Full Notification

At approximately 8:30 p.m. on November 1, 1987, Margit Schuller was washing clothes in the laundromat at Palmetto Apartments in Burton. While there, she was shot and killed and later found by her daughter—a child at the time. During the incident, the unknown subject left behind body fluids, which, under Sheriff P.J. Tanner's cold case initiative, were submitted for DNA analysis in the early 2000s. Following that analysis, a male DNA profile was developed and entered into the Combined DNA Index System—CODIS—where it is continually searched against known offenders.
 
In the interest of learning more about the unknown subject’s appearance, Sheriff's Office cold case investigators contracted with Parabon-Nanolabs to perform its Snapshot DNA analysis on some of the unknown subject’s body fluids and to prepare a report. Based on its DNA analysis and phenotyping, Parabon-Nanolabs predicted the unknown subject’s skin, eye and hair colors, as well as facial features, and generated composites of what the subject may look like. The computer-generated images are of what the subject may have looked like in 1987—estimated at 25-years-old—and what the subject may look like today—estimated at 55-years-old with and without facial hair.
 
Information developed in the Margit Schuller murder investigation leads cold case investigators to believe that the subject was familiar with the Burton area—either lived or had family there. There are also indicators that sexual assault may have been the motive. We are asking the public to view the attached images of what the subject may have looked like in 1987 and what he may look like today.

Anyone who believes that they know the subject’s identity is encouraged to contact Major Bob Bromage at 843-816-8013. A monetary reward of up to $5,000 will be considered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the subject responsible for Margit Schuller’s murder and for other Sheriff's Office cold cases.

Anyone wishing to provide information on the subject's identity anonymously is asked to contact Crimestoppers of the Lowcountry at 843-554-1111. 
 
The Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office appreciates your partnership and continued commitment to the safety of our community.