MI MI - Cassandra Elizabeth Durham, 19, Roscommon, August 1, 1987

[imstilla.grandma]

Cassandra Durham and her boyfriend left Maryland in 1987 to visit the Roscommon area. They were believed to be driving a 1980 Honda Civic station wagon.

Troopers said they drove through Ohio on the way, and stopped at Cedar Point. The Honda allegedly broke down somewhere around Detroit, and the boyfriend bought a new car, an Oldsmobile Cutlass.

The boyfriend claimed they both returned to Maryland, but Cassandra’s father said she never made it home.

MSP Houghton Lake Post reopens missing person cold case from the ‘80s

www.9and10news.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Durham’s father last heard from her over the phone in August 1987. That was 35 years ago.

Durham was just 19 years old when she disappeared. Her boyfriend returned to Baltimore in 1988 or 1989, but Durham’s father never heard from his daughter ever again.

She had brown hair that was at her neck. She had two tattoos, one on her hip and one on her thigh. One was her boyfriend’s initials “EB” and the other was the initials of her college sorority.

19-year-old girl staying with boyfriend’s grandfather near Roscommon vanished 35 years ago

Cassandra Elizabeth Durham was staying with her boyfriend’s grandfather near Roscommon, Michigan when she vanished.

www.clickondetroit.com

 

[amandab]

Wait, did she disappear *from* Roscommon, or somewhere between Detroit and Roscommon?

 

[dulcinea]

They need to track down who he bought the car from, though that person might no longer be living. Was Cassandra with him or was he alone? What happened to the car that "broke down"? Did the grandparents ever meet Cassandra?

 

[notbornyesterday]

Wait, did she disappear *from* Roscommon, or somewhere between Detroit and Roscommon?

It sounds like her boyfriend was pretty vague, doesn't it? Is he ever named other than have initials EB?

 

[notbornyesterday]

Wait, did she disappear *from* Roscommon, or somewhere between Detroit and Roscommon?

Yes and was it Roscommon which is northeast of Houghton Lake or Roscommon Township which is south of Houghton Lake? I believe I read that in her August 1987 conversation with her father, she said she was staying in Roscommon at EB's grandparent's home. I looked and this is the Cassandra Durham (born 19 Sep 1967 Fayette County KY- don't know why her birthdate is never given by MSP or FBI) who attended Henry Clay High School in Lexington, KY. Someone posted her high school photo. Her parents divorced in 1983. I can't find if they are still living but she had two younger brothers. Why can I find ZERO articles about her being missing???? Her parents were both college educated and seemed to be upper class for Kentucky. You would think it would be in the news their daughter was missing. (No insults meant- I am from Kentucky and there are some very poor areas.) MOO

 

[notbornyesterday]

They need to track down who he bought the car from, though that person might no longer be living. Was Cassandra with him or was he alone? What happened to the car that "broke down"? Did the grandparents ever meet Cassandra?

These are all good thoughts. Who has their car break down and just buys another one? Sounds very fishy. And a Honda yet? They were pretty reliable cars. Wouldn't it make more sense to get it fixed instead of buying a new car? And if he was just going to visit the grandparents, why did he not get back to Baltimore til a year or two later? And why wasn't anyone looking for her in the mean time or were they? So little to go on here.
If it's Roscommon- it's near Houghton Lake which is largest inland land in Michigan (not including the Great Lakes) and Higgins Lake which is a deeper lake where my ex used to go diving, the AuSable River and lots of woods. I was at Houghton Lake July 4th 1987 at my in laws cottage on the lake. Maybe I can go to the library there and see if I can find any articles.

 

[dulcinea]

It says that one of her tattoos was her college sorority. Was she taking a break from college when this happened? If so, were her parents aware of it?

 

[imstilla.grandma]

78125fdf-7c30-452b-8f32-0835aefc85dd-ViCAPAlertDurham20240208.pdf

She has tattoos "on her hip/thigh area (boyfriend's initials 'EB', and college sorority initials)," according to the FBI.

