When they came home, the family's light blue 1988 Dodge Caravan was gone, the family dog was running around loose, and there was a note on the kitchen table from Christopher reading: "Mom, Something important came up + feeling somewhat better. Back by six. (Unless I get lost.) Love, Chris" The word "lost" in the note was underlined twice. Christopher's mother believes his statement about getting lost was just a reference to the fact that he occasionally got lost while he was driving.
Christopher never arrived home and has never been heard from again. He withdrew $200 from his savings account the day he disappeared. The next day, a handwritten note arrived at his parents' home, postmarked Duluth, Minnesota; that town is about two and a half hours from Eagan.
The note said Christopher had lied about being sick so he could use the family's car to get away "to not even I know where." He said he intended to take his own life, and apologized for hurting his family and loved ones.
Two days after Christopher was last seen, the Dodge Caravan was found abandoned on the roadside in Itasca County in northern Minnesota, near the George Washington State Forest and the Chippewa National Forest, about twenty miles north of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Christopher's grandparents lived in Grand Rapids. Inside the van were the keys and a note from Christopher explaining who owned the van.
An extensive search of the area turned up no indication of his whereabouts; it's possible he hitchhiked to an unknown destination. After Christopher's disappearance, his family got a tip from someone who claimed they'd picked up a hitchhiker resembling him who asked to be taken to Duluth, the place where the suicide note had been mailed from. This story has not been verified.
The family also got a lot of strange calls where the caller would not speak and there would be background noise like a party. Christopher's mother believes the strange calls were from him. They continued for six months before stopping abruptly.
In 2004, the Eagan Police Department got an anonymous letter postmarked Seattle, Washington that asked them to stop looking for Christopher. The letter writer said Christopher was a "guardian angel" and that he would return home when he was ready. Police eventually concluded the letter was a hoax.
Prior to his disappearance, Christopher hadn't given any indications there were problems in his life. He was an excellent student who'd been invited to join the National Honor Society and was a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist, and he was a member of his school's swimming team and played the clarinet. His other hobbies included skiing, camping, reading, laser tag and computers.
Christopher was carrying his father's 1954 to 1956 model Mossberg 20-gauge bolt-action shotgun with a three-shell clip at the time of his disappearance, but he apparently didn't take any ammunition with him. Authorities believe the gun may have been abandoned somewhere in rural Minnesota and was possibly found later by a hunter.
Photos of a similar gun, and watch similar to what Christopher was wearing, are posted with this case summary. Investigators would like to hear from anyone who found such a gun in 1990 or afterwards.
Christopher's case remains unsolved and many agencies classify it as a runaway. His parents still live in the house where they lived in 1990, and have kept the same phone number. Police believe it's likely he took his own life and that his body has not been found yet.
I felt a little uncomfortable writing about a boy who may have committed suicide. But I decided to look into his case nevertheless. There are roughly thirty more cases from across the world that I wish to look at, mainly those of children, but I believe that this is the only one where suicide may be involved.
I shall add links to suicide hotlines at the end of this reading.
1)
Two
of Pentacles, reversed. An imbalance between work and home, discord, resisting
change, a turn for the worse, incomplete projects. Accountants, shift workers,
those with multiple jobs, stock market investors or traders, market traders.
Due to Christopher’s age, I wonder if the imbalance refers to his school
work. Did he have trouble at school? From what I can find, he appears to have
been a good student. Maybe he felt overworked?
2)
Nine
of Pentacles. Gain, rewards for your efforts, realizing your goals, financial
and personal independence, material security, self-sufficiency, a kept man or
woman. Those with a trust fund, horticulturists, the retired, bird keepers,
landscape gardeners.
The second card represents the obstacle for the Querent – in this case
Christopher. It seems to be an odd card to indicate an obstacle. But perhaps it
may refer to a person. Could someone who fits the criteria suggested perhaps
have quarrelled with the boy?
