According to the police however contrary to what Mark said, no one in town could recall seeing Mark driving around searching for his wife that day. Details: The town of Gothenburg is located in the heart of Nebraska's farm belt. SPRINGDALE (KFSM) - A body found that was found inside a car at Northwest Medical Center has been identified as missing woman Christy Nichols, according . It is not known what Christi's state of mind was when she left Claude's office. Dig deeper into the stories you've heard before, and encounter many others you haven't, in ways that actually help. After midnight on December 11, Mark came home and paid the babysitter in cash. She could not have gottenup tosneak out of the home in the middle of the night. Kniss has devoted her life to keeping the search for the killer alive. He giggled as he stated something along the lines They actually went up and searched the area. *I personally never viewed the episode myself.*. She went to see an abuse counselor, and Mark was angry when he found out and made her promise not to go again, but she went again anyway. A few minutes later, she had a social worker call the house. On the evening of December 10, 1987, Christi and her husband Mark went out for a night on the town. Christi was described as very shy, quiet and smart when she was growing up. Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Characteristics:Caucasian female with brown hair and green eyes. Officer Terry Ahrens was put in charge of this case. As a result, her family, which already included two siblings, grew to include three stepbrothers. Police shared that it looked like the items had been deliberately placed, as opposed to thrown from a vehicle. Its been extremely hard, Kniss said Monday. He had done a great amount of divorce work, handling hundreds of divorces. . Unsolved Mysteries Wiki is a FANDOM TV Community. Christi Jo Willliams (Nichols) was last seen alive Dec. 10, 1987, when she left her children at home with a babysitter for an evening out with her husband, Mark. Weight: 120 lbs When I teach someone to cook something with perfection, for the first time, one of the first lessons they must learn is that patience and persistence are always the key and a lot of times with cases like this, the same holds true. The move brought her to a town located within the heart of Nebraskas farm belt, which had within it a strong sense of community. According to him, people even went to the dump and dug around, looking for her. At the time, Mark worked at a local gas station. He claimed that when they were at the bar, things seemed to being going well between them. The location is approximately 30 miles from Gothenburg. House dirty, he got in trouble at work or someone is upset with him and its her fault. Mark was able to tell investigators exactly what items Christi Jo supposedly packed and what contents she happened to have in her purse at the time of her disappearance. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. (LogOut/ Nobody in town reported having seen him do this, however. Not the co-dependent type, who ended up in an abusive relationship where they abuse each other. Extensive ground searches were conducted, but nothing was found. Christi Jo was seen by a doctor who had seen her before and who stated that Christi Jo was not that forthcoming with information, and acted pretty scared. Christis disappearance received very little media attention, as police suspected she was a runaway wife, as opposed to a victim of foul play. He knew that she needed help. What was found in both the suitcase and purse were exactly as Mark initially told investigators she had packed and had in her purse at the time she vanished. Trace amounts of Christi's blood were found on the floor of her bedroom, and in the trunk of Mark's 1977 Mercury Cougar. They also hired a private detective named Dennis Whelan, who was given access to Christi and Marks home, where he uncovered blood under the laundry basket in the bedroom. Rumours began in regards to his abusive tendencies, but Mark denied all accusations, claiming Christi was the instigator and any injuries she suffered were the result of him protecting himself from her. He was interviewed by police and has been ruled out as a suspect. Before she left Berreckmans office, she made a follow-up appointment, at which time they had planned to move forward with the divorce proceedings. Christi Jo Nichols, a 22-year-old mother of two and part-time bartender, vanished Dec. 11, 1987. Currently, the case is classified as a homicide and foul play is suspected. You do not go against the grain with people like Mark, you do not disagree with him, you do as you are told and you keep your mouth shut. Both the suitcase and the purse, with everything still inside, were found at an Interstate 80 rest stop near Maxwell, Nebraska in March 1988. Christi Jo Nichols went missing from Gothenburg, Dawson County, Nebraska on December 11, 1987. Despite the evidence against him, he has never been charged in her disappearance, presumably due to the lack of a body. Oddly, both family cars were in the driveway at the time Christi Jo. He also suggested Christi not return home and instead stay with her mother, but she refused. Date: December 11, 1987, Occupation: Bartender at Pete's Lounge Christi Jo Nichols is the queen of hearts. Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian female. Mark reported Christi missing later that day. Christi and Mark left the bar around midnight and drove to an all-night convenience store. When you look someone like this in the eye you can literally see them forming the answers before you can even finish thinking of the next question. | Arctic Arkansas. Learn how your comment data is processed. A note was found in her car, where shed written that she would be leaving after Christmas, but had promised to contact the unnamed man within a few months. Christi was very open with her family regarding Marks behaviour and had confided that she wanted to leave her husband, but wasnt sure how. At 11:30am, Mark dropped the children off at Violets house and asked her to watch them while he looked for Christi. It is not known if either area was ever searched. Officers seemed to feel they were left on purpose, that whoever left them wanted them found. Some people close to the case, including her father, Kenneth, have speculated that she may have been dumped in the gravel fill, as it was uncovered at the time. She moved to Omaha from North Platte to work for the late private investigator Dennis Whelan, hired by the family. Connie does not believe that she ran away because she never would have left them. What should not surprise anyone is that when you peel back the layers more often than not you willfind that the victim maybe had a good day or two and took steps to leave the situation, yet somehow the abuser was able to ascertain that info and the victim paid for it one way or another. Contrary to popular belief long before the victim ever thought of leaving, the abuser developed a plan just in case it got to that point. Christi once had to go to the hospital emergency room for injuries allegedly caused by Mark. That evening, Christi and Mark hired a babysitter, Diane Janssen, and went to the local bar where Christi worked. This is reportedly one of three times the chief had harassed Christi that day. Christi Joes cousin Debra stated that she personally saw bruises on Christi Jo and that Christi Jo acted like it was normal for Mark to abuse her and that it really wasnt that big of a deal. Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. Also, Mark's parents had a concrete pad poured on their property a few days after she vanished. Since Christi vanished, no one, relatives or friends, have had any contact with her. It is uncharacteristic of her to abandon her children. He felt that she was very sincere and honest about what she was telling him. When she was later spoken to by investigators, she would say she never saw, nor heard Christi enter the house. He is the type thatsleeps with one eye open if you catch my drift. After this, he tossed her onto their waterbed in self-defence and she landed on her hand, injuring her thumb. Violet died in 1999 at the age of seventy-eight and Claude died in 2013 at the age of eighty. Investigators interviewed the man and he has been ruled out as a suspect in Christi's case. Attempts over the years to get investigators to open a grand jury investigation have been turned down due to a lack of evidence in the case. Townspeople also speculated that she was buried in the local railroad overpass or entombed in one of the various construction projects that were occurring at the time. Kniss said there was circumstantial evidence, including blood spots found in the couples bedroom and in a car trunk. According to Diane Janssen the couples babysitter, Mark arrived home between 12:30 and 1:00 in the morning. He would have the known the area very well. Christi has never been heard from again. You have permission to edit this article. Christi has been missing for 34 years today. AGB Search will be paid an estimated $115,000, according to the contract. Between 12:30am and 1:00am, Mark came home. According to Connie, Mark forged Christis signature on the titles in order to sell them. Investigators no longer believe that Christi vanished voluntarily; they are now investigating this case as a probable homicide. On December 12, 1987, Mark moved out of the couples home. Christi Jo Willliams (Nichols) was last seen alive Dec. 10, 1987, when she left her children at home with a babysitter for an evening out with her husband, Mark. More blood was found in the trunk of Mark's car. He claimed that she got upset with him, tried to hit and kick him, and then burned his neck with a cigarette. Mark told investigators it was menstrual blood, but analysis proved this statement was untrue. Extra Notes: This case first aired on the November 16, 1988 episode. He claims that he would not have hurt her because he was not a violent person. Which is actually pretty dead on. Her disappearance turned into a controversy that continues to this day. In the mid-2000s, the case was one that the Nebraska State Patrol worked on with the help of a $250,000 grant. When he went to turn to Christi, he noticed she wasnt in bed, and a subsequent search of the house revealed she was gone and that a suitcase was missing. When they came home, their babysitter left. However, Mark would claim his wife had been five or six yards ahead of him and had gone straight upstairs to see the children, before heading to the main bathroom, which is why Diane hadnt see her. Toward the end of 1987, Mark took a polygraph test, but the results are said to have been inconclusive. Jo Nichols was a 22-year-old mother when she disappeared 20 years ago today. This is a difficult case at best, however a very good friend of mine reminded me this past weekend of Judge Pirros work and her relentless pursuit of the truth in the Robert Durst Murder case. An investigation revealed traces of Christi's blood in the couple's house and in the husband's car. The disposal would have happened sometime after the sitter left or during that two hour window he supposedly drove around looking for her. Christi Nichols Real Name: Christi Jo Nichols Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: Gothenburg, Nebraska Date: December 11, 1987 Bio Occupation: Bartender at Pete's Lounge Date Of Birth: September 6, 1965 Height: 5'9" Weight: 120 lbs Marital Status: Married Characteristics: Caucasian female with brown hair and green eyes. According to Diane, Mark arrived home between 12:30 and 1am. CA - Maya Millete, 39, missed daughter's birthday, Chula Vista, 7 Jan 2021 *husband arrested* #5, ID - 4 Univ of Idaho Students Murdered - Bryan Kohberger Arrested - Moscow # 67, IL - Paramedics Peter Cadigan, 50, and Peggy Finley, 40 charged with murder for strapping 35-year old man to gurney face down - 1/11/23, http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10206471, http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2469dfne.html, http://nebraska.statepaper.