On December 3, 1996, 35-year-old Cynthia Marie Grotjohn, known to family and friends as Cyndy, vanished from the rural outskirts of Cornelius, Oregon. She had driven to a residence on Northwest Fernflat Road to look for mistletoe, reportedly to make wreaths for a holiday bazaar, and became stuck in the mud in the driveway. A resident came out to help and left to fetch a tractor; when he returned five to ten minutes later Cynthia was gone.

Her purse, keys, jacket and other personal items remained in the vehicle, and Washington County Sheriff’s personnel and Search and Rescue teams searched the area for three days without finding her. Reports at the time mention Cynthia had recently ended a relationship, was under financial stress and had shown signs of depression, but those details do not explain her sudden disappearance from a scene where she left belongings behind.

The investigation remains open. Anyone who knew Cynthia, saw her that day, or has information about Northwest Fernflat Road on December 3, 1996, is asked to come forward.