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Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP12245) and 2 other sources
In the winter of 1999, the life of a family in Buffalo, New York, was forever changed. On February 17th of that year, 34-year-old Cynthia Quarles, a cherished mother and family member, vanished. The last known communication anyone had with her was a telephone call she made to a relative. The location from which she placed that call remains a mystery, a haunting detail in a case that has spanned decades without resolution. At the time she went missing, Cynthia was described as an African American woman, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 140 pounds. She had brown hair that she had straightened from its natural braided style.

Cynthia's appearance was distinguished by several unique features. She had two moles on her cheek, situated about an inch apart, and another mole on her forehead. A visible scar marked her nose, and she had two piercings in her left ear. When she was last seen, it is believed she may have been wearing blue jeans and a blue and beige flannel shirt, though this information is not certain. These personal details paint a picture of the woman whose sudden absence left a void in the lives of those who knew and loved her.

The Buffalo Police Department has been the primary agency investigating Cynthia's disappearance from the beginning. Over the years, her case has been entered into national databases for missing persons, including the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in the hope that new leads might emerge. Despite these efforts and the passage of time, no significant information has surfaced to explain what happened to Cynthia after that final phone call. The case remains an open and active investigation, a cold case that holds the story of a woman who seemingly vanished without a trace. Her family continues to seek answers, holding onto hope for closure in the enduring mystery of her disappearance.

Last Seen: Feb 17, 1999

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (2)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

76%Possible
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5757
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5757 • Found Jan 2, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 45%296 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%132 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP17091 • Found Jan 20, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 34
Race 100%Black
Location 47%278 mi away
TimingFound same day as last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 64%178 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.