Remembering Henrietta Ragan: A Book Signing And A Promise To Never Forget

CALIFORNIA, Md. — An upcoming book signing is drawing renewed attention to a decades-old case that continues to weigh heavily on Southern Maryland.

On Saturday, Dec. 20, author Leslie LeDonne will host a signing for her nonfiction book “Killing Henrietta” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blair’s Jewelry in California, Maryland. The book examines the 1959 rape and murder of Henrietta Ragan in Leonardtown — a homicide that remains unsolved more than six decades later.

Since its release, “Killing Henrietta” has sparked renewed discussion locally and beyond, recently reaching No. 3 in Amazon’s Murder and Mayhem category. But for LeDonne, the book is not about rankings or recognition. It is about restoring attention to a life — and a case — long left in the shadows.

That purpose was made visible earlier this month.

On Dec. 4, the 65th anniversary of Ragan’s death, LeDonne joined a small group of community members at Ragan’s gravesite in Leonardtown. There was no formal ceremony. No speeches. Just a quiet act of remembrance — the placement of a Christmas wreath.

“This wasn’t about promoting a book,” LeDonne has said previously. “It was about standing in a place where someone was laid to rest and saying, ‘You mattered.’”

Ragan was 44 years old when she was killed on Dec. 4, 1959. A recent widow, she was known for her involvement in the Leonardtown community and her deep Catholic faith. Though time has passed, the circumstances surrounding her death — and how the case was handled — continue to raise questions.

Those questions form the backbone of “Killing Henrietta,” which examines available evidence and explores why the case was allowed to fade from public view. For LeDonne and others who gathered this year, remembering Ragan is not about reopening wounds, but about refusing to let an unsolved life disappear into history.

The group plans to return to Ragan’s gravesite every Dec. 4 moving forward, establishing an annual moment of reflection and acknowledgment.

Together, the remembrance and the book signing serve the same purpose: ensuring that Henrietta Ragan’s name continues to be spoken — and that her story is not forgotten simply because time has moved on.

“This case was never closed,” LeDonne has said. “And until it is, remembering her is the least we can do.”

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