On October 30, 1977, 16-year-old Cynthia Cindy Johnson left her Garfield Heights, Ohio home around 7 p.m., telling a friend she planned to meet a man. Her body was discovered the next morning, October 31 at about 8:30 a.m., placed on top of an industrial rubbish container outside the Titan Fastener Engineering Company warehouse in Independence, Ohio. The cause of death was ruled strangulation by ligature, indicating a cord or similar object was used; investigators found no sign of sexual assault.

Cindy had been seen earlier that day at a concert in Edgewater Park with friends. She wore blue suede platform shoes, turquoise rings and a metal choker necklace when found. Police questioned a man said to be a friend of her stepfather twice; he denied seeing her that night, provided an alibi and passed a polygraph. The timeline of her last movements is unclear and numerous details remain unresolved.

The case remains unsolved and is listed among Ohio’s cold homicides; the Independence Police Department and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation continue to seek tips. If anyone knew Cindy, saw her on October 30–31, or has information about the man she mentioned, please come forward to help the family find answers.