Podcast Summary

Podcast: Murder: True Crime Stories
Host: Carter Roy
Episode: MYSTERY: The Oslo Plaza Woman
Date: January 23, 2026

Overview

This episode examines the perplexing unsolved case of the “Oslo Plaza Woman.” Found dead in a luxury Oslo hotel room in 1995 under suspicious circumstances, her true identity and the circumstances of her death are still unknown. Host Carter Roy reconstructs the events, theories, and investigative failures around the woman known only by her false registration name: “Jennifer Fairgate.” Journalist Lars Kristen Wegner’s dogged efforts to keep the case alive, alongside modern forensic and investigative developments, are explored in depth.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Discovery of the Body & Initial Investigation

• Timeframe: June 3, 1995
• Scene:
  • “Jennifer Fairgate” found dead in Room 2805, Hotel Plaza, Oslo
  • No ID, credit card, or real contact information; all clothing labels were removed
  • Her hands were clean, and the gun’s serial number had been expertly removed
  • Police initially leaned toward suicide, but mounting irregularities complicated that story

Quote:

"Her death wasn't an accident. The question is, who killed her and why?"
— Carter Roy (04:28)

Key Details:

• Checked in three days prior; registered with a second, likely fake, person (“Lois Farragate”)
• Used a non-existent Belgian address
• The gun: a military-grade 9mm Browning, serial number erased with acid
• No fingerprints or gunshot residue on her hands, despite apparent suicide

[06:12] — Crime scene recap:

• Minimal personal belongings: only a small turquoise bag and a black leather briefcase with 25 rounds of ammunition
• No evidence of toiletries or common traveler items
• Brief assessment concluded: death scene appeared staged

The Dead Ends & Suspicions

• Investigative Deadlocks:

  • All ID details turned out false
  • Interpol fingerprint checks: no matches
  • No person reported missing matching her profile
  • Serial number on pistol professionally erased
  • The registration card had incomplete info; Belgian address did not exist

• Investigators’ Theory Evolution:

  • With evidence pointing both toward and away from suicide, murder became a focus
  • The methodical attempt at erasure of identity and evidence suggested Jennifer might have been either a criminal or a spy

Quote:

"Whoever had destroyed this serial number knew what they were doing. The report said it had been etched away, likely with acid and very professionally."
— Carter Roy (17:49)

The Lonely Burial & Journalistic Investigation

• Burial: June 26, 1996
  • Anonymous grave; little to no attendance except cemetery workers and a single police investigator
  • Inspired journalist Lars Kristen Wegner to publish her story and spearhead public interest

Quote:

"They were the loneliest images he'd ever seen. ... Lars knew. And he couldn't shake the feeling that someone out there would want to know too."
— Carter Roy (21:39)

Reinvention of the Case – The Wegner/Oslo Police Re-Examination

• 2015–2017:
  • Wegner and new police team reinvestigate, reevaluate key evidence
  • Re-examine witness statements, hotel keycard logs, and possible lead involving missing belongings

Key Findings:

• Keycard Use: Only five times in three days (27:32).
  • Suggests she was out for long stretches and possibly had outside contacts
• Missing Items: Hotel staff remembered seeing shoes later missing from the crime scene—another sign of tampering (30:06)
• Unique Lock System: Doors could be double-locked from outside with keycard; possible that the killer left and locked door behind them

Quote:

"It meant someone could have entered Jennifer's room, killed her, then left and double locked the room from the outside. That's why the door was locked, even though Jennifer was already dead."
— Carter Roy (32:55)

Forensic & Modern Developments

• DNA Advances:

  • Partial DNA profile secured after exhumation in 2016
  • Carbon dating suggests German origin, birth year around 1971 (mid-20s at time of death)
  • Still, no matches and no one came forward

• Expert Opinions:

  • Ulich Huldegger, Norwegian intelligence veteran, believed her actions and erasure of identity aligned with espionage tradecraft (41:22).
  • Theory: she was a covert operative whose death would go unreported or be handled privately in official circles.

Alternative Theories

• Spy/Espionage:
  • Intensive efforts to conceal identity; suitcase and other personals disappeared
• High-End Escort Hypothesis:
  • The second name ("Lois Fargate") could be a client or handler; possible client in adjacent room (Mr. F)
  • “Four bras, no other clothes” cited as circumstantial evidence (44:14)
  • Mr. F's evasiveness (room next door, found out before police report) adds to suspicion
• Assassination:
  • Sure-handed removal of serial number, lack of forensic traces, and professional crime scene staging
• Mental Health/Suicide:
  • Official decision by police; no compelling evidence beyond circumstance

Media Attention & Continuing Mystery

• 2017: In-depth article and TV documentary reignite interest (46:10)
• 2020: Featured on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries (47:12)
• Despite international attention, the Oslo Plaza Woman remains unidentified, and her death unsolved

Quote:

"Whether that's because Jennifer didn't want to be found or someone else was determined to keep her death shrouded in mystery, it's hard to say. But in the end, everyone deserves to be remembered."
— Carter Roy (47:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On conspiracy and cover-up:

  "There was almost no clothing found in Jennifer's room, except for four bras. If her other items weren't removed at some point before her body was found, this may indicate that Jennifer had packed light, prioritizing items she would have needed for work."
  — Carter Roy (44:12)

• On the evidence of professional crime:

  "Whoever had destroyed this serial number knew what they were doing... The lab couldn’t find a single print on the weapon either. Not from Jennifer or anyone else."
  — Carter Roy (17:49)

• On the emotional impact of her lonely burial:

  "They were the loneliest images he'd ever seen. The first was of the church. A casket stood beside an empty pulpit, rows of empty seats before it."
  — Carter Roy (21:39)

• On the story’s enduring pull:

  "Someone out there had to know the truth about Jennifer Fairgate. And Lars wouldn't stop until the whole world did too."
  — Carter Roy (25:39)

Timestamps: Key Segments

• [00:46] — Episode introduction & initial facts
• [06:12] — Journalist Lars Wegner and the detailed timeline of crime discovery
• [15:27] — Police investigation and evidence specifics
• [27:11] — Wegner’s reinvestigation: witness testimonies, missing items, keycard theory
• [41:22] — Espionage theory explained by intelligence veteran
• [44:12] — Escort theory and Mr. F
• [47:36] — Carter Roy’s reflection on remembrance and the case’s meaning

Tone & Language

Carter Roy delivers the narrative with the measured, contemplative tone typical of high-caliber true crime podcasts, balancing forensic detail with moments of empathy and reflection on the victim’s humanity. The script is rich with descriptive language ("loneliest images he’d ever seen," "her very existence seemed to defy explanation") and avoids sensationalism, focusing instead on respectful contemplation and the haunting persistence of unsolved questions.

Summary

This episode of Murder: True Crime Stories captures the enigmatic essence of the Oslo Plaza Woman case—a story marked by vanished identities, obstructed investigations, and tireless journalistic efforts. It blends methodical recounting of facts with poignant reflection, illustrating why even decades-old mysteries continue to fascinate and disturb, reminding listeners that every victim, no matter how anonymous, deserves to be remembered and sought.