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2004/08/14/41198a15960f4, http://www.omaha.com/article/20121211/NEWS/712119919/1685, https://lostnfoundblogs.com/f/christi-nichols-marked-for-murder, UPDATE: Christi Jo disappearance, 32 years later, Getting away with murder: Nebraska cold cases. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. A mother disappears during an evening out with her husband. Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. In fact, she had planned on coming back; when she left, she made an appointment to come back to his office the following week. The location of the suitcase and purse are important in that while they are not exactly where the body would actually be, yet they might in fact, have been placed in asubconsciousway, more proportional tosomewhere in between where Christi Jo was murdered and the location of where Christi Jos body is. You do not argue, question or do something he does not approve of. He most likely wouldnt have shot her or stabbed her to death in his car or home, and most definitely would not kill her in such a way that a huge amount of blood would have been lost on any of his property, i.e. It appeared to them that whoever had previously had the items had wanted them to be found. Connie Stanley, her mother, lives in western Nebraska. Change). He went on to tell investigators that things at the bar seemed good. At first, police handled the disappearance as a missing persons case, but as time progressed it evolved into suspicion of murder. Christi Jo Nichols isn't the only missing person in the state who authorities believe to be dead. A constitutional amendment introduced in the Nebraska Legislature Friday would give voters the opportunity to eliminate the State Board of Education. Two days before she disappeared, Christi met with a divorce attorney. Losing is not an option to men like Mark. Christi Jo lived every day of her life in constant fear, a fear that really no words could ever truly describe. Learn how your comment data is processed. At 2:00am, Mark went to bed. The Nebraska State Patrol investigated the case and the family hired a private detective to no avail. Living with this type of individual is risky for any partner because the abusermust be in control of everything. Mark continues to maintain his innocence in Christi's disappearance. All of the officers agreed on the fact that whoever left the belongings at the rest stop wanted them to be found. According to those who knew her, Christi was known for being a dedicated mother, whose life revolved around Mark and her children. The family of Christi Jo Nichols is hoping that someone, somewhere knows the truth about her disappearance. The not knowing is very frustrating. At 12:30am, they headed for home. Later that morning, he took his children to Christi's grandmother's home and asked her to babysit them while he searched for his wife. My heart goes out to people all over the country when I hear about somebody missing. In Marks mind at the time the suitcase and purse were found they were left simply and only because at that particular point in time he had to leave them as a way to offer a new lead if you will. The case was featured on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, which prompted 150 calls to the shows telecenter and 15 more to the Nebraska State Patrol. A few days later, he packed up the familys belongings and sold both their cars. Truthfully he always had an idea of where hed stash a body he just needed to be able to do it at the right time so as not to get caught. The case may be cold, but the search for . She told Connie about him monitoring her phone calls, and her cousin, Debra Frederickson, would later reveal that Christi had shown her a bruise on her side, which she said was the result of Mark hitting her. Men like Mark do not view a significant other as a person or human being. The list can be exhaustive, but you get the idea I hope. Mark said she took a suitcase and her purse with her, and was able to describe the contents exactly: the suitcase contained jeans, a sweatshirt, a bra and jacket and the purse held a hairbrush, a pen, a lighter, a matchbook, lipstick, Neutrogena cream, a nail file, a mirror and one piece of gum. Two overpasses were built in and around Gothenburg, and gravel fill was used at both locations. While Mark tried to tell them it was menstrual blood, later DNA analysis would prove this statement to be false. A lot has changed in the world since then, but for one family time came to a standstill on that date. Despite this evidence, he has never been charged. . He was the last person to see Christi alive. Mark was in the hallway nearby during her visit; Carol was not sure if him being there was reassuring for her or not. A few days earlier, he took them to his parents' house and would not bring them back unless she agreed to follow a specific set of rules. As such, her family spearheaded the search for her, distributing posters and asking people to call in with any information as to her whereabouts. An investigation revealed traces of Christi's blood in the couple's house and in the husband's car. It is an area that he would have been seen around or known to visit prior to the crime but not much after. his car, his home. While he didnt directly tell her of the disappearance, he did appear shaken and had asked if Christis grandmother had seen her. She told him she wanted a divorce and custody of her children. According to Mark, he did this, so as to not worry Connie. Christi Jo Nichols, a 22 year old mother of 2, disappeared on December 11, 1987 from the small town of Gothenberg, in Dawson County Nebraska. The Nebraska State Patrol investigated the case and the family hired a private detective to no avail. Claude felt that when she was in his office, she was not panic stricken to the point that she would run or leave. (LogOut/ Investigators said over the years they became convinced she was slain. The family wanted Dawson County and state law enforcement officials to open a grand jury investigation of the case but were turned down for lack of evidence. On December 11, 1987, twenty-two-year-old housewife Christi Nichols vanished. He was convinced that the abuse did happen. 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