True Crime & Justice

"She still was a human being and she still had family that cared and loved her just like all the other ones had family that cared and loved them. And my sister she was a sweet person, a caring person and she was loved by a lot of people." Victim, Cynthia Hind's brother -- Terry Hinds

At the arraignment of Gary Ridgway, Debra York, Cynthia Hinds aunt, cried, Im just hurt. I just hope they got the guy, he dont deserve to live, killing my niece, Cynthia Hinds

Cynthia Jean Hinds, 17 - Robert Williams last saw his daughter, a friendly, loving girl her family called 'Cookie' alive on August 10, 1982, working as a cook at a South Seattle barbecue restaurant. Cynthia came into the kitchen to ask for $10. 5 days later, a man looking for bottles in the Green River found Hinds' body beside victim, Marcia Chapman, 31. Strangled, their decomposing bodies were being held underwater with rocks.

Williams identified his daughter by a sketch in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. "I was shocked when I saw the picture, but I didn't want to believe it." Williams said shortly after her body was found. "She might have had problems."

She lived in an apartment in Rainier Valley. She and another other Green River Killer victim, Opal Mills, were friends who worked together painting apartments. According to Opal's brother the two hitchhiked together often.

Often running away her home with her father, she was a troubled teen who fell into the wrong crowd at a young age. She attempted to break away from bad influences but was unable to.

After dropping out of Nathan Hale High School in North Seattle, she was questioned by police in the late 70s and early '80s, on Seattle's 1st Avenue and Pacific Highway South, both areas known for prostitution.

Williams is upset people believe his daughter was a prostitute just because she had been seen on the airport strip. "They think, 'Everybody down there must be a prostitute' I think that's a bad implication."

Her mother, Marilyn Marshall, said she knew Cynthia worked as a prostitute for three years before her death. She said her daughter was street-smart and "a pretty OK girl."

Terry Hinds said his sister was seen by a neighbor, leaving the family Rainier Valley home with a man in a red Cadillac. A few days later, she sister was seen getting out of a similar car and into a black Jeep near the Sea-Tac strip. It was the last time she was seen.

Terry Hinds, Cynthia's little brother was 14 when she was killed. For 20 years Terry has carried that pain. His sister deserves justice.

"She just loved people she was close to me I was close to her and we did a lot of family things together," said her brother, Terry. "After knowing she was dead, my life was just full of pain and my whole life just went down hill."

On the arrest of Ridgway he stated, "I was happy that they found somebody, but at the same time feeling the pain 'cause I knew it was going to open up more memories of it. .. I want to thank him and all the detectives that was in on this and he will for always be in my heart."

Her death record lists her as single.

Copyright Kari Sable 1994-2006