Nearly three decades later, family seeks answers in Sonya Cywink’s death
Meggie Cywink can’t help but believe someone out there knows something that could help solve her sister’s murder.
“To live without my sister for 28 years is heartbreaking,” she said Thursday. “It is very hurtful. She should have been a grandmother by now, she could have been a mother, and we miss her dearly.”
Cywink was joined at a news conference by retired OPP Sgt. Chris Gheysen, and retired OPP deputy commissioner John Carter. They were two of the investigators who originally worked on the homicide of Sonya Cywink.
Sonya was 31 years old and 24 weeks pregnant when she was killed. She was last seen alive at Dundas and Lyle streets in London on Aug. 26, 1994.
Her body would be found four days later at Southwold Earthworks National Historic Site in Elgin County, the site of the Thursday news conference.
“It just makes sense too, over time some people might be less fearful of retaliation, and more open to talk about what they know,” remarked Gheysen.
Meggie Cywink (C) was joined by retired OPP Sgt. Chris Gheysen (L) and retired OPP Deputy Commissioner John Carson (R) on Aug. 25, 2022. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)In 2019, the victim’s family and supporters embarked on a campaign to unearth new clues about what happened to Sonya.
They put out a call for any information they could get from the public that might be helpful. Some new information did come forward that they believe to be relevant, which has been shared with the OPP.
They’re hoping renewing the call could result in new breaks in the case.
“I hate to call them cold cases, I like to call them long cases because they’re never cold,” said Carter. “But, advances in technology, one person coming forward can make a difference,” he added.
The OPP is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of the killer. The family is offering an additional $10,000.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crimestoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), or reach out to Meggie directly at cywinkmm@outlook.com
In the meantime, a ‘FIND MY KILLER’ billboard with Sonya’s image has been erected at Dundas Street and Nightingale Avenue, while a second one will go up at another location next month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Widow looking for answers after Quebec man dies in Texas Ironman competition
The widow of a Quebec man who died competing in an Ironman competition is looking for answers.
Tom Mulcair: Park littered with trash after 'pilot project' is perfect symbol of Trudeau governance
Former NDP leader Tom Mulcair says that what's happening now in a trash-littered federal park in Quebec is a perfect metaphor for how the Trudeau government runs things.
World seeing near breakdown of international law amid wars in Gaza and Ukraine, Amnesty says
The world is seeing a near breakdown of international law amid flagrant rule-breaking in Gaza and Ukraine, multiplying armed conflicts, the rise of authoritarianism and huge rights violations in Sudan, Ethiopia and Myanmar, Amnesty International warned Wednesday as it published its annual report.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Amid concerns over 'collateral damage' Trudeau, Freeland defend capital gains tax change
Facing pushback from physicians and businesspeople over the coming increase to the capital gains inclusion rate, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his deputy Chrystia Freeland are standing by their plan to target Canada's highest earners.
U.S. Senate passes bill forcing TikTok's parent company to sell or face ban, sends to Biden for signature
The Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform under the threat of a ban, a contentious move by U.S. lawmakers that's expected to face legal challenges.
Wildfire southwest of Peace River spurs evacuation order
People living near a wildfire burning about 15 kilometres southwest of Peace River are being told to evacuate their homes.
U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passes aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan with big bipartisan vote
The U.S. Senate has passed US$95 billion in war aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden after months of delays and contentious debate over how involved the United States should be in foreign wars.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.