Richard Hanchett's lifelong search for his birth mother took a dramatic turn with an unexpected FBI call, linking him to the infamous "Lady of the Dunes" cold case. This 1974 murder mystery, where a woman's mutilated body was found on Cape Cod, remained unsolved for nearly five decades. Now, a new Oxygen true-crime docuseries, "The Lady of the Dunes: Hunting the Cape Cod Killer," and Hanchett's forthcoming memoir, "Through His Eyes," shed light on the chilling tale.
In October 2022, authorities identified the victim as Ruth Marie Terry, Hanchett's biological mother. Weeks prior, Hanchett experienced recurring nightmares of a man brutally attacking a woman, eerily mirroring the crime. The news brought a chilling realization, connecting his subconscious visions to his mother's tragic fate.
Terry, facing financial hardship, gave Hanchett up for adoption shortly after his birth in 1958. His relentless pursuit for reunification led him to a DNA test in 2018, connecting him with the Terry family and the devastating news of her disappearance.
Months before her death, Terry married Guy Muldavin, who became the prime suspect. Muldavin's disturbing book, "Cooking with Rump Oil," published two years after the murder, contained unsettling illustrations and a recipe seemingly alluding to the crime. He was also a suspect in the deaths of his previous wife and stepdaughter, with human remains discovered on his property. Muldavin died in 2002.
Using investigative genealogy, combining DNA analysis with traditional research, authorities finally identified Terry and linked her to Muldavin. In 2023, the case was officially closed, concluding that Muldavin was responsible for Terry's death. Hanchett expresses frustration over the delayed justice, lamenting the lost years and the impact on his family. He recently visited Terry's grave, a poignant moment of closure in his decades-long search for his mother.
