Sierra Strickland, a 28-year-old African American woman from Youngstown, OH, tragically lost her life on October 24, 2016. She was found shot to death in an alley behind a church on Belmont Avenue. The case remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made. Former Youngstown police detective Lt. Doug Bobovnyik, who led the investigation, mentioned that there was very little physical evidence at the scene.
Investigators learned that Strickland had a troubled past and was a drug user, which led them to a suspect. However, the gun found at the suspect's home did not match the shell casing from the crime scene, and the suspect was charged with an unrelated gun offense instead.
The investigation faced numerous challenges, including the lack of physical evidence and the suspect's unrelated charges. Despite these obstacles, the lead detective was able to narrow down potential suspects but ultimately could not make a case for Strickland's murder. Cynthia Boston, Strickland's grandmother, has been vocal about her grief and the pain of losing her granddaughter. She acknowledged Strickland's struggles but emphasized that her lifestyle did not warrant her death.
The case has been part of a larger project by WKBN reporter Joe Gorman, who aims to bring attention to unsolved homicides in Youngstown since 2001. Gorman's project seeks to tell the stories of victims and encourage anyone with information to come forward. Strickland's case is one of many that remains open, and her family continues to seek justice for her untimely death.
The community and Strickland's loved ones remain hopeful that new information will surface, leading to the resolution of this tragic case.