The FBI said Durham possibly could have traveled to Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland or Michigan

Michigan State Police reopen cold case into woman's 1987 disappearance

upnorthlive.com

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Michigan State Police say the couple was believed to be driving a 1980 Honda Civic station wagon and stopped in Ohio to visit Cedar Point on the way.

It is alleged that the Honda broke down in the Detroit area, and Durham's boyfriend has purchased a new vehicle, an Oldsmobile Cutlass

Michigan authorities reopen cold case of 19-year-old girl who went missing in 1987 after road trip with her boyfriend

Cassandra Durham's boyfriend claims they both returned to Maryland after a road trip to Michigan, but her father said she never came back home.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[mlhenn]

Michigan State Police Reopen Decades-Old Case of Missing Woman

The Michigan State Police have reopened the cold case of Cassandra Durham, missing since 1987.

mix957gr.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

MSP reopens cold case on missing woman last seen in 1987

Cassandra Durham's boyfriend told investigators they both returned to Maryland. Her father said she never came back.

www.detroitnews.com

Michigan State Police are reopening a cold case on a 19-year-old Maryland woman who went missing in 1987.

Cassandra Durham left Baltimore with her boyfriend that summer and told relatives the couple planned to visit his grandparents in Roscommon, the MSP Seventh District post said this week on X.

The couple may have been driving a 1980 Honda Civic station wagon as they drove through Ohio and stopped at Cedar Point along the way, MSP reported. Investigators believe the couple may also have driven through Pennsylvania to make their trip, according to an FBI Violent Criminal Apprehension Program missing person alert...

 

[imstilla.grandma]

What happened to Cassandra Durham? Decades-old cold case reopened by MSP

Cassandra Durham was just 19 when she left her Maryland home on vacation with her boyfriend. They had planned on traveling to northern Michigan. However, Durham never came back.

www.fox2detroit.com

 

[Diavola]

LordanArts made a video about Cassandra. He found an article that names the boyfriend as Eric Buikema.

 

[notbornyesterday]

LordanArts made a video about Cassandra. He found an article that names the boyfriend as Eric Buikema.

There is also a Detroit News article naming him. I don't know how to post it but if someone else does?

 

[notbornyesterday]

LordanArts made a video about Cassandra. He found an article that names the boyfriend as Eric Buikema.

I think his maternal grandparents were deceased by the time she went missing, so I guess they were not involved. I can't find anything on anyone related to him in Roscommon but that's not to say they didn't have a cabin there in 1987. There is a street by Henderson Lake named the same as EB last name. I did a little looking at EB but I won't say anything as he hasn't been named as a suspect. moo

 

[elframo]

Charley Project updated ..​

​

Cassandra Elizabeth Durham – The Charley Project

Cassandra Elizabeth Durham​

• 
• 

Durham, circa 1987

• Missing Since08/01/1987
• Missing FromRoscommon, Michigan
• ClassificationMissing
• SexFemale
• RaceWhite
• Age19 years old
• Height and Weight5'5, 110 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionCarrying a small black purse.
• Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Brown hair, blue eyes. Durham has two tattoos on her hip/thigh area; one is of her boyfriend's initials "EB", and the other is of the unknown initials of her college sorority.

Details of Disappearance​

Durham last had contact with her family by by phone sometime in August 1987. She and her boyfriend left Baltimore, Maryland in a 1980 Honda Civic station wagon to travel to Roscommon, Michigan. They stopped at the Cedar Point amusement park in Ohio on the way. When the Honda allegedly broke down in the Detroit, Michigan area, the boyfriend got another car, an Oldsmobile Cutlass.
After arriving in Roscommon, Durham and her boyfriend stayed with his grandfather. Her family never heard from her again, and when her boyfriend, who was also from Baltimore, returned there in 1988 or 1989, Durham wasn't with him. Few details are available in her case.

Investigating Agency​

• Michigan State Police 989-422-5103

Source Information​

• NamUs
• 9 and 10 News

Updated 2 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated July 21, 2024; details of disappearance updated.