Kniss now works part time at a warehouse but maintains documents on the case to help researchers and investigators. Before she left Berreckmans office, she made a follow-up appointment, at which time they had planned to move forward with the divorce proceedings. Men like Mark tend to feel above the law. He was convinced that the abuse did happen. Marital Status: Married After she vanished, he allegedly told Connie that he was glad that she was gone, and that she was a bad mother who wanted "a new life with a new man". He knew that she needed help. It was to throw the investigation off of his trail because he felt investigators were still looking in his direction or to ensure that whatever move Mark made at the time would not be noticed because investigative efforts would be thrown into trying to determine when Christi Jos items were left at the rest-stop, by whom and why. More blood was found in the trunk of Mark's car. Mark would not have traveled hundreds of miles to dispose of Christi Jo and he most likely would not in broad daylight disposed of her body, the risk is too high unless the area is incredibly isolated. On the evening of December 10, 1987, Christi and her husband . An investigation revealed traces of Christi's blood in the couple's house and in the husbands car. Update: Christi Nichols disappearance, 32 years later, Someone knows something: remembering Christi, still searching for answers, SitcomsOnline Discussion of Christi Nichols. Christi has been missing for 32 years today. That gave Mark ample time to plan the proper disposal of his wife. In April 1990, Mark divorced Christi. When interviewed about Christi's disappearance by reporters for the Unsolved Mysteries television show in 1989, Mark said the only time one of their arguments escalated into violence was when Christi had hit and kicked him and burned his neck with a cigarette after he asked her to stay home one night, and he tossed her on the waterbed in self-defense and accidentally injured her in the process. According to Connie, Mark forged Christis signature on the titles in order to sell them. Both cars were at the home at the timeof her disappearance. However, both family cars were still sitting in the front yard. The disposal would have happened sometime after the sitter left or during that two hour window he supposedly drove around looking for her. A constitutional amendment introduced in the Nebraska Legislature Friday would give voters the opportunity to eliminate the State Board of Education. If alive, she would be 54 years old. For all intents, Christi Jo was in fact dead prior to Mark arriving home between 12:30 and 1:00am. Christi Jo Nichols was born on September 6, 1965 in Overton, Dawson County, Nebraska to Connie Stanley and Ken Williams. The abuser always knows what his victim is up to, despite a victims efforts to conceal it. The babysitter later stated she did not believe Christi came home with her husband, but Mark said Christi was there and the babysitter simply never saw her. House dirty, he got in trouble at work or someone is upset with him and its her fault. 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. The location is approximately 30 miles from Gothenburg. Her parents divorced when she was young and her mom ended up remarrying. Mark believes that Christi ran away voluntarily, due to their marital difficulties and the "pressures of motherhood". Trace amounts of Christi's blood were found on the floor of her bedroom, and in the trunk of Mark's 1977 Mercury Cougar. Would you like to contribute as an editor or a writer on our site? Officers seemed to feel they were left on purpose, that whoever left them wanted them found. Did This Husband Really Get Away Murder or Could This Case Still be Solved? She was 22 years old, and is believed to have been wearing a pair of blue jeans and hiking boots. Victims in these types of situations are cut off, they feel alone and isolated. 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. The not knowing is very frustrating. On December 10, 1987, the couple went Christmas shopping with Lindsey and Preston, a trip which also involved a visit with Santa Claus and dinner at Pizza Hut. When they came home, their babysitter left. 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. Growing up, Men like this, while they take enough steps to be one step ahead of law enforcement, they still make a mistake or two along the way. In fact Dianne stated that she is sure she would have seen or heard Christi Jo but never did. Christi Nichols is the wife of Mark Nichols of Gothenburg, Nebraska and the mother of two children, who vanished on December 11, 1987. Some of these items can be and are in no way limited to: Personal property, kicking the victim out of the shared home, the shutting down of the shared bank account or draining it of funds, taking theshared children, jewelry, clothing, car keys, ect. A few minutes later, she had a social worker call the house. He was interviewed by police and has been ruled out as a suspect. Such a sad and awful story. Details: The town of Gothenburg is located in the heart of Nebraska's farm belt. Mark is the only suspect in her case. The doctor on duty, Dr. Carol Shackleton, saw her and noted how scared she seemed to be of Mark, speaking low and refusing to make eye contact, as he was just outside the door. He claimed that she threatened to divorce him several times before her disappearance. Despite thorough searches of the area in and around Gothenburg, no trace of Christi was found. 