The unsolved 1975 murder of 15-year-old Kathy Beatty, who was discovered unconscious and sexually raped in a wooded area behind the former K-Mart in Aspen Hill before succumbing to her wounds, is being commemorated by the Montgomery County Police Department on this 50th anniversary.
A $10,000 prize is being offered for tips that result in an arrest, and the Cold Case Section has published a podcast encouraging the public to come forward with any information.
According to MCPD, July 25, 2025, is the 50th anniversary of the 1975 discovery of 15-year-old Kathy Beatty in a forested area close to her Montgomery County neighborhood.
The Cold Case Section of the Montgomery County Department of Police’s Major Crimes Division hopes to spark new leads and rekindle public interest in the case on this anniversary.
Kathy Beatty’s family reported her missing on July 24, 1975. She was found by her sister the following day. Beatty was partially clothed, unconscious, and had been sexually attacked in a forested area behind the old K-Mart in Aspen Hill, which local adolescents call the rocks.
Investigators found that Kathy had been sexually abused and that a rock had bluntly injured her skull. She passed away in the hospital a week later after never regaining consciousness.
No suspect has ever been identified despite decades of investigation.
When Kathy spoke with cold case detectives prior to her mother’s death, she urged them to guarantee that her daughter would receive justice. Detectives are dedicated to keeping that promise for Kathy’s surviving family members, even though she passed away without knowing who was to blame.
The Cold Case Section has produced a podcast specifically focused on Kathy’s case as part of that endeavor. Detectives hope someone will come forward with the knowledge required to finally solve this case by telling her tale to a younger generation.
If you have any information on Kathy Beatty’s death, please call 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or visit the Crime Solvers of Montgomery County website at www.crimesolversmcmd.organ and click the www.p3tips.com link at the top of the page. Callers can stay anonymous.
Up to $10,000 is being offered as a reward for information that results in the suspect’s arrest.
