Nichols, a mother of two small children, was last seen alive on December 10, 1987, at her home in Gothenburg. Her husband reported her missing the next day, and she has never been seen since. The Nebraska State Patrol investigated the case and the family hired a private detective to no avail.

Although authorities suspect Christi Jo Nichols is dead, her body never has been found. At first, police handled the disappearance as a missing persons case, but as time progressed it evolved into suspicion of murder.

An investigation revealed traces of Christi's blood in the couple's house and in the husband's car. Recent DNA tests have proved that the blood found was indeed Christi's.

Her suitcase, along with her purse was found at a rest stop near Maxwell in 1988.

Christi was in an abusive relationship and had been treated in an emergency room for injuries weeks before she disappeared. She was planning to leave her husband at the time of her disappearance.