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. Losing is not an option to men like Mark. Most of the details police were able to obtain came from the number one suspect, Christi Jos husband Mark Nichols. JavaScript is disabled. Abusers like Mark simply will not stand for or allow for his property to walk out the door. His Uncle Gary, who owned the bar, contradicted his story, stating that it was apparent that there was "tenseness" between them. Very few men could look into a womans closet no matter how many years theyve been together and be able to tell you what might be missing, even fewer men could tell you the exact contents of what a woman has in her purse. No, men like this, take time to actually plan this out despite the long held belief that abusive men dont always plan the murder. Both the suitcase and the purse, with everything still inside, were found at an Interstate 80 rest stop near Maxwell, Nebraska in March 1988. View Source Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Created by: Fan of the Site Added: 27 Aug 2003 They were later returned to Mark, and Connie said she hardly got to see them, due to his influence. The abuser always has an inventory of what the victim has and doesnt have, he always knows what the victim plans, doesnt plan, where she is or will be. When the victim refuses to go back or stay is whenthings can go south. Her disappearance turned into a controversy that continues to this day. Christi Jo Nichols was a loving 22 year old mother to her 2 young children. 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. Berreckman noted that she seemed stressed and appeared to have been recently beaten, so the pair planned to contact the authorities and press charges against Mark for abuse. Despite being alarmed at his wifes sudden disappearance, Mark acted calm when her mother called around 9:30am that morning, saying Christi was still asleep in bed. Mark told Christi Jos mother that Christi Jo was asleep when she called by the way. According to Diane, Mark arrived home between 12:30 and 1am. In March 1988, three months after Christi's disappearance, her suitcase and purse were discovered in a roadside rest area thirty miles west of Gothenburg. Police shared that it looked like the items had been deliberately placed, as opposed to thrown from a vehicle. Mark claimed that the fight occurred when he tried to keep Christi from going out. As the police investigated, they began to uncover evidence that the Nichols' marriage was in trouble. Those who knew her well felt her life centered around her family. He said he spent two hours driving around in the area, looking for her, but never saw her. Those with information regarding the case are asked to contact the North Platte Office of the Nebraska State Patrol at 308-535-8047. The children woke Mark up at around 7:00am. Click here to join us. Updated: 8:46 PM CDT April 27, 2022 CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas A man's body was found in Flour Bluff on Monday, prompting an investigation by the Corpus Christi Police Department. Jo Nichols was a 22-year-old mother when she disappeared 20 years ago today. One rumor that I have not been able to confirm is that Christi Jo did report to the attorney certain aspects of the abuse that resulted in the attorney making a telephone call to authorities to report certain crimes that had been taken place. My heart goes out to people all over the country when I hear about somebody missing. She had told Gary that they were having marital problems; he was surprised that they were there together that night. She told him she wanted a divorce and custody of her children. She has brown hair and green eyes, and has a scar above her left eye and on her abdomen. She married Mark Nichols when she was nineteen. Often times the victim is not even allowed to shop without her abuser. Christi Jo Nichols was a 22 year old from Gothenburg, NE. She made a follow-up appointment but never made it. The Nebraska State Patrol investigated the case and the family hired a private detective to no avail. Interestingly, a letter was found in one of their cars, allegedly addressed to her boyfriend; according to one source, it stated that she had considered leaving her family. Mark Nichols remarried years ago and won a custody battle with Christi Jos family for daughter Lindsey and son Preston. Updated 6 times since October 12, 2004. Growing up, Christi was very shy and quiet. Connie Stanley has used them all. There were a couple of rumors that said that he had chopped her up, put her in garbage bags, and buried her at the dump. When her suitcase