Unforgotten · Alabama Cold Case Advocacy

S2 Ep2: Mary Faye Hunter

·27 min·1 clip

Her remains were found on October 14th, 1967, but decades of jurisdictional confusion and potential cover-up have kept the case cold.

This episode of "Unforgotten" investigates the 1967 disappearance and murder of Mary Faye Hunter in Decatur, Alabama. Host Sellers presents the case solo, as co-host Stormy researched and wrote the episode but is absent. Mary Faye Hunter was a 34-year-old secretary at Redstone Arsenal who lived with her parents and did not drive. On May 6, 1967, she walked to a hair appointment and an A&P market before vanishing near the corner of Johnson Street Southeast and 8th Avenue. Her skeletal remains were discovered five months later in the Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge by two young girls playing near Flint Creek. A coroner's jury ruled her death a homicide by person or persons unknown, with the autopsy suggesting sexual assault based on one leg of her pantyhose being removed. Investigative journalist Brad Golsan and Mary Faye's nephew, James "Jamie" Hunter, have extensively researched the case and co-wrote a book titled "What Happened to Mary Faye Hunter." A persistent rumor suggests Mary Faye was involved with a married man and was pregnant, which may have provided a motive. The official investigation has been hampered by lost police files and a jurisdictional dispute between Decatur PD and Alabama state investigators. Morgan County District Attorney Scott Anderson confirms his office has a file but states the case is only technically under investigation, with no active leads. He refuses to release the autopsy report, arguing it is the only remaining evidence to verify a potential future confession. The episode includes a clip from a WHNT News 19 report and an audio recollection from one of the girls who found the remains. Sellers also provides updates on other advocacy efforts, including a new billboard for missing person Steven Pearson and a tip line for Alabama cold cases. The tone is empathetic and educational, focusing on detailed factual narration to raise awareness. Listeners interested in historical true crime, unsolved mysteries, and victim advocacy will find this episode compelling. Those seeking fast-paced resolution or graphic detective work may find the bureaucratic and archival challenges frustrating.

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