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15 years ago, Christie Wilson vanished from Thunder Valley Casino. Her body has finally been found.
San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Monday, August 24, 2020 | Katie Dowd

Posted on 08/25/2020 4:29:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Christie Wilson, 27, was killed by Mario Flavio Garcia after the pair met at Thunder Valley Casino in Oct. 2005.

In the early morning hours of Oct. 5, 2005, 27-year-old Christie Wilson left Thunder Valley Casino after a night of gambling. She wasn't alone.

When a missing persons report was filed, Placer County investigators immediately pulled surveillance footage from the casino northeast of Sacramento. They watched Wilson, under no apparent duress, enjoying herself like any other patron. Then, they spotted a man who kept striking up conversations with her, hour after hour. Around 1 a.m., the man and Wilson left together. The last bit of surveillance footage showed them walking out into the parking lot.

Using Thunder Valley's player membership system, that man was identified as Mario Flavio Garcia, a 53-year-old IT specialist who was then working as a project manager for Sutter Health. Garcia, who was reportedly sporting a black eye, told detectives he did meet Wilson that night, but that she had later gone back into the casino to retrieve her cell phone. This was not corroborated by the casino's surveillance footage.

When Placer County sheriff's detectives served a warrant on Garcia's car, they found Wilson's hair and spots of her blood in the vehicle. No other traces of Wilson were discovered.

In 2007, Garcia was convicted of first-degree murder, the first case in Placer County history where prosecutors were able to secure a conviction with no body. And so while a man was behind bars for her murder, Wilson remained missing.

On Monday, 15 years after her disappearance, the Placer County Sheriff's Office announced they have finally found Christie Wilson's body.

Last week, investigators went to Garcia's former home in Auburn and began searching anew, scanning the four-and-a-half acre property with ground-penetrating radar.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Local News; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: casino; crime; murder
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1 posted on 08/25/2020 4:29:45 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

2 posted on 08/25/2020 4:36:54 PM PDT by laweeks
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To: nickcarraway

“after a night of gambling.”

Something is not right, how many single 27 year old girls spend a night gambling?


3 posted on 08/25/2020 4:37:25 PM PDT by doorgunner69 (Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading - T Jefferson)
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To: nickcarraway
"Mario Flavio Garcia"

Is he a Democrat?

4 posted on 08/25/2020 4:40:13 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: doorgunner69

Single women go to casinos all the time, this is NOT unusual.


5 posted on 08/25/2020 4:41:31 PM PDT by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: Paladin2

Supports Biden?


6 posted on 08/25/2020 4:41:36 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: laweeks

This case was on the ID channel, complete with surveillance video from the casino. I am glad they found her body.


7 posted on 08/25/2020 4:42:31 PM PDT by Parley Baer
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To: Paladin2

They’ll both be voting for him this November.

Several times.

Trump will win anyway


8 posted on 08/25/2020 4:43:58 PM PDT by Balding_Eagle ( The Great Wall of Trump ---- 100% sealing of the border. Coming soon.)
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To: Parley Baer

ID rocks. I once binge-watched their shows for a whole day.


9 posted on 08/25/2020 4:44:00 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Trust the plan of the 17th letter of the English alphabet!)
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To: doorgunner69

If you go to a popular casino, they are sitting at slot machines everywhere.


10 posted on 08/25/2020 4:44:35 PM PDT by hattend
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To: Balding_Eagle

Calif. votes don’t matter [for POTUS anyway].


11 posted on 08/25/2020 4:45:37 PM PDT by Paladin2
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To: nickcarraway

Good; the family can finally have some bit of closure.


12 posted on 08/25/2020 4:46:45 PM PDT by Spirit of Liberty (It's morning in America again!)
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To: nickcarraway

“...but that she had later gone back into the casino to retrieve her cell phone. ..”

Shit-faced drunk and hook up with a Ted Bundy type.


13 posted on 08/25/2020 4:51:02 PM PDT by Bonemaker (invictus maneo)
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To: doorgunner69

Lots.

As i understand it, she was a big winner that evening. I cant recall the exact amount. 5 thousand? He was in debt and just happened to be there when he saw her win and decided to rob her.


14 posted on 08/25/2020 4:52:01 PM PDT by lowbridge
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To: Parley Baer

“This case was on the ID channel,”

I totally remember seeing this a few times. (I’m an “ID Addict”.) Glad they finally found the girl, for the sake of her family, especially.


15 posted on 08/25/2020 4:53:36 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (If 100% of us contracted this Covid Virus only 99.997% would be left to tell our story.)
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To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

I think it’s the “Evil Lives Here” show that has the creepiest theme music at the beginning.


16 posted on 08/25/2020 4:55:16 PM PDT by MayflowerMadam (If 100% of us contracted this Covid Virus only 99.997% would be left to tell our story.)
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To: nickcarraway

Why didn’t they search the property with ground penetrating radar 15 years ago? It’s not exactly new technology.


17 posted on 08/25/2020 4:59:23 PM PDT by AlaskaErik (In time of peace, prepare for war.)
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To: Paladin2
Supports Biden?

Who knows, who cares and why even ask?.........Sheesh!

18 posted on 08/25/2020 5:02:17 PM PDT by Hot Tabasco
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To: doorgunner69

“...how many single 27 year old girls spend a night gambling?”

Those with gambling and other addictions. ‘Addicts’ don’t have to drink or drug to get ‘high.’


19 posted on 08/25/2020 5:03:24 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: MayflowerMadam

definitely


20 posted on 08/25/2020 5:06:05 PM PDT by LibertyWoman
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