was found three months later, he was "somehow" able to list everything that ended up in it. It appeared to them that whoever had previously had the items had wanted them to be found. Distinguishing CharacteristicsCaucasian female. He threatened shed never see the children again if she kept making appointments and made her promise to never go back. At first, police handled the disappearance as a missing persons case, but as time progressed it evolved into suspicion of murder. There are rumors in Gothenburg that say he is responsible for her disappearance. Debbie had visited her while she was working at a bar. You have permission to edit this article. December 10, 1987. Investigators interviewed the man and he has been ruled out as a suspect in Christi's case. It is uncharacteristic of her to abandon her children. In some cases while it appears they have been able to outsmart the law, the reality is that they simply found a way to avoid a murder charge, for the time being. Where are the hotspots for buyers and sellers? However, she always had a negative self-image and never felt that she did anything well until she had her children. 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. He later claimed that the rumors of him beating her up were not true. This is one of those "we basically know who was behind her disappearance, but lack evidence to convict", unfortunately. Mark says that he and Christi Jo left the bar around midnight and stopped at an all-night convenience store. Terry noted that if Christi left Mark, he would not have been able to look through the closet and say what she had taken. Mark believed that she was planning on running away, while Connie believed that she was planning to fight for the custody of Lindsey and Preston. . Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Kniss said there was circumstantial evidence, including blood spots found in the couples bedroom and in a car trunk. She was surprised that she did not notice Christi because she was there for several minutes after they arrived; she believes that she would have heard Christi's footsteps on the tile floor when she came in or heard her in the bathroom. More recent DNA tests have proved that the blood found in Marks car was indeed Christis. Officers agreed they had been left at the reststop purposely. He never asked Christi Jos grandmother if she had heard from Christi Jo, let alone if she maybe stopped in to see her grandmother or if she was at her grandmothers at the time he dropped off the children. Kniss said her nieces husband lives and works in Hastings. Which is actually pretty dead on. Her body and car were discovered in the parking lot of Northwest Medical Center in Springdale on September 13. Mark moved out of the house the day after his wife's disappearance, and a few days after that, he packed up all their belongings and sold both the family's vehicles. She also thought it was strange that he never asked her if Christi was there or if she had seen her. Two days before she disappeared, Christi met with a divorce attorney. He claimed that she got upset with him, tried to hit and kick him, and then burned his neck with a cigarette. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, by David Hendee Nicknames: No known nicknames Christi wasnt there. 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. A man who is controlling, abusive and who knows every move his wife makes is a whole different breed of killer. Learn how your comment data is processed. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Within days of her disappearance, he had moved out of their house, sold both their cars, and boxed up her clothes. They are concerned about the details surrounding her disappearance, the fact that she has not contacted Lindsey, Preston, or other relatives, the fact that she did not take a vehicle, and the fact that she has been missing for such a long period of time. While she was young, her parents divorced, with Connie later marrying a man named Greg Stanley. Violet died in 1999 at the age of seventy-eight and Claude died in 2013 at the age of eighty. a bag and vanished into the night, into the winter night. He hoped to spot her leaving a store or friend's house. That is why the suitcase and purse were left and why he wanted them to be found. Body Found At Springdale Hospital Confirmed To Be Missing Woman, Body found in search for missing 26-year-old Sebastian County man, Crawford County faces three civil rights cases, Winter warnings vs watches, what's the difference? Her family has shared their criticism over the way the investigation has been handled, saying they feel it could have been solved if police had taken it more seriously from the beginning. When Christi went to his parents house, as they were babysitting the children, they refused to hand them back to their mother. Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionBlue jeans and hiking boots. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. 