It’s one of the most mysterious, unsolved, and perplexing cases in the history of Norway. A lady was found dead in Room 2805, Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel in Oslo on June 3rd, 1995. Her forehead was marked by a shooting, and initial investigations considered this as a case of suicide, but it got deeper into unearthing inconsistencies of identity issues, missing belongings, and certain suspiciousness with the theory that she committed suicide.
Over the years, these theories have mushroomed from espionage and organized crime through an elaborate cover-up. Despite forensic developments and renewed interest in the case, the woman’s identity and the actual circumstances of her death remain a mystery to this day. This article considers all the information regarding the Oslo Plaza Woman’s mysterious death, the subsequent investigation, and all theories that have surfaced surrounding the case.
Discovery of the Body: A Puzzling Crime Scene
On June 3, 1995, at 7:50 PM, the hotel staff and security people entered Room 2805 because of a report of a shot. They found a woman dead on the bed, with her right hand gripping a 9mm Browning pistol. Her forehead had a close-range gunshot wound, with no signs of struggle.
The authorities even considered it suicide. However, there were discrepancies that led against this conclusion.
No Identification; she had reported under the alias “Jennifer Fergate”. However, officials soon found it was a created name.
She had no pass, credit cards, or personal luggage. Personal belongings included little clothing and nothing more than briefcase with any identification.
Tampered Firearm: The serial number on the pistol was erased, that’s why she could not be traced.
Lack of Gunshot Residue: Forensic tests were made for her hand in which no gunpowder residue was found. She wouldn’t have fired the weapon without that.
No Witnesses or Visitors: Little surveillance and no one claims they saw her with anyone else.
All of these led to troubling questions of who she was and what really happened inside that room.
A False Identity: The Mystery of Jennifer Fergate
“Jennifer Fergate” checked into the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel on May 31, 1995, with a man listed as “Lois Fergate.” But this companion was never seen, and his identity remains unknown.
She gave an address in Belgium, but it did not exist. Her date of birth was given as May 23, 1973, but no one in Europe could find a record of such a person.
To make things even more mysterious, she paid in cash, meaning that no transaction would be traceable. She also acted quite curiously:
She declined housekeeping services, so no one was seen entering her room.
She hardly used her hotel key card, implying she spent most of her time in the room.
She extended her stay twice without apparent plans or activities in Oslo.
All these details show that she deliberately hid her identity and avoided extra interactions.
Autopsy and Medical Findings
The forensic experts concluded that the woman was between 30 and 40 years old. She had dark brown hair, blue eyes, and fair skin.
Autopsy findings include:
She was in excellent health, with no scars, tattoos, or distinguishing marks.
She had not eaten for at least 24 hours before her death.
A small amount of aspirin was present in her system, but no drugs or alcohol.
No defensive wounds or bruising, which indicated that she had not fought an attacker.
The wound was consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot, but the lack of gunpowder residue and missing personal effects fueled speculation that someone else had staged her death.
Theories About Her Death
Over time, a number of theories have emerged as regards to the Oslo Plaza Woman.
1. Spy or Intelligence Operative
It is believed she is a spy or intelligence agent. It was the 1990s, a decade of switches in politics within post-Cold War Europe, and the acts of espionage were still active.
Support for this theory:
She possessed a false identity and gave out false information through it.
The gun had an erased serial number, a tactic often used in covert operations.
She had no luggage, no passport, and no ID, indicating an attempt to erase her identity.
She spoke German, as noted by hotel staff, and later forensic analysis suggested she might have been of German descent.
If she was a spy, it’s possible she was assassinated, and the scene was staged to look like a suicide.
2. Murder and Cover-Up
The absence of gunpowder residue on her hands and the complete erasure of her own history indicate that there may have been a murder pose as suicide.
A professional hitman or an intelligence agency may have:
Killed her and taken away evidence before entering the room.
Planted the gun in her hand and firing another one which makes noise to make it seem like a suicide; or,
Taken away other documents or items that would hint about her real identity.
3. Links to Organized Crime
Maybe she was participating in criminal life, such as: Arms trafficking, Drug smuggling, Money laundering.
Her death might be a result of being killed by associates who wouldn’t want to expose her connections to the outside world.
4. Suicide: Unconventional Circumstances
Even given the bizarre elements, some are of the opinion that she was a suicide.
The shot had been fired in close range-a typical case of suicide.
There were no bruises or struggle outside.
She may have been an alienated individual who was seeking a solitary death.
It still does not explain the canceled serial number, identity missing and belongings nowhere.
Recent Investigations and DNA Clues
In 2017, new tests on her enamel tooth hint that she was probably from Germany.
A Norwegian investigative journalist, Lars Christian Wegner, thoroughly revived the case in 2021. The output he got gave way to more questions on the poor investigation conducted by the authorities.
Despite modern DNA databases, no match has been found, and thus her identity remains unresolved.
Unresolved Questions
Critical questions remain, even after nearly 30 years have passed.
Who was she?
Why was she using a false identity?
Why was her gun untraceable?
Did someone remove her identity after death?
What was done with ‘Lois Fergate’?
Conclusion: A Mystery That Endures
The case of Oslo Plaza Woman is a haunting reminder of how one can disappear from history and only questions are left behind. Whether she was a spy, a target for an assassin, or a criminal operative, her death is the greatest unresolved mystery in Norway.
The Room 2805 tale in Oslo Plaza Hotel would most probably haunt investigators and those interested in crime stories until some new evidence shows up.