3)
Seven
of Pentacles, reversed. Failure in business, blockages in production,
fruitlessness, poor investments, a turn in either direction, fear of success,
self-sabotage. Planners, long-term investors, garden centre workers, plant
growers.
I think about Christopher’s alleged – and I cannot stress that word
enough – suicidal tendencies when I see the word fruitlessness. Remember, if
you or anyone you know has suicidal thoughts, I have listed some helplines
below.
The fruitfulness could normally indicate someone’s fertility, but as
Christopher was seventeen, I am not sure that this what the card is referring
to.
4)
Four
of Swords. Calling a truce, a rest, agreement, considering your position, tomb,
coffin.
I had a terrible feeling in my gut when I turned over this card. I felt
as if I were intruding on Christopher’s private moments, especially since the
fourth card in a reading indicates the future (when I do readings for missing
people, the future refers to the time after they were last seen). I feel
positively awful as I say with certainty that it seems as if Christopher is
dead, whether by his own hand or someone else’s.
5)
Strength.
Inner strength, self-assurance, self-control, patience, strength through
personal power, vitality, compassionate.
This card is a little difficult to interpret. On the one hand, as the
fifth card represents what the Querent wants to achieve, it could signify what
Christopher wanted from life, but did not feel as if he could achieve. If this
were the case, I think that this particular card might have been reversed. So
perhaps he set out with the intention of suicide, but something changed his
mind. If so, what happened to prevent him from going home? Was he the victim of
a crime? Was he ashamed?
6)
Fool.
New beginnings, spontaneity, adventure, innocence, fearlessness, a leap of
faith, freedom from constraints, seeking freedom.
Does this mean that Christopher ran away? It certainly seems so. He was
seventeen, an age where foolishness and spontaneity abound. Could it be
entirely possible that the sadness of the Four of Swords was a turning point
and not an omen of death, with Christopher realising how string he really was?
I truly hope so.
But if this is the case I must ask again where he has been all this
time.
7)
World,
reversed. Plans falling through, unfinished business, delayed success,
non-movement, stagnation, being stuck in a rut.
The seventh card signifies the Querent themselves. Whether or not
Christopher chose to die that day, this card may indicate his suicidal
tendencies. As the card is reversed, the ‘success’ that may have been delayed,
or ‘plans’ that fell through may refer to ‘bad’ plans – his intention of
killing himself.
Either way, the non-movement is confusing. There is some evidence that
he made his way to Duluth. He could still be living there if this is true.
8)
Nine
of Wands. Determination, test of character, belief in your personal power,
being able to push through. Soldiers and the military, security guards,
striking workers.
The eighth card refers to the Querent’s environment. Again the idea of
failing to kill himself comes up. It is the only explanation I can think of.
9)
Page
of Wands. Messages, electronic communication, renewed vigour, school or college
friend, youngster or child.
The ninth card represents hopes and fears. The message makes me think of
the note he left behind, or even the letter mailed from Duluth. I wonder if a
school friend managed to help him get away. Perhaps they were the first person
that he went to. Maybe Christopher is scared that this person may give away
what they know. Is he frightened of returning home? Ashamed?
10)
King
of Pentacles, reversed. Materialistic bigot, exploiter or harsh employer,
opinionated, cruel, poor business decisions, sex addict. Estate agent,
businessman or manager, banker, teacher or other educator, mentor, exporter or
importer.
This card may indicate the reasons behind Christopher’s decision. There must have been someone in his life that Christopher wanted to get away from. I think it would be best to take another look at his school life and any extracurricular activities that he undertook. I believe you will find the answers there.
Suicide Hotlines
https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/suicide/ (UK)
https://suicidepreventionpathways.org.au/ (AUS)
https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/ (CAN)
http://www.suicide.org/hotlines/international/germany-suicide-hotlines.html (GER)
https://www.youthline.co.nz/(NZ)
http://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ (USA)
