Youth Died in Bridge Accident

News and Record ^ | 11-4-02 | TAFT WIREBACK

[PAR35]

The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill could not say how long Christopher had been dead, partly because of the bad weather since his Oct. 24 disappearance, Rankin said.

I know that the temperature can have an impact, but you can get that info from the weather reports and adjust for that. I find it strange that they are not even able to calculate a range of time. (Caveat - my knowledge base is stale, and there are many folks who post on here who have more relevant knowledge. Some of the folks on the Westerfield/Van Dam threads seemed to know what they were talking about (FresnoDA?)). The family should probably have the autopsy report reviewed by a qualified pathologist. I don't think that they should look at it themselves, however.

But police think he was "most possibly" running away from home, partly because a witness saw him running into the woods near his home, Tate said.

Relevant but not conclusive info.

[God'sgrrl]

ping

[God'sgrrl]

FresnoDA account closed...

[PAR35]

After reading this story, there are even more questions.

Those questions include how Christopher stayed safe for nine days and how searchers did not find him earlier.

Are they now saying that he did not die until shortly before he was found?

[HamiltonJay]

Look, I admit I don't know this case.. but just because a 13 year old is happy one minute does not mean he will be the next. Do you know if he and his mom fought on the way home? AT this point everything is speculative, but for now there is no evidence of foul play... that doesn't mean there was none, just nothing to suggest it at this point.

[Rebelbase]

I saw a press conference last week where the mother spoke. She was very tearful, and one thing the struck me as odd, was she said "please come home you won't be in any trouble".

Makes me wonder if she and he had words over something and he did, indeed runoff.

[alancarp]

There was a lot of rainy, very cool weather over the past week - temperatures generally ranged from mid-30's to mid-50's. That being said, I would expect that a competent Medical examiner should be able to say "more than five days" or something reasonably close to that.

[HamiltonJay]

I am admittingly speculating, I have no idea what happened. Given there is no evidence of foul play, and the manner in which the boy disappeared... my first reaction given the evidence as it now stands is that there probably was some disagreement and the kid decided to go vent some, sadly it looks like he fell and died.. it is also possible, he saw a stray neighbors animal and tried to catch it for them etc etc etc. There are any number of reasons a 13 year old boy would walk away from home after school.

Is it beyond all possibility that he was abducted? No, its not, he could have been jumping from a vehicle, he could have been pushed or thrown.. they are all possible, but unless there is other evidence, I suspect this is not likely.

Like I said before I ask any man here, did you never run off in anger at or around that age, after a spat with parents over something? Lord knows I and every other kid I know around that age did or has. Many an hour I spent wandering the woods around my home, and whenever I needed to get away, that's where I headed. I am not proud of it, and I always paid the price for it if I did it directly against the wishes of my parents, but it gave me the time and solitude I needed to work things out.

I am keeping this family in my thoughts and prayers, because regardless of how he left his home, he is never coming back... and that is a tragedy that no conspiracy theory will change or lessen. This family will be burying a 13 year old boy, called to heaven long before any on earth think he should have been. That is a pain, I pray I will never have to know. May the good Lord keep him safe.

[Ditter]

Very strange & very sad. My prayers go out for the family.

[kassie]

God rest his soul and comfort his loved ones.

[God'sgrrl]

She was very tearful, and one thing the struck me as odd, was she said "please come home you won't be in any trouble".

TRUST ME she said that because she was told to do so by the High Point police...she didn't even want to say it! She was also told to appeal to an abductor at the same press conference.

[God'sgrrl]

He didn't run away...I know Chris and the family. He would not run away, and BTW not every child runs like you said. I still believe that other than abduction he may have become disoriented but not a runaway!!

[MHT]

If he was so close to home, how did the trackers miss him for so long? Wouldn't at least the dogs have gotten the scent?

[JudyB1938]

It is my opinion that he must be declared an accident. Otherwise, the police might have to try to do a little work. Sorry for the sarcasm, but I am not over my anger in this case. BUT ... anger cannot be sustained in the parents. Otherwise it will eat them up. They will have to fall back on "God's Will". That's what I do (dead son, granddaughter, and great-grandson).

[HamiltonJay]

Oh Bull, you are going to sit there and honestly say that children don't wonder off in their teens? Please.. I never suggested he was "running away" for good. He may have left for any number of reasons, chasing a neighbors dog... etc etc... What I described I don't even consider "running away".

[HamiltonJay]

If he was so close to home, how did the trackers miss him for so long? Wouldn't at least the dogs have gotten the scent

More obvious things have been missed before, and as for the dogs, they are living creatures not infalible. All you are offering is conspiracy theory... at this point no evidence suggests anything other than he wandered off of his own accord.

Is it possible that something else happened? Sure, its also possible Unitarianism is the one true religion. Lots of things are "possible".

[HamiltonJay]

He didn't run away...I know Chris and the family. He would not run away

I see, so you now claim to know every thought and or possibility that this 13 year old boy had or would have in his head, in all the possible outcomes? Please... I don't think he "ran away" in the sense of not returning... but I would not be suprised in the least if he decided to take a walk or something because he and his mother had some sort of disagreement on the way home... may have been nothing more than she wanted him to take out the garbage and he didn't want to.

[God'sgrrl]

what kid never ran off

Not every child wanders off as you have implied...and I believe it would be in your best interest to know Chris and his mother before you decide that he brought this on himself! This child was harmed.

[God'sgrrl]

Chris was not the typical boy, confident, invincible, and brave. You do no not know him.

[God'sgrrl]

sad...those like you are to blame for letting perps go free.