Tammy Zywicki

Tammy Jo Zywicki (March 13, 1971 – August 23 or 24, 1992) was an American female murder victim from Marlton, New Jersey. Zywicki was driving back to Grinnell College for the start of her fall term when her vehicle, a white 1985 Pontiac T1000 with New Jersey license plates, broke down in Central Illinois. with two older brothers and one younger brother. Zywicki grew up in Greenville, South Carolina, but at the time of her murder she was living in Marlton, New Jersey when not at college, Zywicki was described as athletic, upbeat, and energetic, with an interest in photography and playing soccer.

The 2023 Eastside High School yearbook was dedicated to Zywicki, with a featured dedication page as well as a full page feature story about her contributions to the school along with samples of her photography. The story highlighted her talents and contributions to the school along with memories, saying "Tammy had the heart and view of an artist, which led her to being part of the 1988 and 1989 Aurea Aquila Yearbook staff as a photographer. She was a very gifted photographer, and was always able to capture the beauty of each shot she took (whether it was students working on deadlines for the school paper or taking a picture with her cat Zorro). Each of Tammy's photos told a story. Her passion in photography led her to dreaming of pursuing a career as a sports photographer and being accepted into the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Tammy said during an interview 'I think the best thing about taking pictures was getting to see the negatives turn into pictures'. Tammy was the sort of person who was friendly to everyone. She was an upbeat beam of sunshine who was taken too soon. This page and this book are dedicated to her and her family."

Death and discovery On August 23, Zywicki left from Evanston, Illinois, (north of Chicago) after dropping her brother off at college there. Tammy Zywicki was headed for Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa, where she was due to complete her senior year.

Zywicki had been last seen with her car at mile marker 83 on Interstate 80 in Central Illinois between 3:10 and 4pm on August 23. According to witnesses, a tractor-trailer truck was observed right next to the Zywicki Pontiac at these very times, and she had been stabbed seven or eight times before she died. According to Federal Bureau of Investigation and Illinois State Police, Zywicki had also been sexually assaulted. but the watch was never recovered.

In 2015, Illinois law enforcement announced that they had opened consultation with the Vidocq Society in Philadelphia. known as the "Tammy Ride", which takes place on September 3. serial killer Clark Perry Baldwin, a trucker who killed at least three women, was briefly suspected in Zywicki's case, after a retired investigator on Zywicki's case reported to the La Salle News Tribune shortly after Baldwin's arrest, saying that Zywicki's killing fit the profile of Baldwin's previous murders. However, Illinois state police reported soon after that Baldwin was no longer a suspect. Law enforcement did not elaborate why Baldwin was removed from suspicion, but reaffirmed that the case would remain open. Additionally, multiple items of evidence from the case are being examined for DNA evidence.

Zywicki's case is still featured on the FBI's website, and a $50,000 reward is open for information that leads to the arrest of her killer. As of May 2023, Zywicki's murder has not been solved, nor have any prime suspects been arrested in the case. Throughout the years, JoAnn Zywicki has continued to speak to the press, along with other efforts to keep Tammy's case in the public consciousness. Hank Zywicki died in 2015.