Chaptico, MD — It was a brisk January morning in 1933 when a beloved community figure, Ida Mae Kirk, met a violent end that would haunt St. Mary’s County for decades. Known affectionately as “The Angel of Budd’s Creek” for her charitable works, the 76-year-old’s death continues to mystify and stir speculation nearly a century later.
Kirk was traveling with Mrs. Joseph P. Gibson, a reverend’s wife, from Chaptico to Washington D.C. when tragedy struck. They had just left the Christ Church rectory, where Kirk had spent the previous night. Their journey ended abruptly less than a mile away when a dynamite stick, allegedly attached to the car’s exhaust pipe, exploded. Miraculously, Mrs. Gibson escaped the blast unscathed, but Kirk was not as fortunate. The explosion sent deadly shrapnel into the passenger area, fatally wounding her, even as the car’s gas tank somehow remained intact.
Authorities quickly zeroed in on two suspects: John Sylvester Gross, 43, known to have worked with dynamite and had prior engagements on Kirk’s property, and 17-year-old Paul Thomas, a familiar face around the Kirk home. The forensic sweep yielded unsettling clues, including a cut shotgun shell and strands of copper wire near the Gibson estate. However, when a local teenager came forward claiming he had discarded the shell after tinkering with it, the lead went cold.
Amidst a cloud of suspicion and murky evidence, both Gross and Thomas were detained for over a month. Influential local figures, including a prominent Republican leader and a county attorney, eventually called for their release, citing insufficient evidence to tie them to the crime conclusively. Both men were released without charges, leaving the community grappling with unanswered questions.
The plot thickened with the scrutiny of Kirk’s will. In a generous final gesture, Kirk had left more than $40,000— a sizable sum during the Great Depression—to over 15 beneficiaries. The legitimacy of this document and its contents brewed controversy and legal battles stretching nearly a decade after her demise. Some speculated that motives for Kirk’s murder might lie in disputes over this considerable fortune, possibly involving disgruntled relatives or omitted parties, notably her adopted son Nigel Dixon.
Amid the ongoing investigation into Kirk’s death, another sinister event unfolded. Gross was found dead a year later under suspicious circumstances in La Plata. His body was discovered on a road, appearing to have been run over by multiple vehicles. This incident only deepened the intrigue and speculation surrounding not only his demise but also his potential involvement in Kirk’s assassination.
Kirk’s legacy, however, transcends the mystery of her death. At her behest, a life-sized marble guardian angel was erected over her family plot at Christ Church, an enduring memorial that continues to draw both admiration and somber reflections from the community.
Today, Ida Mae Kirk’s murder remains one of the most enigmatic unsolved cases in the annals of St. Mary’s County. With no arrests made and critical answers elusive, the circumstances surrounding her untimely death continue to provoke both curiosity and sorrow, serving as a poignant reminder of a life dedicated to benevolence, ended in an act of violence.