True Crime Tuesday
The Plaza Woman – The Mystery of Room 2805
The Case in Brief
On June 3, 1995, a young woman was found dead in the luxury Oslo Plaza Hotel – with a gunshot wound to the forehead and a weapon in her hand. She had checked in under the name “Jennifer Fairgate,” but this identity does not exist. Despite intensive investigations, her true identity remains unknown to this day. The case was closed as suicide in 1996, but numerous inconsistencies raise doubts about this theory.
The Final Days
On May 31, 1995, an approximately 24-year-old woman checks into the Oslo Plaza under the name “Jennifer Fairgate.” She reserves a double room for herself and a “Lois Fairgate,” but this man is never seen. In the following days, she is away for up to 20 hours at a time – the electronic door locks document her absence. On Friday, the “Do Not Disturb” sign hangs on her door. When a security guard knocks on Saturday evening due to unpaid bills, he hears a gunshot.
The Greatest Mysteries
The inconsistencies are numerous and disturbing: No gunshot residue was found on the deceased’s right hand, although the weapon was lying there. The pistol, an FN Browning HP, bears no fingerprints and its serial number was professionally etched away. Blood spatter covers the bed, wall, and ceiling – but not the deceased herself. All clothing labels were removed, and most of her luggage has disappeared. The address given in Belgium does not exist, the phone numbers are not assigned. No one in the small town of Verlaine recognizes her from composite sketches.
Parallels to Other Cases
The Isdal Case (1970)
Like the Plaza Woman, the “Isdal Woman” was found in Norway in 1970 with a false identity. Both women wore no labels on their clothing, both had German connections, and both cases remained unsolved. The parallels are so striking that investigators do not rule out a connection.
Tamam Shud Case (1948)
The Somerton Man from Australia shows similar patterns: An unidentified deceased person without identification documents, all clothing labels removed, mysterious circumstances, and an identity that remains unclear to this day. Both cases raise questions about espionage and intelligence services.
The German Connection
Numerous clues point to German origin: Hotel staff heard her speaking German, her gold and porcelain dental fillings were standard in Germany. In the room, investigators found a jacket by René Lezard, a travel bag by Travelite, and a briefcase by Braun Büffel – all German brands. Her gold ring was probably manufactured in Germany. An isotope analysis of her teeth points to the Berlin region, possibly the former East Germany.
Doc’s Crime Corner: My Assessment
As a historian and true crime author, I am fascinated by this case due to its complexity and the professional concealment of identity. The systematic removal of all identifying features, the etched-away serial number of the weapon, and the false personal details point to a person who was either a professional herself or had professional help. The timeframe of 1995 and the possible East German connection suggest intelligence activities in the post-Cold War period. The forensic inconsistencies clearly speak against suicide – a third party was involved here.
Mystery Factor
Recommended Reading

Hardinghaus, Christian: “The Addiction to Crime. How Internet Detectives Solve True Crime Cases” (German Edition. English Edition coming soon)
View on Amazon USSources and Literature
- Johnson, Mark: “The Plaza Woman: Norway’s Most Mysterious Death” – Nordic Crime Review (2020)
- Norwegian Police: Investigation files on the Plaza Hotel case (1995-1996)
- Thompson, Sarah: “Unsolved: The Jennifer Fairgate Mystery” – Scandinavian True Crime (2021)
- Netflix Documentary: “Unsolved Mysteries: A Death in Oslo” (2020)
Ethical Note
This blog is dedicated to analyzing true crime cases with the necessary respect and due diligence. We are aware that behind every case are real human destinies.
Date: June 22, 2025 by Christian Hardinghaus