Full Breakdown
Identification of 1977 Wilson County Remains as Maryland Runaway Cindy Marcell Blizzard
9/9/2026, 1:15:24 PM
Core Discovery and Identification
On December 29 1977 skeletal remains and clothing were recovered from a wooded area near the Firestone tire-plant at 3001 Firestone Parkway in Wilson County, North Carolina. A medical examiner determined the remains belonged to a white female estimated to be between 16 and 23 years old and that they had likely been in the woods for six months to two years. The cause of death could not be established, and investigators treated the case as a homicide.
In 2024 the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) Cold Case Investigative Team positively identified the remains as those of Cindy Marcell Blizzard, a 15-year-old who had run away from Monkton, Maryland, in the spring of 1977.
Technological Reexamination and DNA Breakthrough
The case was first reopened in 2010 when a state anthropologist submitted the victim’s teeth for DNA testing, but no match was found. In 2024 Special Investigator Andy Murr reviewed the file, sent a bone sample to Othram’s laboratory in The Woodlands, Texas, and obtained a single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP) profile using Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing®.
Law enforcement used the SNP profile in a forensic genetic genealogy search, identified potential relatives, and confirmed a match to Cindy Marcell Blizzard with KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. The FBI’s NCIC Investigation and Operational Assistance Group, the Maryland State Police Homicide Unit, and the Raleigh Police Department’s Intel Unit assisted.
Timeline
- December 29 1977 – Remains discovered near Firestone plant.
- 2010 – Case reopened; DNA testing of teeth yields no match.
- 2024 – SBI re-examines case; bone sent to Othram; SNP profile generated; genetic genealogy leads to Blizzard.
- 2024 – Identity publicly announced.
- 2026 – Media releases reiterate that Blizzard’s death remains unsolved and request public assistance.
Data and Statistics
- Victim age at death: 15 years (identified as Blizzard).
- Original forensic estimate of age: 16–23 years.
- Estimated time remains lay in the woods: six months to two years.
- This identification marks the 18th publicly announced case in North Carolina where Othram’s technology has been used.
Official Statements & Responses
The bureau emphasized that the case remains unsolved and urged anyone with information about Blizzard’s activities, acquaintances, or whereabouts in 1977 to contact the SBI Cold Case Tip Line (919-582-TIPS) or the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office (252-237-2118).
Why It Matters
The identification shows how modern forensic genetics can resolve decades-old cold cases, restore identities, and provide closure to families. It also highlights inter-agency collaboration across state lines, involving North Carolina, Maryland, and federal resources.
What’s Next
Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding Blizzard’s disappearance and death. The SBI and Wilson County Sheriff’s Office maintain an active tip line and will pursue any credible information that could clarify the events leading to the homicide. No arrests have been announced, and the investigation remains open.
