Christi Jo Nichols: Vanished December 10, 1987 - Unsolved Mysteries Case Still Haunts Nebraska

Missing Person: Christi Jo Nichols

Details from a government source (might be paraphrased):

Nichols, a mother of two small children, was last seen alive on December 10th, 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.

Last contact: December 10th, 1987

Last location: Gothenburg, Nebraska

Age when Christi Jo Nichols disappeared: 22

Sex: Female

Height in inches: 69

Weight in pounds (lbs): 120

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Hair color: Brown

Eye Color: Green

Scar or distinctive characteristic: Scar left eye; scar on abdomen; and pierced ears.

Link to Government Source: MP4677 (right-click to open)

Websleuths discussion page: Christi Jo Nichols (right-click to open)

BMI means body mass index. It is meant to describe someone's healthy body weight relative to the individual's height. It is only food for thought because it does not account for all body types. Christi Jo Nichols had a BMI of 17.72. She was underweight by BMI standards at the time of her disappearance.

Commentary and Research

By: Shane Lambert

Original time of writing: March 10th, 2025

I covered this case some years ago in relation to an old episode of Unsolved Mysteries. Readers can find what I wrote at the following link: Christi Jo Nichols.

There was some news coverage with this case back in 2020. The Gothenburg Leader's Ellen Mortensen published an article on Christi's disappearance on January 16th, 2020 with updates the next month. The following bullet points summarize the news article.

• On December 10th, 1987, Christi Jo Nichols went out with her husband, Mark Nichols; she has not been seen since; the children were left with a babysitter, who did not see or hear Christi when Mark returned
• The next day, Mark gave conflicting stories about Christi’s whereabouts before filing a missing person report.
• Spousal Abuse Allegations: Reports surfaced that Christi was treated for injuries from a fight with Mark, 10 days before disappearing and had consulted a divorce attorney two days prior, suggesting domestic tension.
• Mark’s Claims: Mark insisted Christi left voluntarily, citing a missing suitcase (later found matching his exact description at a rest stop) and suggesting she ran off with another man, though evidence for this is thin.
• Family and Community Impact: Christi’s family—parents, siblings, and children Lindsey and Preston—have lived without closure, while her disappearance remains a haunting memory in Gothenburg, driving ongoing efforts for answers.
• Media and Public Role: The case gained attention through an Unsolved Mysteries episode, which I reviewed in another article.
• Status back in 2020: Despite extensive searches and occasional leads, the case remains open but unsolved.