ELGIN COUNTY – It’s been more than a quarter century since Sonya Nadine Cywink was last seen alive in London during the early morning hours of August 25, 1994. The 31-year-old who grew up second youngest in a loving Whitefish River First Nation family of 13 was living in east London at the time.
For more than 25 years the family of this young woman who has been described by friends and family as a warm, caring person and a young writer who was full of life have lived without closure—but they have never given up hope of finding justice for their sister.
Despite the passage of time, the Elgin County OPP has launched a renewed campaign to find Sonya’s killer and a historic investigation is currently under the direction of Det. Insp. Randy Gaynor of the OPP Criminal Investigation Branch. Earlier hopes in 2004 that a break had been found in the case have not proven out.
In addition to numerous online social network sites, two billboards in London seeking information have been erected and in 2017 a $50,000 OPP reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Sonya’s killer was announced. That reward has been augmented by a family offer by an additional $10,000.
Sonya’s body was found at the Southwold Earthworks, a historical site that was a former First Nation settlement located on Iona Road in the Township of Southwold near London. Her body showed signs of trauma.
Police are hoping that someone who knows something about the crime has “moved on in their lives” and are now willing to bring information forward that will help solve this mystery and bring closure to the Cywink family.
Anyone who may have information tips can be submitted anonymously online at LondonCrimeStoppers.com or via telephone: 1-800-222-8477.
