims implausible.

Detective Pendergraaff [21:32]: "That's an awful long stretch to ask someone to believe that she would meet this person she had never known before, take a ride with him to a secluded area, have sex with him. He would leave, and then somebody else come along and just kill her."

The jury deliberated for a day and a half before returning a guilty verdict on first-degree felony murder.

Detective [21:57]: "Felony murder. Guilty of first degree, felony murder."

Gerald Wingart was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, bringing closure to a case that remained unsolved for 27 years.

Unanswered Questions

Despite the conviction, the origin of the murder weapon remains unanswered. Robert Shaw speculated on possible scenarios, suggesting that the gun could have been in the trunk of Dawn's car, a dresser drawer, or left at her apartment. However, these details remain unresolved, leaving a lingering question in an otherwise closed case.

Detective [22:23]: "It could have been in the trunk of the car because she got the car and everything... I don't know."

Conclusion

"Dawn Maguyar's" murder case exemplifies the complexities and challenges inherent in cold case investigations. Through relentless detective work, advancements in forensic science, and unwavering determination, "Cold Case Files" narrates the journey to justice, ultimately delivering closure to a family long left in the dark. This episode underscores the importance of perseverance in the quest for truth and the profound impact that solving such cases can have on those affected.

Produced by McKamey, Lynn and Steve Delamater. Associate Producer: Julie McGruder. Executive Producer: Ted Butler. Music by Blake Maples. Distributed by Podcast One.