Left and Center: Christie circa, 1978
Right: Age Progressed to age 40
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: December 14, 1978
Missing From: Medford, Jackson County, Oregon
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: January 18, 1972
Age: 6 years old
Height and Weight: 3’8″ and 50 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Female, Brown hair, Brown eyes, Christie’s ears are pierced, she has a burn scar on her chest
NCMEC Number: 601237
Details of Disappearance
Christie Lynn Farni was last seen in Medford, Oregon during the morning hours of December 14th 1978. Earlier that morning, Christie testified before a grand jury regarding allegations she made against her father, Kenneth Ray Farni, that he had physically abused her.
In 1978, Christie told authorities that Kenneth had physically abused her and as a result, she and her brother were placed in a foster home in the 50 block of Peach Street in Medford at the time.
Christie was last sighted as she was walking to Jackson Elementary School. She never made it to school and has never been seen or heard from since. The school called her foster family at approximately 1:30 pm to report she never made it to school. The authorities weren’t notified until after 4:00 pm.
Christie’s father and stepmother cooperated fully in the initial investigation and are not believed to have been involved in Christie’s disappearance.
Authorities who have investigated Christie’s disappearance speculate that Christie may have been abducted by an unidentified family member and possibly hidden in a safe location or murdered. Her relatives named her foster family as possible suspects in her disappearance. There are no suspects in her case.
In 1983, Henry Lee Lucas confessed to killing a young girl in Medford around the time that Christie vanished but authorities have ultimately disproven his confession and he is known to falsely confess to murders he didn’t commit. Another individual is said to have confessed to Christie’s abduction and murder but it was also disproven.
Authorities reopened the investigation into Christie’s disappearance in 2008 and hope to locate someone who may have information that could ultimately crack her case and bring a resolution to it.
Christie’s mother died in a motorcycle accident in 1977 and her father died in a car crash in California in 1994 when he was 47 years old. He had moved there after Christie’s disappearance. Her brother is still alive and hopes to find her. Her family resides in Oregon, California, Michigan, and Arizona.
Christie’s case remains unsolved and remains classified as a non family abduction.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Medford Police Department 541-774-2250
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children