The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Thursday, August 6, 2026
Following Mary Rogers' murder, theories about her killer ranged from violent urban gangs, a prevalent fear at the time, to someone known to her, especially after her fiancé, Daniel Payne, was found dead nearby. The press exploited the case to discuss social issues like crime and police ineffectiveness.
“The main theory at first was that Mary had been killed by a gang.”
“A big one was anxiety about urban crime, and the ineffectiveness of the city's police to stop that crime.”
“But the suicide of her former fiancé, Daniel Payne, raises questions about whether she was actually known to her killer.”