The person at the center of this case
Cynthia Marie Grotjohn
Missing Person · Open
29 years waiting · since 1996
Missing Person: Cynthia Marie Grotjohn
Justice for Cynthia Marie Grotjohn — the trail went cold in 1996, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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location
Lead #1Why did Cynthia leave her car, purse, and jacket behind in just five minutes? What prompted her to flee or go with someone?
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witness
Lead #2What did the homeowner who last saw her observe about her demeanor or any vehicles/people in the area?
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clue
Lead #3Were there any footprints, tire tracks, or other physical evidence found during the three-day search that could indicate direction of travel?
Cynthia Marie Grotjohn, a 35-year-old woman, vanished on December 3, 1996, after her car became stuck in mud on NW Fernflat Road in Cornelius, Washington. A homeowner offered to retrieve a tractor to help free the vehicle, but when he returned just five minutes later, Grotjohn had disappeared, leaving behind her purse and jacket. Despite intensive three-day search efforts by sheriff's personnel and search-and-rescue teams, no trace of her has been found in the nearly 30 years since.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
🎯
suspect
Lead #4Did investigators identify or interview anyone else who may have been in the vicinity of NW Fernflat Road that day?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP20761. Missing person: Cynthia Marie Grotjohn.
Last known contact: 1996-12-03 in Cornelius, Washington, OR. Circumstances: Cynthia Grotjon was last seen when a car she was driving became stuck in the driveway of a house on NW Fernflat Road.
A prson living at that address told Grotjohn to wait while he got a tractor to pull the car out of the mud. When he returned five minutes later, Gratjohn was gone.
She left behind her purse and jacket. Sheriff's personnel and SAR teams searched the area for 3 days and found no sign of Grotjohn.
Demographics: 35 years, Female, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 150 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: Flannel shirt, blue denim jeans; Footwear: Black loafers. Investigating agency: Washington County Sheriff's Office | 96-21118.
Timeline of Events
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1996-12-03
Cynthia Grotjohn disappears
Cynthia's car became stuck in mud in the driveway of a house on NW Fernflat Road. A resident offered to get a tractor to pull it out. When he returned approximately 5 minutes later, Grotjohn was gone. She left behind her purse and jacket.
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1996-12-03
Search efforts begin
Sheriff's personnel and search-and-rescue teams conducted a 3-day search of the area but found no sign of Cynthia Grotjohn.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 3, 1996
Last Updated:June 19, 2026
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Phone: 5038462700
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Case Information
Incident:December 3, 1996
Last Updated:June 19, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5038462700
You can remain anonymous