Cold Case Alert 

October 30, 2023 - Placer County Sheriff's Office officials report that the Sheriff’s Office needs your help in solving the cold case murder of Cherilyn Hawkley. Sunday marked 30 years since she was last seen alive.

Cherilyn, who was an elementary school teacher at Eureka Elementary School, was found deceased in her vehicle on Halloween in 1993; she was about a mile away from the school.

Cherilyn was reported missing by her boyfriend and was reported to have last been seen alive by her co-workers at school the Friday before Halloween. She was found several days later on Halloween by Placer County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Adams while he was on patrol. The deputy found her in the back seat of her minivan and located a rope near her body. A person of interest was interviewed, but was never linked to her death. Cherilyn’s vehicle was the only crime scene connected to this case.

She was recently divorced and a mother of three children who had recently been hired by the Eureka School District. Cherilyn had also just purchased a new home in Roseville. She had previously worked for a school district in Chico, where her family lived at the time. It was reported that Cherilyn had lunch with one of her colleagues earlier that Friday and by all accounts had appeared very happy with life.  She also had met with another teacher at 4:30 p.m. that afternoon, and they conveyed the same message to detectives. That second teacher had left the school at 6:30 p.m. but said they did not see Cherilyn’s car.

Cherilyn’s family was interviewed but did not provide any information to identify anyone who would want to harm her. This case remains open and our detectives continue to search for leads in hopes of bringing closure to her loved ones.

If you have any information about the death of Cherilyn Hawkley, please call our homicide tip line: (530) 889-7853.

Source & photos: Placer County Sheriff's Office