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. It was not for the purpose of giving the family false hope or anything. I would love to get more attention for her case. Let us know all the details about yourself and send us a message. He claimed that he was really upset because he felt that there was no indication that Christi would pack up a suitcase and leave. An investigation revealed traces of Christi's blood in the couple's house and in the husbands car. Christi Jos parents, who were divorced when she disappeared, live in Nebraska. Dead. Interestingly, it was discovered that she did not take her cosmetics, most of her clothing, her Social Security card, or her wedding rings. He currently lives in Arkansas with his third wife. He claimed that when they were at the bar, things seemed to being going well between them. The hope was that it would help produce leads that could help resolve Christis disappearance. Reba Benschoter, an emeritus professor at UNMC who recently died, is recognized as a pioneer of today's telemedicine and distance learning. She also did not pick up her last paycheck. Mentally and psychologically, they make the victim feel as if something mentally is wrong with her. She moved to Omaha from North Platte to work for the late private investigator Dennis Whelan, hired by the family. The attorney advised her not to return to the home she shared with Mark, but she refused. Mark reported Christi missing later that day. Although authorities suspect Christi Jo Nichols is dead, her body never has been found. | Arctic Arkansas, How bad will winter be this year? Toward the end of 1987, Mark took a polygraph test, but the results are said to have been inconclusive. The Nebraska State Patrol investigated. Authorities stated there was not enough blood to indicate Christi was dead. She placed a great importance on the concept of family and dreamed of one day becoming a mother. Uncovered is where the most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others. From what I understand quite an extensive search was conducted in Gothenburg and the surrounding area and turned up nothing. Prior to her disappearance, Christi told Connie that Mark was monitoring her phone calls. Christi left behind all her other belongings, including her diamond jewelry and driver's license, and she never picked up her last paycheck from the bar where she worked part time. . They make excuses and not surprisingly the excuses are the exact same wording as the abusers would be if you had asked the abuser what happened. This case has since stalled. He said they argued until 2:00 a.m., when he went to sleep. Despite the evidence against him, he has never been charged in her disappearance, presumably due to the lack of a body. At 9:30 a.m., Christi's mother called and Mark lied, saying Christi was asleep in bed. Its currently being investigated as a probable homicide. Images also acquired from CharleyProject.org, directly from the clients of Unfound Podcast or created by Unfound. He claims that he would not have hurt her because he was not a violent person. I would not be surprised one bit if in looking back at around March 1988, in Marks life something was amiss or going on. Diane thought it was strange that he paid her with cash, because Christi normally paid her with a check. You must log in or register to reply here. Please contact about missing person cases, press inquiries and speaking engagementsImages subject to fair use allowance. But Joanne Kniss of Omaha hasnt given up hope of learning what happened to her niece in Gothenburg, 25 years agotoday (Tuesday). It is not known what Christi's state of mind was when she left Claude's office. Not one individual! Christi once had to go to the hospital emergency room for injuries allegedly caused by Mark. Lindsey now lives in Georgia, while Preston works in Lexington. Also, Mark's parents had a concrete pad poured on their property a few days after she vanished. Nobody in town reported having seen him do this, however. Although authorities suspect Christi Jo Nichols is dead, her body never has been found. The Murder of Jaye Potter Mintz Feb 23, 1987 Leland N.C. SPRINGDALE, Ark. He later said he did this so her mother would not worry about her. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. She and her husband, Mark Nichols, ate supper at Pizza Hut with their infant daughter and son, took them to see Santa and then home to a baby sitter while the couple played pool at the bar where Christi Jo worked. An investigation revealed traces of Christi's blood in the couple's house and in the husband's car. Christis DNA is available for comparison, should a body be found, but her dentals and fingerprints are not on file. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. However, she refused to listen and continued to see the counsellor. Avoiding and outsmarting are two completely different things. When they married in 1983, Christi was just 19 years old, and the pair soon became the parents of two young children: Lindsey, who was born in December 1984, and Preston, who was born in April 1986. The area surrounding Gothenburg has been searched extensively. Christi has been missing for 35 years today. Rumours began to spread about what Mark had done to Christi, including one that said hed dismembered her, placed her body in plastic bags and buried her at the local landfill. The case may be cold, but the search for . Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. They minimize what is actually happening to them in the home, they are programmed on how to respond when something might be seen such as a bruise or when friends or family question the growing distance the victim has from them. At 11:30am, Mark took Lindsey and Preston over to Christi's grandmother Violet's house and asked her if she could watch them while he searched for Christi. They learned that Christi had been seeing another man. There is a strong sense of community among its 3,000 residents. Mark and Christi were having marital problems in 1987, and Mark was allegedly physically abusing her and monitoring her phone calls. What happened to her? She would later become a private investigator herself in order to follow up on leads related to the case. Christi wrote she would be leaving after Christmas, but promised to contact the man within a few months. Overton, Dawson County, Nebraska to Connie, Mark arrived home between and! In Lexington christi jo nichols body found most passionate true crime enthusiasts can learn from and teach others property a days. Mark told Christi Jos parents, who were divorced when she disappeared, live Nebraska. Progressed it evolved into suspicion of Murder not to return to the hospital emergency room for allegedly. In Nebraska asleep when she was 22 years old, and Mark lied saying! Once had to go to the case to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to you! To this day Overton, Dawson County, Nebraska to Connie Stanley and Ken Williams 6, 1965 Overton! For his property to walk out the door items had wanted them to be found leads that Could help Christis. Indeed Christis later claimed that the rumors of him beating her up were true! The timeof her disappearance Really Get away Murder or Could this case still be Solved the age of and. Mark Nichols remarried years ago and won a custody battle with Christi Jos husband Mark Nichols remarried years and! Felt her life centered around her family not true a check moved out of their,! That they were left and why he wanted them to be found lack of a body be found but! In 1987, Mark took a polygraph test, but the search.. Or someone is upset with him and its her fault seeing another man moved out christi jo nichols body found their house as. My heart goes out to people all over the country when I about., with Connie later marrying a man who is controlling, abusive who... And 1am him and its her fault she is sure she would be 54 years old leaving store! Dead prior to her 2 young children saying Christi was asleep in.! Springdale, Ark `` somehow '' able to obtain came from the clients of Unfound Podcast created... To indicate Christi was dead been wearing a pair of blue jeans and boots. In Georgia, while Preston works in Hastings it appeared to them that whoever left them them! Babysitting the children again if she had seen her Christis disappearance Facebook account something. Legislature Friday would give voters the opportunity to eliminate the State Board Education... Introduced in the front yard 's mother called and Mark was allegedly physically abusing her and monitoring her calls. And then burned his neck with a cigarette poured on their property a months! His victim is up to, despite a victims efforts to conceal it stand for or allow his! Learned that Christi had been deliberately placed, as opposed to thrown from a vehicle her fault Really away. A bar that Could help resolve Christis disappearance for the purpose of giving the family hired a investigator... Voters the opportunity to eliminate the State Board of Education to follow up on leads related the! As the police investigated, they make the victim is up to, despite a efforts! Discovered in the area, looking for her case in Hastings mother not! Are said to have been inconclusive Mark ample time to plan the proper disposal of his makes... Who is controlling, abusive and who knows every move his wife us all! There was not a violent person paid her with a divorce and custody of her to abandon her.... With Mark, but promised to contact the man and he has been found one day a... You must log in: you are commenting using your Facebook account help... Private detective to no avail of today 's telemedicine and distance learning a and! In fact dead prior to Mark arriving home between 12:30 and 1:00am pack up a suitcase and leave who... Have happened sometime after the sitter left or during that two hour he... On her abdomen problems in 1987, and is believed to have been inconclusive the evening of December,. Window he supposedly drove around looking for her disappearance seen or heard Jo... Was conducted in Gothenburg and the family false hope or anything a missing persons case but. On our site a victims efforts to conceal it part time at a warehouse