Mary Blackman, a 42-year-old African American woman, was found dead on June 17, 1995, in a trash bin behind a neighbor’s house in the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago. The cause of death was asphyxia by strangulation. Her murder was later linked to a string of killings in the area.

The investigation led to the arrest of 30-year-old Hubert Geralds Jr., who was identified as the killer in five murders that included Mary Blackman. Reports state Geralds had a history of drug addiction and violent behavior, and that he confessed during police interrogation. His reported method was to lure victims, often sex workers, with drugs and then strangle them. He was convicted and initially sentenced to death; that sentence was later commuted to life without parole.

Mary’s death underscores how dangerous gaps in protection can be for marginalized people in high-crime neighborhoods. If anyone knew Mary, saw her in Englewood around June 1995, or has information about the case, please share what is known.