Woman Who Lost Baby To Kidnapper In 1986 Has Dying Wish
By Kathy Walsh
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4) - For 30 years, a mother in Colorado Springs has been grieving for her missing child. Now, she has a dying wish.
Bernice Abeyta has terminal cancer. Before she dies, she wants to know what happened to her baby boy.
"When Christopher disappeared it was like I lost my future," said Abeyta.
She's been clinging to the past. Her baby boy, Christopher, was just seven months old in July, 1986 when he disappeared from Colorado Springs. His parents say he was snatched from his crib in their bedroom in the middle of the night.
"My parents both said their greatest fear was they wouldn't have answers before they died," said Abeyta's daughter, Denise Alves.
Those fears may be realized. Abeyta has incurable cancer. Christopher's kidnapping remains a cold case with no named suspects and no new clues.
"I plea with them to come forward now so that my mom can have some peace," said Alves.
In an age progression image of what Christopher might look like today, he resembles his siblings. Abeyta has raised six children. She's ready for what comes next.
"I've done what I had to do in life and so I'm okay," Abeyta said.
While she may never know what happened to baby Christopher, she believes in justice.
"They're going to have to face the facts someday that they didn't help the parent of a missing child find their child and they're going to have to pay for that," said Abeyta.
There is a $100,000 reward in the case for information that leads to an arrest.
LINK: Facebook - Find Christopher
Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.
