Details of Disappearance
Zarzycki departed from her family's residence in Eastpointe, Michigan at approximately 12:30 p.m. on April 20, 1986. She planned to meet a friend and attend a gathering at her family's church during the early evening hours. Zarzycki was last seen eating an ice cream cone at the Dairy Queen on Nine Mile Road and Rausch Road in Eastpointe. A witness told authorities that a girl matching Zarzycki's description entered an unidentified blue car outside of the business. A friend of Zarzycki's told her family that she may have been headed to a party in Pontiac, Michigan, but the story was never confirmed. Zarzycki has never been heard from again.
Zarycki's parents were divorced when she disappeared. She lived with her father, brother, and sister in East Detroit, but saw her mother frequently. She enjoyed playing softball at the time of her disappearance and had won a trophy as the most valuable player on her team.
Zarzycki did not have a history of running away in 1986. Investigators received over 125 tips after her disappearance, which led them to believe she may have traveled to the area of Chicago, Illinois or to Oregon. A retired police officer once thought he spotted Zarzycki near Eight Mile Road and Gratiot Avenue in Eastpointe, while a security guard reported seeing a young woman matching her description at the K-Mart store on Nine Mile Road and Harper Avenue. None of the sightings were confirmed.
Authorities learned that Zarzycki dated Scott Ream prior to her 1986 disappearance. He died in a vehicular accident in the 1990s and was not questioned about her case. Scott was never considered a suspect in Zarzycki's disappearance. Investigators stated that they planned to interview his father, Arthur Nelson Ream, regarding Zarzycki's case in 2001. Arthur was convicted of raping a young girl sometime after Zarzycki's disappearance. He is currently imprisoned in Marquette, Michigan and it is not clear if he was involved in Zarzycki's case.
An unidentified woman from Kansas contacted authorities during the mid-1990s and claimed that a woman from St. Clair Shores, Michigan told her that she witnessed Zarzycki's death and assisted with the disposal of her remains. Investigators located the Michigan woman, who denied any involvement in Zarzycki's disappearance.
Several of Zarzycki's family members believe that she left her home voluntarily. Her case remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Eastpointe Police Department
810-445-5111
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/z/zarzycki_cynthia.html