News Summary
The unresolved death of Mary Marrs Cawein in 1965 continues to captivate the Lexington community. Found dead after a party, evidence points to foul play, yet the case remains unsolved. Madison Cawein, her husband, initially labeled it a suicide, complicating the investigation. With factors like a high blood alcohol level and allegations against Madison surfacing, the case reflects deeper societal issues and unanswered questions that linger in Lexington’s history.
Lexington – The mysterious death of Mary Marrs Cawein in 1965 remains one of the most baffling and controversial cases in the city’s history. Cawein was found dead in her home after a Fourth of July party at the nearby Idle Hour Country Club, and despite extensive investigations, her case remains unsolved over five decades later.
On the morning of July 6, 1965, Mary Cawein was discovered slumped over in a bedroom chair, still dressed in her yellow dress from the previous night. Her husband, Madison Cawein, a respected medical professional, was not at home at the time. Mary had a blood alcohol level just below lethal at 0.4% and two fresh needle marks on her thighs, indicating that she had been poisoned with carbolic acid (phenol). This revelation suggested foul play, leading investigators to suspect that she was injected with a sedative before being made to consume liquor spiked with poison…