Jennifer Fergate

In May 1995, a woman using the alias Jennifer Fairgate (and misspelt as Jennifier Fergate) checked into Oslo's Plaza Hotel (now the Radisson Blu Plaza). Seventy hours later, she was found dead in her room with a 9mm pistol in her hand and a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities ruled her death as a suicide.

Her death sparked speculation across social media and inspired documentaries, many veering into conspiracy but despite exhaustive investigations, her identity remains unknown, and the case closed.

Background On 31 May 1995, at approximately 22:40, a woman registered at the Oslo Plaza Hotel under the name Jennifer Fairgate, although she misspelled the alias twice on hotel forms as "Fergate". She claimed to be 21 years old, provided a false address in Verlaine, Belgium and stated that a man named Lois Fairgate would accompany her. Despite hotel procedures, she was not asked for identification, or to provide a credit card, during registration.

Fairgate was described as elegant, well-dressed and composed. Witnesses reported that she spoke fluent English and German with no discernible accent.

Shortly after this acknowledgement, a security guard was sent to the room. He knocked on the door and heard a gunshot. He left the area unattended to fetch the head of hotel security, who entered the room fifteen minutes after the guard heard the gunshot and discovered Fairgate's body. The door had been double-locked from the inside, with no signs of forced entry and both key cards were in the room. The extra comforter originally for "Lois" was unraveled on the bed and appeared messy. No identification documents such as a passport or wallet, nor any personal items like a toothbrush, toiletries or keys, were recovered.

Investigation Investigators determined that two shots had been fired and two spent cartridge casings were recovered. In addition to the fatal head wound, a second bullet passed through a pillow and bedding before embedding in the floor without striking the victim. The same pillow was then turned over and was beneath the victim's head when the fatal shot was fired. The gunshot wound to her forehead indicated a close-range shot, with the bullet's trajectory showing it was fired while she was lying on her back.

Samples from the skin of both hands revealed no trace of gunshot residue, blood spatter or singeing, and there were no defensive wounds. Fingerprints and a DNA profile were obtained post-mortem, but no matches were found in police databases.

Fairgate's use of an alias and possession of a tactical watch, associated with military use, has also fuelled speculation of espionage. Norwegian intelligence officer Ola Kaldager told Unsolved Mysteries that the removal of clothing tags and her language fluency were consistent with intelligence tradecraft.

Descriptions, artistic and photographic reconstructions have been publicised, and investigators have focused on her reported hometown of Verlaine, all without success. No credible individual has come forward to identify the unnamed woman known as "Jennifer Fairgate", and the case remains closed, officially considered a suicide.