Oslo Plaza Hotel woman

Last updated
Jennifer Fairgate
Status Unidentified for 29 years, 8 months and 20 days
Died(1995-06-02)June 2, 1995 [1]
Body discovered3 June 1995
Other namesJennifer Fergate
Known for Unidentified decedent

In May 1995, an unidentified woman using the alias "Jennifer Fairgate" (or "Jennifier Fergate") checked into the Oslo Plaza Hotel (now Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel) under mysterious circumstances. Her death days later, under conditions that defied explanation, has sparked decades of speculation and intrigue. The deliberate steps taken to obscure her identity and the lack of concrete evidence surrounding her death have led to theories ranging from suicide to espionage and assassination.

Contents

Background

Arrival at the Oslo Plaza Hotel

On May 31, 1995, at approximately 10:44 p.m., a woman registered at the Oslo Plaza Hotel under the name "Jennifer Fairgate", although she misspelled her alias twice on hotel forms as "Fergate" [2] . She claimed to be 21 years old, provided a fake address in Verlaine, Belgium, and noted that a man named Lois Fairgate would accompany her. Despite standard procedures for such a high-end hotel, she was not asked to present identification or a credit card upon check-in—a significant deviation from the norm.

Jennifer Fairgate was described as elegant, well-dressed, and composed. Witness accounts indicated she spoke fluent English and German, with no discernible accent. Her check-in was unremarkable except for the absence of a companion. Lois Fairgate was never seen by hotel staff, and his identity remains unknown.

Fairgate was assigned to room 2805, a suite on the 28th floor. The hotel was known for hosting international dignitaries, business executives, and travelers of means, making it a venue where privacy and discretion were valued. Fairgate's behavior during her stay was inconspicuous, though she made few interactions with staff.

Timeline of Events

June 1–2, 1995

Fairgate remained mostly confined to her room over the next two days. She placed only a single room service order during her stay, which was delivered by staff who noted nothing unusual. She made no attempts to pay her bill, prompting the hotel to contact her. Calls to her room went unanswered. She was absent from her room for at least 20 hours. [3] During her stay, Fergate attempted to call two invalid numbers in Seraing and Grâce-Hollogne, Belgium. [3]

June 3, 1995

By June 3, hotel management grew concerned about Fairgates's unpaid bill, which had reached NOK 2,950 (approximately $500 ($1,000 in 2023 [4] ). Security was dispatched to her room around 7:50 p.m. When a security guard knocked on the door, he reportedly heard a muffled gunshot from within. Moments later, the head of hotel security entered the room and discovered Fairgate’s body. The room remained unattended for 15 minutes while the receptionist went to fetch security. [5] The police did not arrive until 50 minutes later.

Discovery of the body

Fairgate's body was found lying on the bed, her head propped against the headboard. She was dressed in black: a blazer, a shirt, and stockings. A single gunshot wound to her forehead appeared to be the cause of death. In her hand was a 9mm Browning pistol with the grip positioned oddly, raising questions about whether she could have fired it herself.

The room was in a peculiar state:

  • Minimal Belongings: The room was almost devoid of personal items. There were no toiletries, identification, or luggage beyond a briefcase containing ammunition.
  • Clothing: All labels had been meticulously removed from her clothing except for one on a blazer. [6] This suggested a deliberate attempt to erase traces of her origins.
  • Firearm: The pistol’s serial number had been partially filed off, hindering traceability.
  • Locked Room: The door was double-locked from the inside, and there were no signs of forced entry.

Investigation

Fairgate's autopsy revealed a lack of defensive wounds, indicating no physical struggle had occurred. The fatal gunshot wound to her forehead was consistent with a close-range shot. However, forensic testing did not detect gunshot residue on her hands—a key detail that cast doubt on the official conclusion of suicide. Additionally, toxicology reports showed no traces of drugs or alcohol in her system.

From the outset, investigators faced significant challenges in determining Jennifer Fairgate’s identity and unraveling the events leading to her death:

  • Fairgate carried no passport, wallet, or personal identification. Fingerprints and DNA analysis yielded no matches in international databases.
  • Her name and address were confirmed to be fabricated. Verlaine, Belgium, exists, but no street or house number matched her registration details.
  • The lack of personal items or clothing suggested deliberate efforts to conceal her background.

A later autopsy revealed that, due to the presence of partially-digested food in her stomach that she ate a day earlier, that Fairgate had actually died the day before her body was discovered. A gunshot hole was also discovered in one of the hotel room's pillows, possibly being the gunshot heard by hotel staff before her body's discovery, leading to speculation of foul play [1] .

Theories

Suicide

While the Norwegian police initially ruled Jennifer Fairgate’s death a suicide, this conclusion has been heavily criticized[ by whom? ]. Several inconsistencies challenge the plausibility of suicide:

  • Gunshot Residue: The absence of gunshot residue on her hands casts doubt on whether she fired the weapon herself.
  • Untraceable Firearm: The filed-off serial number and excessive ammunition found in her briefcase seem inconsistent with a typical suicide scenario.
  • Room Conditions: The meticulous erasure of her identity and belongings complicates the notion of suicide without external involvement.

Espionage

One widely discussed theory is that Fairgate was involved in espionage. Her deliberate anonymity, choice of a high-profile hotel frequented by diplomats and executives, and possession of an altered firearm align with tradecraft associated with intelligence operatives.

This theory is bolstered by:

The sterile state of the room, suggesting deliberate obfuscation.
Her linguistic fluency and confident demeanor, consistent with the profile of an intelligence agent.

Assassination

Another theory suggests Jennifer was targeted for assassination. Proponents argue that external parties may have staged the scene to appear as a suicide. The presence of untraceable ammunition and the firearm's odd positioning lend credence to this possibility.

In culture

Fairgate's case gained international attention in 2020 when it was featured in the Netflix series Unsolved Mysteries . The episode "Death in Oslo" reignited public interest, leading to widespread speculation and amateur investigations. Online forums, blogs, and podcasts have since dissected the case, though no conclusive evidence has emerged. Her grave was opened in October 2016, revealing that her origin was European but not Scandinavian. Recent discoveries link her to Germany. [6] In 2018, it was determined that she was most likely 24 years old. [7]

Legacy

Nearly three decades later, Fairgate's true identity and the circumstances of her death remain unresolved. Despite advancements in forensic science, including DNA profiling, investigators have been unable to link her to any known individual or missing persons case.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Everything Unsolved Mysteries Leaves Out About the Oslo Plaza Woman". Screen Rant . 22 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "Unsolved Mysteries Left A Few Jennifer Fairgate Details Out". refinery29.com.
  3. 1 2 "Het Mysterie van kamer 2805". nieuwsblad.be.
  4. ↑ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–" . Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  5. ↑ Engdahl, Lars (October 16, 2020). "Plaza-mysteriet: – Dette kan løse saken". VG.
  6. 1 2 "Nye spor i 23 år gammelt mystisk dødsfall". NRK. March 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ Wegner, Lars Chr (March 5, 2018). "Ny teknologi ga svar: Plaza-kvinnen var trolig 24 år". VG.
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