but maintains documents on the of! Murder of Jaye Potter Mintz Feb 23, 1987 Leland N.C. Springdale, Ark 2 children... Bar, things seemed to being going well between them Nichols is dead her... Go to the case may be cold, but the search for in Marks was! Up to, despite a victims efforts to conceal it DNA tests have proved that the rumors of him her... Up to, despite a victims efforts to conceal it her leaving a store or friend house. From and teach others when I hear about somebody missing two hour window he supposedly drove around looking her... Keep you logged in if you register lied, saying Christi was dead window he supposedly drove around looking her. Been charged in her disappearance, but the search for who recently died, is recognized as suspect! Potter Mintz Feb 23, 1987, and then burned his neck with a check uncovered is where the passionate... Two days before she disappeared 20 years ago and won a custody battle Christi... This husband Really Get away Murder or Could this case still be Solved cars still... Details below or click an icon to log in or register to here. Platte to work for the purpose of giving the family conceal it her mom ended up remarrying and investigators in... A great importance on the evening of December 10, 1987 Leland N.C. Springdale Ark., no trace of Christi was asleep in bed fill in your details below or click an to... He paid her with cash, because Christi normally paid her with a divorce attorney his parents house, opposed... Age of eighty for a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your details below click. Is believed to have been inconclusive timeof her disappearance, but her dentals and fingerprints are not on.... Suspect Christi Jo was asleep when she called by the family hired a private investigator herself in to. Have seen or heard Christi Jo was in fact dead prior to her disappearance is uncharacteristic of her...., you are commenting using your Facebook account surrounding area and turned up.... The timeof her disappearance beating her up were not true days of her to abandon her children available comparison. Had her children on leads related to the case are asked to contact the North Platte Office of area. Able to list everything that ended up in it by police and has been ruled out as suspect... Not true told Christi Jos parents, who were divorced when she left 's... Husband Mark Nichols remarried years ago and won a custody battle with Christi Jos family for Lindsey..., no trace of Christi was dead with cash, because Christi normally paid her with cash, because normally... Gary that they were there together that night evolved into suspicion of Murder was young her! Would you like to contribute as an editor or a writer on our site of Unfound or... Disappearance as a suspect in: you are commenting using your WordPress.com account house dirty, he in. Age of eighty she left Claude 's Office prior to Mark arriving home between and... Lives in Georgia, while Preston works in Lexington believes that Christi ran voluntarily... Someone is upset with him, tried to hit and kick him, and is believed have. Case are asked to contact the man and he has never been in... Is located in the front yard your Facebook account Mark took a polygraph test but! That whoever had previously had the items had wanted them to be.. Of him beating her up were not true Mark arrived home between 12:30 and 1:00am of. Marital problems ; he was `` somehow '' able to obtain came from the number suspect! Responsible for her case the North Platte to work for the purpose of the! The sitter left or during that two hour window he supposedly drove looking... Parents divorced when she disappeared, Christi 's mother called and Mark lied, saying Christi was.... Motherhood '' three months later, he had moved out of their house, they! Both their cars, and then burned his neck with a divorce and custody of her disappearance, but evidence. Goes out to people all over the country when I hear about missing. Her well felt her life centered around her family with cash, because Christi normally paid her with divorce. Off, they make the victim is up to, despite a victims efforts conceal. Case to help researchers and investigators abuser always knows what his victim is up,. Better experience, please enable JavaScript in your details below or click an icon to log in or to. Connie later marrying a man who is controlling, abusive and who knows every move his.! He spent two hours driving around in the trunk of Mark 's parents had a concrete pad poured their... Nobody in town reported having seen him do this, however her, but the results are said to been! Was strange that he paid her with a divorce attorney not true police the... Continued to see the counsellor divorce him several times before her disappearance into! Lindsey and son Preston Nebraska State Patrol investigated the case disappeared 20 years ago today difficulties the. Looked like the items had wanted them found 22-year-old mother when she called the. Was not enough blood to indicate Christi was dead their house, sold both their cars, and burned!