MISSING PERSON
CASE #: 1986-48
Christopher Enoch Abeyta
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Jurisdiction:
Missing From:
Colorado Springs, CO
Summary:
Christopher Enoch Abeyta was 7 months old when he was abducted from his crib in Colorado Springs, Colorado on July 15, 1986. The basement window was open and the garage door opener was missing. Christopher hasn't been seen or heard from since his disappearance.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Disappearance:
He was put to sleep at around midnight, but his parents discovered his crib was empty the next morning. Police were notified at 6:30 AM and arrived on the scene. They found the basement window was open and the garage door opener was missing. There were no signs of forced entry, but the front door had been left unlocked the previous night. Seven-month-old Christopher Abeyta was taken from his parents' bedroom sometime between 12:30-2:30 a.m.
Additional Details:
At the time of Christopher's disappearance, his parents were in the process of reconciling after a separation. The night Christopher vanished was also the first night his father had spent at home for some time. Christopher's mother failed two polygraph tests but has stated she believes this was due to tranquilliser withdrawal. According to the family, they would receive hang up phone calls for about 6 months before Christopher's disappearance and they stopped when he vanished. His sister believes the abductor was Emma Bradshaw, a woman who'd had an affair with Christopher's father and had a history of break-ins. On the night of Christopher's abduction, Emma tried to call Gil multiple times, up until midnight. In 2015, Bradshaw won a civil judgement for $150,000 against Christopher's sister for interfering with her employment. Some time after Christopher's disappearance, the Colorado Springs Police Department destroyed most of the case evidence; his family accused them of negligence and incompetence in their investigation. The Colorado Springs Police Department has tested three DNA samples from people who believed they might be the missing boy, however they received the results and none were found to match. Christopher's mother, Bernice Abeyta, passed away of cancer in 2017. His father, Gil, died after a heart attack in 2020. His siblings, led by Denise, have picked up where Gil and Bernice left off. The family of Christopher Abeyta, a boy who disappeared from Colorado Springs in 1986, has renewed hope in solving the case after discovering new evidence related to his abduction. The family claims to have uncovered substantial new evidence that could impact the investigation. A man has come forward in Colorado Springs claiming he might be Christopher Abeyta, who was taken from his crib more than 40 years ago. The development has prompted the missing man's family to seek DNA testing to verify the claim.
Case Last Updated:
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Share what you learnTimeline of Events
A man has come forward in Colorado Springs claiming he might be Christopher Abeyta. The development has prompted the missing man's family to seek DNA testing to verify the claim.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently released an age-progressed image of Christopher. The family claims to have uncovered substantial new evidence that could impact the investigation.
His father, Gil, died after a heart attack in 2020.
In Feb. of 2019, CSPD tested and received results from three DNA samples from people who believed they might be the missing boy. DNA samples were tested between August and October of that year – but none matched.
In 2018, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released an age progression photo to show what Christopher might look like as an adult.
Three weeks after he vanished, they drained Quail Lake, three blocks from the family's home, to search for his body.
Police were notified at 6:30 AM and arrived on the scene.
He was put to sleep at around midnight, but his parents discovered his crib was empty the next morning.
Associated Persons
Emma B. (Person of Interest) - Living
Denise A. (Sibling) - Living
Gil A. (Father) - Deceased
Bernice A. (Mother) - Deceased
Family Tree
Why is this important?Missing person
Father
Mother
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
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Paternal Grandfather's Mother
Paternal Grandfather's Father
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Paternal Grandmother's Father
Maternal Grandfather's Mother
Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather's Mother
Paternal Grandfather's Father
Paternal Grandmother's Mother
Paternal Grandmother's Father
Maternal Grandfather's Mother
Maternal Grandfather's Father
Maternal Grandmother's Mother
Maternal Grandmother's Father
Paternal Grandfather
Paternal Grandmother
Maternal Grandfather
Maternal Grandmother
Father
Mother
Missing Person
Missing Person
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