Missing Person Alert

Circumstances

Date of Disappearance

April 28, 1982

Notes

Christina was last seen at her apartment on April 28, but failed to appear at work the following day. Her vehicle was later discovered that afternoon wrecked and abandoned along Todd Acres Road in Rattlesnake Bayou; it still contained her purse and personal belongings. On May 11, 1982, Robert Steven Gilchrist came forward to police to state that he and his male roommate were the lat people to have seen Christina. According to him, they had met at a bar and slept together previously. A few days afterwards, Christina visited his apartment where she and the two men engaged in intercourse. Gilchrist's girlfriend (Derenda Henderson) also went to police in July, while Gilchrist was in prison on other charges, to inform police that Gilchrist had confessed to her that he beat Christina to death with a stick. He claimed to have wrapped her in a sheet and buried her remains in a neighboring forested swamp. The motive was supposedly Christina's threat to tell others about their illicit interactions. Gilchrist was later arrested on July 15 and claimed that while he was there when she was murdered, he was not the killer. He said that Henderson had arrived and found the two together and shot Christina in a fit of jealousy. His conviction in 1982 was overturned but then reinstated in 1989. It is possible that Christina was buried somewhere along Todd Acres Road or Kooiman Road.

Location of the Disappearance or Crime Scene

Vehicle, Residence (Other)

Potential Circumstances

Abandoned Vehicle, Driving, During a Crime, Last Seen with Significant Other, On a Date, Prior Communication, Prior Unusual Behavior, Requires Medication, With Others

Vehicle

License Plate

Photo of Vehicle

Suspect

Man

Suspect Description

Robert Steven Gilchrist, Male. He had been in a sexual relationship with Christina and is believed to have killed her to keep their menage a trois with his male roommate a secret.

Photo of Suspect