SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — San Diego Police have identified a woman found dead inside a freezer in Allied Gardens in late December as Mary Margaret Haxby-Jones.
On Friday, December 22, 2023, at 11:45 a.m. officers responded to the 4900 block of Zion Avenue to investigate a report of a death.
“Essentially, out-of-town family members were at a residence and located a dead body inside of a chest freezer. They immediately called police. Based on the unusual location of the body, the San Diego Police Homicide Unit was called to investigate,” police said.
Police believe that at some point prior to the discovery of her body, Haxby-Jones lived at the address on Zion Avenue.
The cause of death has not yet been determined and remains under investigation. According to police, there was "no obvious" traumatic injury to the body.
“Based on the investigation to this point, detectives believe it is possible that Haxby-Jones may have been missing or dead for up to nine years,” the press release states.
Haxby-Jones would've been 81 years old.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Homicide Unit at (619) 531- 2293 or Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.
Thursday night, neighbors who live on the same street reacted to the news.
One woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, told ABC 10News she knew the woman, but couldn’t remember the last time she was here. She described Mary as a homebody.
“I used to say 'Good morning Mary, hello Mary, goodbye Mary.' That’s it,” said the neighbor.
Another neighbor told ABC 10news the discovery was "crazy" but that he never felt unsafe.
Several neighbors wondered why and how the body ended up in a freezer.
“Social security checks, maybe. I really doubt it’s not being able to let go. Funerals are really expensive. I don’t know” said Hasan Aljamaly, a neighbor.
When called for a comment, one of the woman’s relatives told ABC 10News the family wanted privacy and wouldn’t be releasing any statement.
