Suzanna Marie Mages

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

Denton Police Department (TX)

Offense Location:

Denton, Texas

Summary:

Suzanna Marie 'Suzie' Mages was a 12-year-old honors student abducted from a Burger King in Denton, Texas on September 25, 1977. Her body was discovered ten days later submerged in water in an abandoned gravel pit in southwest Dallas, over 40 miles from where she was taken. Her death was ruled a homicide by drowning, though no evidence of violence or sexual assault was found. The case remains unsolved.

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Offense:

On Sunday, September 25, 1977, Suzanna's mother Mary drove her to a laundromat on Eagle Drive in Denton while their washing machine was being repaired. Mary left her daughter to attend to the laundry while she went to her store to handle business. Suzanna left the laundromat and went next door to the Burger King. Witnesses reported seeing her inside the Burger King wearing blue jeans and a Dallas Cowboys t-shirt, conversing with a tall adult male with dirty blond hair, long sideburns, and a mustache. When her mother returned a short time later, Suzanna was gone. On October 4, 1977, a body was recovered from the water of an abandoned gravel pit in southwest Dallas, approximately 40 miles from the Denton Burger King. Dental records confirmed the remains were those of Suzanna Marie Mages. Stomach contents analysis suggested she died within eight hours of her visit to the Burger King.

Additional Details:

An autopsy was performed and the medical examiner determined the cause of death to be drowning. There was no evidence of violence or sexual assault. However, the mode of death was ruled homicide due to the circumstances of her disappearance and recovery. Intensive search efforts were pursued by the family, police, and community volunteers. Witnesses were interviewed and a sketch of the man seen with Suzanna at the Burger King was produced. Several persons of interest were identified during the investigation, including a man familiar to the family who resembled the man seen at the Burger King and who was known to have an interest in underage girls. Shortly after Suzanna's disappearance, this person was observed to have multiple significant scratches on his arm and hand. The case has never been solved. The crime deeply affected the Denton community. The case was featured in a multi-part podcast series titled 'Suzie Mages' by Gone Cold, a Texas-based true crime podcast. Suzanna is buried at Roselawn Memorial Park in Denton, Texas.

Case Last Updated:

Nov 04, 2026