Going West: True Crime

Episode 580 - "Sheree Magaro: Blood in the Snow"

Released: February 6, 2026

Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman

Episode Overview

This haunting episode of Going West delves into the brutal and baffling unsolved 1987 murder of Sheree Magaro (born Cherie Marie Yutz) in snowy rural Maryland. Through vivid storytelling, thorough timelines, and firsthand commentary from investigators and family, Daphne and Heath lay out the chilling disappearance, the key evidence, possible suspects, and enduring mysteries surrounding Sheree's case—a story as cold and confounding as the winter night she vanished.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background: Sheree Magaro's Life

• Sheree was born in Lebanon, PA (1956), described as vivacious, caring, and ambitious.
• After high school, she became an executive secretary at Control Data Corporation.
• Married Michael Magaro in 1982, had a son (Tony), amicably divorced in 1985.
• In a long-distance relationship with Frank Brown Jr., the couple was considering marriage before Sheree's disappearance.

"She had a really great weekend with her partner... things were really good. It wasn't like, oh, they were breaking up and there was trouble."
— Daphne (08:18)

2. Timeline of Disappearance & Crime Scene (Feb 22-23, 1987)

Feb 22, 1987 (Evening):

• Sheree visits Frank in Kennedyville, MD, planning to head home early to beat a snowstorm.
• Leaves Frank’s home around 9:40pm; snow is relentlessly falling.

Feb 23, 1987 (Morning):

• At about 9:30am, police are notified of an abandoned, burnt-out car just off Route 213, about 15 miles from Frank's house.
• Sheree’s suitcase and the clothes she was last seen in are inside.
• The snow hampered investigation—no clear tracks or footprints.

Disturbing Findings:

• Blood, hair, and brain matter inside the vehicle, especially in the rear seat; a skull fragment outside the car.
• A bloodied tire jack with tissue in the trunk (likely murder weapon).
• Purse, driver’s license, and lipstick scattered 100 yards from the car, but costly jewelry left behind—robbery ruled out as motive.

"There would have been an astronomical amount of blood. It just wasn't there."
— Detective Sgt. Larry Meisel (13:10)

3. Immediate Theories and Obstacles

• The snowstorm obscured physical evidence—no usable tyre tracks or prints.
• Car was mechanically sound and deliberately driven to its dump site.
• Investigators theorize Sheree may have stopped for someone in need (possibly a ruse), or was forced off the road.

"They’re wondering if this is what happened to Sheree - like a Ted Bundy situation."
— Daphne (17:10-18:13)_

4. Key Physical Evidence

• Blood-Soaked Men’s Shirt:
  Found about a mile from the car, size and style matching any generic retailer, soaked with Sheree’s blood (23:33 - episode cut to ad break here).
• Use of Sheree's Credit Card:
  The day after the murder, a young white man with a crew cut attempts to buy a TV with her maxed-out card at a Sears in Bel Air, MD. Leaves the card behind and flees when confronted (35:54).

"He just walks into a store, says, hey, I need to buy this TV for me and my wife because we're living in a hotel and we need a new TV and we just got married."
— Heath (35:57)

• Abandoned JCPenney Card:
  Seven months later, another of Sheree’s cards is found, propped against a stop sign, purposefully placed 10 miles from the car scene.

5. Suspect Descriptions & Sightings

• Composite Sketches Released:
  • One based on Sears store man: white, slender, late 20s, 5'9", dark hair (crew cut), light eyes.
  • Second from motorists: similar man seen near a parked Ford Mustang with hazards on multiple times along the relevant stretch of highway the night of the disappearance.

"Not only are the descriptions very similar, the composites do look very similar as well."
— Daphne (47:12)

• The Mustang (1974-78 or 1983-87) with MD or PA plates was checked—5,000 registered in the county complicated the search.

"A car of men pulled over after being flagged down by this man. But he then declined to let them help him. Maybe because it was a group of men."
— Daphne (46:17)

6. Alternative Theories and Investigative Angles

• Sheree was either lured to help a “stranded” motorist or forced to stop by someone impersonating law enforcement.
• The possibility that the perpetrator was a police officer (or used a police-like vehicle) was explored.
• Investigators cleared both her ex-husband Michael and boyfriend Frank through diligent interviews and polygraphs; both cooperated fully.

"We looked at the ex-husband very hard, but nothing ever came from it."
— Larry Meisel via Heath (41:53)

• DNA at the time (1987) could only confirm the blood belonged to Sheree, no perpetrator DNA was found.

7. Aftermath and Impact on Family

• Despite an intensive search, including with dogs and divers, Sheree's body was never found.
• The case remains one of loss without closure for Sheree’s family, with her mother Mary Grace and her father eventually raising Tony, her son.

"We rarely ever think of the killer. We are obsessed with finding our daughter. We just cannot give up... Every day it's on my daughter's mind, my husband's. My husband keeps it inside, but I talk about it all the time."
— Mary Grace (49:40)

• A $20,000 reward for information yielded no real leads.
• Investigators and the family continued publicizing the case; tips slowed over time.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Randomness of the Crime:

  "I think even though this attack was obviously very vicious, it absolutely seems random, don't you think?"
  — Daphne (42:50)

• Describing the Composite Sketch:

  "The composites look like a mix between Freddie Mercury and Borat... the eyebrows are so prominent." — Heath (47:19)

• On the Family’s Endurance:

  "He’s our life now. He’s our joy. He fits right into our family... But I talk about it all the time. He never forgets her. He misses her terribly, and no one is going to replace her."
  — Mary Grace, quoting about Tony (50:13)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:40 — Case introduction and background of Sheree
• 09:55 — Discovery of Sheree's burnt-out car
• 13:10 — Investigator's assessment of the scene and murder
• 23:33 — Blood-soaked men’s shirt found
• 35:54 — The Sears credit card incident
• 39:52 — JCPenney card found, seven months later
• 41:53 — Discussion of and clearance of ex-husband and boyfriend
• 45:28 — Composite sketches and vehicle sightings
• 49:40 — Family reflections and case legacy

Case Status & Call to Action

• Sheree Magaro’s body remains missing, and her killer has never been identified.
• The episode urges those with any information to contact the Maryland State Police Criminal Investigation Bureau at 410-653-4211.

Final Note:
Both hosts highlight the coldness and mystery that still shroud this case, emphasizing hopes that advances in DNA and renewed interest could one day bring justice for Sheree and her family.

[For photos and composite sketches referenced, visit Going West's social channels.]