The Real Story of Cynthia Pfeil

Cynthia Pfeil was born in 1934, and grew up in a quiet suburban neighborhood of White Plains, New York. Productive and independent, she swam, rode horseback, and sewed her own clothes with professional polish. Cynthia was an obedient daughter, decent student, and a reliable babysitter. Her father, a German immigrant and hardworking auto shop owner, instilled a strong work ethic, while her mother, Rose, maintained their home. Cynthia followed in her older brother’s footsteps to Ohio Wesleyan University in 1952, where she studied Home Economics and met Roy “Skip” Schinagle Jr., a charismatic, well dressed, god fearing momma’s boy from Mayfield Heights, Ohio. Their intense relationship would upend both of their lives and ultimately end in a Real Story followed in real time around the United States. This is Part 1 of our 3-part series exploring the Real Story of Cynthia Pfeil.