On the night of January 25 or early morning of January 26, 1988, Eileen Zarlenga, a 29-year-old woman from Girard, Ohio, was abducted from her apartment on Patricia Drive, leaving her three-year-old daughter alone inside. Family members emphasized that Zarlenga would never have willingly left her child unattended, suggesting that she may have known her attacker. Days later, on January 30, her body was discovered in a wooded area along Gladstone Road in Jackson Township, Mahoning County.
Zarlenga had suffered multiple stab wounds, and evidence pointed to sexual assault.
For years, the Girard Police Department and Mahoning County Sheriff's Office have revisited this case. In 2010, new evidence surfaced, and in 2012, a judge authorized DNA testing on preserved evidence to check against state and national databases, raising hopes of finding a match. This case remains a focal point for local authorities, who continue to appeal for information and offer rewards for tips that may lead to identifying the perpetrator. Community and law enforcement efforts persist in seeking justice for Zarlenga and closure for her family.
