Human remains discovered in North Carolina nearly 49 years ago have been identified as those of Cindy Marcell Blizzard, a 15-year-old who had run away from her home in Monkton, Maryland, in spring 1977. The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) says the discovery, made possible by modern DNA and genealogy techniques unavailable at the time, has reopened the long-dormant case as a homicide investigation, with investigators now working to determine how she died.

The remains and clothing were found on 29 December 1977 in woodland near a Firestone tyre plant in Wilson County, roughly five hours from Blizzard's home; a medical examiner at the time estimated they had lain there for six months to two years. Despite decades of comparing dental records to missing persons files, and a fresh attempt in 2010 using DNA testing, the case remained unsolved until 2024, when the SBI's Cold Case Investigative Team applied newer forensic tools to extract usable genetic material from a bone sample. A genealogy service then traced potential relatives, leading investigators to Blizzard, with the identification confirmed through assistance from the FBI, Maryland State Police and Raleigh Police Department.