Virginia Hurley-McPherson: Unsolved Murder

Virginia Hurley-McPherson was born 12 Aug 1907 in North Carolina, to Arthur Anthony Hurley (1877-1941) & Maud Carine York (1878-1956).

The Herald

Rock Hill, South Carolina

Thu, Oct 31, 1929 · Page 6

She was nurse and weighed 94lbs. She had worn silk pajamas a top with matching pants and a tie that went around her waist. The tie was wrapped around her throat five times, with a surgical knot at the back of her throat. She was nude from the waist down. She had been dead more than 24 hours. She lived in an apartment at the Park Lane Apartment House.

Her husband Robert A. McPherson of only eight months had stopped by the apartment to talk over some bank accounts as they were separated and going to divorce. He was staying with his mother.

Upon entering the apartment Robert found the body. He pulled the blanket off the bed to cover her, then went to the apartment managers to have him call the police.  

Someone washed up and left bloodstains behind.

It was ruled a suicide. Then it went to the Corners jury inquest on 17th of Sep.

Record was found on Ancestry

Here's some newspaper articles, you decide if that was accurate or not. I feel it was murder and it looks as if the newspapers did also.

https://www.newspapers.com/article/worcester-telegram-virginia-mcpherson/206397598/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-daily-news-virginia-mcphe/206397554/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-virginia-mcpherson/206397510/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-virginia-mcpherson/206397496/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-herald-virginia-mcpherson/206397438/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-washington-daily-news-virginia-mcphe/206397267/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/evening-star-virginia-mcpherson/206388833/ 

I feel it was murder because it would have taken at least 18 min for her to strangle herself, she would of most likely passed out. Second the knot, it was surgical in nature, which leads me to believe it was a medical professional.

Robert Alexander McPherson Jr. and Virginia married 25 Apr 1928 in Washington, D.C. He did re-marry on 2 Dec 1931 to Marian Louise Liles (1912-1982). She died of breast cancer, and they had two sons Robert Alexander McPherson III 1937-2009 & Douglas Cluny McPherson 1940-2022.

Robert Jr. died in 1991 from a fall resulting in fracturing his pelvis.

I have one more D.C. unsolved murder that will be posted Tuesday about Beulah Limerick.

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