A single image is reigniting hope in one of Colorado’s most enduring missing children cases. For nearly four decades, the Abeyta family has lived with a gap in their lives they could never fill. Now, an age-progressed photo of their missing son offers the possibility of answers at last.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) recently released a striking image showing what Christopher Abeyta might look like today as a 39-year-old man. Born with blue eyes and light brown hair, Christopher was just seven months old when he vanished from his Colorado Springs home on July 15, 1986. Using advanced forensic modeling and aging software, experts have created a rendering that could guide investigators—and the public—toward the truth.
Investigators and the Abeyta family are urging anyone who sees the image to come forward with even the smallest piece of information. “For nearly forty years, we’ve done everything possible to keep Christopher’s story alive,” the family said in a statement. “We hope this new image will reach someone who can help us uncover the truth, and if he is alive, someone may recognize him.” They emphasized that even a single tip could finally bring clarity to a mystery that has haunted them for decades.
The Night That Changed Everything
Christopher’s disappearance began quietly. On the evening of July 14, 1986, his mother, Bernice Abeyta, put him to bed in his crib inside their home. By morning, the crib was empty. There were no signs of forced entry, no struggle, and even his bottle remained behind. Born on November 28, 1985, Christopher was the youngest of seven children in a close-knit family. His mother often called him “a doll” and said he had a way of making everyone around him laugh.
The sudden and unexplained loss shook the family to its core. Law enforcement launched an immediate search, and the case attracted national attention. Flyers were printed, tips flooded in from across the country, and the FBI joined the investigation. Yet, no suspects were arrested, and the case slowly went cold.
Despite the years, the Abeytas never gave up hope. “We always believed he was taken,” said family members. Even as time passed and leads dried up, they continued to fight to keep Christopher’s story in the public eye.
A Mother’s Final Plea
Bernice Abeyta remained tireless in her quest for answers until the very end. In 2016, at 73, she gave what would become her final public interview while battling cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of gallbladder cancer. “Of course, I would like to have him back,” she said, reflecting on the three decades since Christopher’s disappearance. “I’ve always felt positive that, even after 30 years, it could happen. There’s no way we were going to forget him.”
Bernice passed away in 2017 without ever knowing the fate of her youngest child. Her determination, however, inspired her family to continue the search.
Memories That Last a Lifetime
Denise Alves, Christopher’s sister, was just 15 when he disappeared. She vividly recalls the last moments with her baby brother: playing in the living room, pretending to sneeze from a bouquet of roses, and feeding him his bottle before tucking him into his crib. “It changed our family forever,” she says. “My mom would curl up crying, saying, ‘I need my baby.’ But every day, she got up and searched.”
Even after Bernice’s death, Denise and the rest of the family have kept the memory alive. They distributed flyers, gave interviews, and collaborated with NCMEC, ensuring Christopher’s story never faded from public awareness.
Cold Case, Fresh Hope
Over the years, police have identified a person of interest, but no arrests have occurred. NCMEC emphasizes that, even after decades, someone out there likely knows something. “A single photo can jog a memory,” they said in similar cases.
The newly released age-progressed image aims to spark recognition, either from Christopher himself or someone who knew him—or the person who took him. The Abeyta family hopes that after 39 years, someone will see the face in the photo and connect the dots.
“Maybe he’ll see it,” Denise Alves says. “Maybe someone close to him will. And maybe, finally, we’ll know.” For a family whose lives were upended in an instant, that glimmer of hope is worth holding onto.
