Phoenix police looking for suspect in 1992 murder of mother of 5

“That’s the Way of the World” was one of Cynthia Cano’s favorite songs more than two decades ago, when the 28-year-old mother of five was murdered.

“This occurred more than 20 years ago on Feb. 5, 1992, in the morning hours between 10 and 11,” said Phoenix Police Sgt. Darren Burch.

A pedestrian found her in a canal near Roosevelt and 47th Avenue.

“She had multiple stab wounds,” Burch said. “She was alive at the time but when they transported her to the hospital, she was pronounced dead.”

And no one knows who did it or why.

“The interesting fact here is that 10 hours before she was found stabbed, she was seen in the area of 19th Avenue and Bethany Home Road,” said Burch. “That may be the key to solving this crime.”

Those who knew Cynthia called her “Dinky.” Her sister, Gloria, said it was because she was so small when she was a baby.

Cynthia was one of nine children and spent most of her life here in the Valley.

Gloria said she didn’t go out much except to church.

“She loved to go to church,” Gloria said.

Cynthia attended Phoenix First Assembly of God on Cave Creek. Other than that, she was busy taking care of her five children between the ages of 1 and 9. The kids were split up after their mom’s murder. The three older siblings went to live with Dinky’s family, and the two youngest were taken in by the family of their dad, Dinky’s longtime live-in boyfriend.

Learn more about this case here.