Author: A.B.

Margaret Caroline Muller (born May 20, 1975, in Falls Church, Virginia, USA) moved to the UK in 1998 to study at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art in Central London, where she completed a two-year master's degree. Five months before her murder she moved to Hackney and lived in a converted factory artstudio on 55 Wallis Road in Hackney Wick, East London. She embraced the bohemian lifestyle and was a regular at TRASH, a legendary alternative nightclub in London. Besides creating her own primarily figurative artwork, Margaret worked as a Studio Assistant during the 2002/2003 academic year, helping run art classes and supporting other artists and students. Colleagues and friends remember her as enthusiastic, loyal and a talented artist.

The investigation
The investigation into Margaret’s murder was delayed because she lived alone and was not reported missing for three days. She was ultimately identified through the contents of her mobile phone. After that, the Metropolitan Police launched a major investigation: distributing questionnaires, making public appeals, and conducting extensive door-to-door inquiries in an effort to find witnesses who had been in Victoria Park at the time of the attack.

Given the time of day and the park’s large size—about 9 hectares (22 acres)—people were likely widely spread out, and the winding paths and wooded areas further limited visibility. These factors may explain why so few were near the crime scene and why only a handful of witnesses could provide relevant information. It’s possible, that morning, both Margaret and the killer entered via Queen’s Gate on Wick Road, the closest entrance to her home. 

One witness reported seeing two men of "Mediterranean appearance", in their early twenties, running from the scene; another described a man in a bright orange and yellow jogging top near Muller at the time of the attack. A further person of interest was a man on a bicycle who promised to get help but instead cycled away and was never seen again—Neither of them have ever been identified. 

In an effort to retrace people’s movements and generate new leads, police organized a large-scale reconstruction in Victoria Park about a month after the killing. More than 100 participants who had been in the park on the morning of the murder took part. The reconstruction also served as a renewed public appeal, encouraging anyone who had not yet come forward to share information.

Over the years, police repeatedly offered rewards for information (£15,000, later £20,000), but no significant leads emerged. The case was periodically featured in the media, and the police continued to issue appeals, including on major remembrances of the murder. 

Forensic evidence
Police collected a range of physical evidence from the crime scene and from Margaret herself, including her jogging top and other clothing, in hopes of recovering forensic traces of the killer. However, no usable forensic evidence—such as DNA—was obtained from these items. Significant errors in early forensic testing compromised the DNA samples, making it impossible to recover a usable profile. 

Despite repeated efforts over the following years—including the use of advanced forensic techniques and new DNA profiling methods—nothing was found that could identify the perpetrator. This could be because the killer was forensically careful, the attack left no recoverable trace, or the compromised testing process destroyed what evidence might have existed. 

Whether modern forensic methods could help now depends entirely on the current condition and availability of any original biological evidence. 

Motive and profiling the murderer
Police explored several possible motives in Margaret's murder but found no evidence of robbery or sexual assault—her phone and jewelry were still on her body. They also ruled out any personal connections, finding no links to a partner, ex-partner, or family member. While detectives have not completely dismissed the idea of a failed robbery, the excessive number of stab wounds makes this unlikely. Instead, they believe the most probable scenario is a random, exceptionally brutal attack by a stranger, possibly with an accomplice, who may have followed Margaret before attacking her from behind. 

Criminal profilers suggested the possibility that the killer was a "thrill killer"—someone who attacks for personal gratification, without a clear motive such as robbery, sexual assault, or personal vendetta and might have killed animals for pleasure before. 

Suspects
In the first year of the investigation, five people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in Margaret's murder, but all were released without charge. Police also investigated individuals linked to similar local offenses, such as a indecent assault in Victoria Park and a attack in Clissold Park, both in 2003. However, these suspects were eventually ruled out, either because they had alibis, were in custody at the time, or there were significant differences between the cases. 

The investigation continued over the years, with new suspects questioned as leads emerged. In 2009, two men from Cambridgeshire were arrested—a 36-year-old man and a suspected accomplice, a 46-year-old man—but again, no charges were brought.

Some similarities were noted with later murders, such as the 2006 killing of Egeli Rasta by Gareth Davies and 2006 killing of Cheryl Moss, by Stuart Harling. However, both men were ruled out of any involvement in Margaret's murder. 

Present status
Despite a total of nine arrests over the years and extensive investigation, no one has ever been formally accused. The case remains unsolved and is considered one of London’s most notorious cold cases.

Although it has been years, it is believed that some people still hold vital information about Margaret’s murder and are urged to come forward. There is still hope that justice will prevail. As a reminder, on the morning of February 3, 2003, Margaret was wearing a pair of black leggings, a green fleece top, a pink woolly hat, and grey trainers. 

Do you have any information? 
We hope that someone has information that could help. Do you recollect suspicious activity in the park, around the Queen's Gate entrance, the nearby Gascoyne Estate or otherwise? If so, please let us know now using the contact form below – even if you’re unsure or think your information might not be important. 

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