An 18 year old girl's remains are found in a wooded area in Alabama In the autumn of 1997, a hunter walking through a wooded area near Indian Creek Road in Huntsville, Alabama, made a grim discovery that would remain a mystery for over a decade. On October 16, the skeletal remains of a young woman were found wrapped in plastic sheeting commonly used in construction and secured with duct tape. For years, her identity remained unknown, a Jane Doe whose story was lost to time.
The investigation into her death began immediately, with the remains sent for
forensic examination. It was determined that she was a white female, likely between 15 and 19 years old, standing between 4'10' and 5'1' with shoulder-length dark blonde or light brown hair that had a reddish tint. Despite these details and a computer-generated facial reconstruction, no missing person reports seemed to match, and the case grew cold. Investigators believed her body had been left in the woods for nearly a year before being found.
A significant break in the case finally came in 2009, twelve years after the discovery. A man named Alan Merryman, the victim's stepfather, contacted the Madison County Sheriff's Office. He had heard a news report about the unidentified remains and believed they could belong to his stepdaughter, Cynthia Lynn Davis. Merryman explained that he had lost contact with the 18-year-old around Christmas of 1995 due to family issues. Cynthia, who was originally from California, had become estranged from her family, who were unaware of her whereabouts.
This lead prompted a renewed effort to identify the remains. DNA samples were collected from Cynthia's biological brother and later from her mother and sister. Due to a backlog at the FBI Crime Lab, the confirmation process was lengthy. Finally, in March of 2012, it was officially announced that the remains were those of Cynthia Lynn Davis.
Despite identifying Cynthia, the circumstances surrounding her death remain an open and active homicide investigation. Authorities believe she may have worked as a waitress at a Waffle House in Huntsville. However, no suspects have ever been named, and no arrests have been made in connection with her murder. The case of Cynthia Lynn Davis continues to be a poignant cold case, with law enforcement still seeking information from the public to bring closure to her family and deliver justice for her untimely death.
