Cleveland, OH
Toledo man arrested in 1997 disappearance of Cleveland mother Cathy Parisi
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – 19 Investigates has learned that authorities have made an arrest in the disappearance and death of Catherine Parisi, a young Cleveland mother who mysteriously vanished without a trace in 1997.
Michael Bukowski, 50, of Toledo, is charged with murder, involuntary manslaughter, abduction, tampering with evidence, and gross abuse of a corpse, according to court records unsealed Tuesday.
“I just don’t even know how somebody sleeps at night when they do something like that,” said Angelina Speer, Parisi’s youngest daughter.
Bukowski was arrested by Toledo Police on Monday and is currently in the Lucas County Jail, records show.
Parisi, who went by Cathy, was just 25 years old when she was last seen in April 1997.
“The arrest is almost enough comfort just to know that, something has happened,” said Speer.
Speer says this is the closest her family has been to getting closure since 1997.
“It’s been my whole entire life I have been dealing with this because I was a year and 10 months old when she died, I’m speechless,” said Speer.
Parisi’s two daughters, Angelina and Cecelia, were young children when she went missing.
Parisi working as an escort and took a call in Parma, but no one answered the door and she was never seen again.
PREVIOUS STORY: What happened to Cathy Parisi, missing for 26 years?
Cathy’s car was found at Brookview Shopping Center a day later.
It was located on the west side of Cleveland on Brookpark Road off I-480.
Her keys and $350 cash were found inside.
“We believe that it is something connected with her work,” Speer said. “He was a client, I believe.”
Years passed, and Cathy’s daughters grew up without their mom.
“I can only remember our family broken. So it’s nice to have those pictures of us all together but I don’t remember any of it,” Angelina Speer told 19 Investigates back in 2020, as she looked through family photos.
New eyes on the case
Four years ago, 19 Investigates discovered homicide detectives with Cleveland Police were investigating new leads in Kathy’s case.
“Without the Channel 19 story, I don’t think they would be as successful at getting this case to move forward,” Speer told Investigator Kelly Kennedy the day she found out the man accused of killing her mother was arrested.
That’s when we spoke to her daughters.
Cecelia and Angelina don’t think their mom’s case got enough resources or attention at the time she went missing because of what she did for a living.
Cecelia said her mom wanted a better life.
“She was funny and intelligent and the life of the party, and she was always a good person,” Cecelia Parisi said.
Cathy’s family is still waiting for answers.
Investigator Sara Goldenberg profiled Cathy Parisi’s case in the 19 Investigates true crime podcast, Dark Side of the Land.
You can listen to our episode on this case here: “What Happened to Cathy Parisi?”
“Mostly out of all this I just pray that he just confesses so we can have her remains so we have somewhere to go at the very least to see her and she deserves that,” Speer said.
19 Investigates contacted the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office for an interview but they declined to comment on the case because it is still pending.
According to court records, Bukowski will be arraigned in February in Cuyahoga County.
Copyright 2023 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A massive water main break and a possible sinkhole was reported in Cleveland Monday afternoon.
A 19 News crew is on scene at the intersection of E 130th Street and Buckeye Road for the possible reported sinkhole and a water main break.
According to the Cleveland Division of Water, the break on Buckeye Road is a 10-inch water main and a repair crew is on the way.
The water has been shut off, but the area remains closed due to the debris and for cleanup.
19 News has made call outs to officials for more information.
This is a developing story. Return to 19 News for updates.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – The body of a missing boy in Lake Erie was found Sunday afternoon, according to the Cleveland Fire Department.
Multiple agencies searched Lake Erie Saturday night and continued searching Sunday morning for a young boy who was reported in the water near the East 55th Street Marina.
The search for the boy had turned into a recovery mission before Metroparks divers discovered the body, Cleveland Fire Chief Mike Norman said.
Cleveland Fire, Metroparks and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources responded to the call, which came in just before 9 p.m. Saturday.
Search efforts
Cleveland Fire said crews responded to a report of a child in the water. A fire boat made multiple passes over the area, shining a light into the water. Two divers were also sent into the lake to search for the child. No body was found.
A helicopter was also spotted flying over the water near the bank, searching with a spotlight.
The Cleveland Fire Department said at 10:15 p.m. Saturday that its crew in the lake would be ending their search soon.
Cleveland fire crews said Sunday that they resumed the search for the missing boy before turning operations over to a recovery mission.
Chief Norman said Metroparks divers are transporting the body and receiving assistance from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Copyright 2026 WOIO. All rights reserved.
ADA I. TAYLOR
OBITUARY
(nee Everhardt), of Middleburg Heights, formerly of Avon Lake, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 3, 2026 at Royal Oak Hospice after a short illness. Ada was born December 30, 1947 in Philadelphia, PA. Beloved wife of the late Terry R. Taylor (2012); loving mother of Elliot E. Taylor; loving ‘pet mom’ of Molly and Kitty; daughter of the late Pendleton B. and Inez (nee Chestnut) Everhardt; sister of the late Joyce Everhardt. Ada was a well-known and respected Real Estate Agent/Broker for 51 years in the Greater Cleveland area. 39 of those years were spent at Howard Hanna. She graduated from West Tech High School and then earned her Bachelor’s degree in education from BGSU before going full time in Real Estate. Ada was an Honors English, History and Journalism teacher at Lorain High School from 1971 ‘ 1975. Also, for a short time in the 80’s she was a lobbyist in Washington, DC for independent business owners. Ada is survived by her son Elliott E. Taylor and cousins David Dieball (Marilyn), Allan Dieball Benjamin Dieball and Donna Bednar (Michael). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to City Dogs Cleveland, 9203 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, OH 44102. A private Graveside Service will be held at St. Joseph/Elmhurst Cemetery in Avon. Arrangements made by Ripepi Funeral Home (440)888-0800
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