She was found dead in a San Diego freezer. What is known about her life

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5) — Ever since her body was found in a freezer last year, the suspicious death of Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones has been shrouded in a series of unanswered questions: Who was she? Where was she last seen? Is someone responsible for her death?

“Ultimately she ended up deceased and she was in a freezer,” said Lt. Jud Campbell with the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit. “I want to know why, and I think the public wants to know why.”

FOX 5 has spent the last two months trying to to piece together snippets of her life, and what it might illuminate about her mysterious demise.

‘An unusual circumstance’

The story of Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones began when an unidentified body was found inside a plugged-in, unlocked freezer at a home on Zion Avenue in San Diego’s Allied Gardens neighborhood on Dec. 22, 2023.

San Diego police officers were dispatched to the home around 11:45 a.m. after out-of-town family members stumbled upon the body during a visit. Because of where the body was found, Homicide Unit investigators were called to investigate.

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“Obviously it’s an unusual circumstance,” Campbell said of the the location where the body was found. “So that’s what got my unit involved.”

A little more than a week later, authorities identified the woman’s body as Haxby-Jones, who was believed to have been missing or dead for up to nine years. If she were alive today, she would have been 81 years old.

Police told FOX 5 there were not any obvious signs of traumatic injury to the body, but the cause of death has not yet been determined by the county Medical Examiner’s Office.

“A lot of what we need to do is learn about Ms. Haxby-Jones and learn about that residence,” Campbell said.

“We’re all sort of wondering: who was this woman and where are the people who should be missing her right now?” said reporter Lyndsay Winkley at the San Diego Union-Tribune, a partner of FOX 5. “One of the things that makes this case challenging is that you’re not just trying to find somebody who may have known about this person’s life and they passed yesterday, or a week ago — you’re trying to sort out somebody’s life when they may have departed from this world a decade (ago).”

The fuzzy picture of the life left behind

FOX 5 was able to confirm that Haxby-Jones was a nurse anesthetist at Kaiser Permanente’s Zion Medical Center for nearly two decades, starting in 1980 until her resignation in 1999.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones and want to express our sincerest condolences to her family, friends, and loved ones,” Kaiser Permanente said in a statement. “Mary Margaret will be remembered as a dedicated health care professional and will be greatly missed by all of us at Kaiser Permanente that had the privilege to work alongside her.”

The Zion Medical Center is about half a mile from the home where Haxby-Jones was found dead, which she still appears to be the sole owner of.

Yet local property records FOX 5 obtained showed taxes on the home were paid for each year authorities believe she was either missing or dead. That is except for last year, which were due on Dec. 11, and still have not been paid.

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Shortly after her death became known, a memorial with flowers and signs was set up for Haxby-Jones outside her home, as curious neighbors passing by looked on at remnants of crime scene tape still dangling outside the home.

One neighbor FOX 5 spoke with remembered Haxby-Jones as a kind woman who would always greet her with pleasantries whenever they passed each other. However, she could not place when the last time she saw her was.

FOX 5’s partners at the Union-Tribune reported that a letter was found sitting outside of the home on a recycling bin. The envelope was addressed to Robert Haxby, who property records confirmed was her husband.

“We have seen mail that was addressed to Mary Haxby-Jones’ husband, it’s still being delivered at this address,” Winkley said. But it’s unclear whether anyone is actually still living in the home.

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“As far as who actually lives there, that is such an enduring mystery and it doesn’t even really feel like the people who live in this area have a clear understanding of who is living in that house right now,” she continued.

When knocking at the door, FOX 5 did not get a response, but one can see lights on inside at night.

The driveway is littered with the same rusting welding equipment, old cars and vehicle parts. Outside, there are two signs: one that reads in part, “Movie cameras…” and another that says “Please do not disturb resident.”

Since 2009, Google Maps images have repeatedly captured the same cars in the home’s driveway, a red Toyota Prius and a Toyota pick-up truck. The truck was last seen with cobwebs hanging off the side and a flat tire.

The Prius has a sticker that reads “U.S. Army Retired,” as well as several others that have faded or shriveled up. Both vehicles have license plates designated for California residents with disabilities.

According to DMV records, the vehicles are registered to Haxby-Jones and her husband, Robert. The last tags on the Prius were from 2015, while the truck’s was last updated for 2022.

The exterior of the home itself has not changed much over the 16 years of Google Maps pictures, except for sustaining some wear and tear. Although what records suggest happened inside add even more to the mystery.

Through the city, Winkley found records of 20 calls for service to Haxby-Jones’ home address since 2013 — the year before authorities believe she may have gone missing.

“There have been reported elder abuse calls, there have been several ‘check the welfare’ calls, mental health-related calls, an overdose call,” she explained. “So it’s really unclear how those calls may have relate — if at all — to the discovery of Mary Haxby-Jones.”

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Property records also linked Haxby-Jones to another home in Clairemont for a short time, but why is also a little unclear.

“It does appear as if the home was gifted to her husband and at some point Mary Haxby-Jones essentially relinquished any legal claim that she may have had on that home to her husband,” Winkley said.

With so many questions still to answer, SDPD’s investigation continues. They are encouraging anyone who may have known her or otherwise have information about her to call the Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.

“This investigation will continue until we feel like we have a comprehensive understanding of what happened to Ms. Haxby-Jones,” said Lt. Campbell.  “We are and we have talked to anyone and everyone who could provide context.”

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