Cindy married Albert Lesko III in 1986 in Detroit, Michigan. They had a son and daughter together. The couples relationship was very troubled and Cindy filed two domestic violence reports against Albert in 1989 and 1992. According to authorities, Cindy never pursued criminal charges against him in Oscoda County or Montmorency County, Michigan either time.
Cindy tipped investigators regarding six pounds of marijuana Albert was concealing in the familys St. Clair Shores home in 1994. She was severely beaten by Albert shortly afterwards and he was convicted of domestic abuse. Cindy filed for divorce after the incident took place and was awarded temporary custody of the couples children, along with possession of the family home. Cindy would also be able to testify as a witness against Albert at his trial for drug offenses later in 1994 after the divorce was finalized. She would no longer be restricted by spousal immunity claims on the part of Albert s defense attorneys.
Cindy was speaking to a relative on the phone from her St. Clair Shoes residence on October 23, 1994 at approximately 10:00 p.m. She was concerned because her children were late in returning home from a trip to Comins, Michigan with Albert. Authorities believe Cindy and Albert argued after he arrived later in the evening with the children. A witness stated that she saw the couple fighting in the front yard of Cindys residence on Evergreen that night. Cindy reportedly called for help, but law enforcement was not summoned. Investigators theorize that Albert strangled Cindy at the house and then placed her body inside his pickup truck. It is believed that Cindy was buried somewhere along Interstate 75 in Michigan or near the couples cabin in Oscoda County. Extensive searches have not produced any evidence as to Cindys location and she has never been seen again. Albert kept their children home from school the day after her disapperance.
Cindy was reported as a missing person on October 24, the day following her presumed murder. She failed to arrive as scheduled for her nursing school classes and the authorities were alerted. Cindys vehicle was discovered abandoned at 7 Mile Road and Van Dyke Street in Detroit, Michigan on October 26, 1994, three days after she was last seen. Albert admitted that he parked the car at the location out of spite after an argument with his wife. There was no trace of Cindy at the scene. She failed to appear at a divorce settlement conference the same day her car was discovered; as a result, Albert was granted full custody of their children and reclaimed their residence on Evergreen.
Albert was charged with Cindys homicide in 2001. Her body has never been found, but authorities believed they had compiled enough evidence against Albert to merit a trial. He testified in his own defense at the trial, maintaining that he had not killed Cindy and that their domestic disputes were her fault. One of Alberts friends also testified, stating Albert told him he wanted to "get rid of" Cindy prior to her disappearance. His children stood by him, however; they said they believed Cindy left of her own volition and is still alive. They both testified that at the time Albert was supposedly killing their mother, they were both asleep in the cab of his truck and heard no commotion.
A jury acquitted Albert of the charges in December 2001; they did not believe the evidence proved Cindy was deceased. Albert maintains his innocence in Cindys disappearance, which remains unsolved.
Macomb County Sheriff's Department
(810) 469-5151
Atlanta
Montmerancy
Michigan
(map location is approximate based on lat/long of case city)
