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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evidence
Lead #1Why did Grotjohn leave her purse and jacket behind? This suggests either a sudden emergency or foul play rather than voluntary departure.
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witness
Lead #2What exactly did the resident who last saw Grotjohn observe during those critical five minutes? Were there other people or vehicles in the area?
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location
Lead #3What is the significance of the isolated NW Fernflat Road location? Are there nearby structures, roads, or terrain features that could explain her disappearance?
Cynthia Marie Grotjohn, a 35-year-old woman, disappeared on December 3, 1996, in Cornelius, Washington, after her car became stuck in mud on NW Fernflat Road. A resident offered to retrieve a tractor to help free the vehicle, but when he returned just five minutes later, Grotjohn had vanished, leaving behind her purse and jacket. Despite a three-day search by sheriff's personnel and search-and-rescue teams, no trace of her has been found, leaving open questions about what prompted her sudden disappearance from an isolated location.
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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.
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clue
Lead #4Why did the three-day search by SAR teams find no sign of Grotjohn despite the remote location and short timeframe?
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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 told her to wait while he retrieved a tractor. When he returned approximately 5 minutes later, she was gone. Her purse and jacket were left behind.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 3, 1996
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 5038462700
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Case Information
Incident:December 3, 1996
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5038462700
You can remain anonymous