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MISSING: UW-SP student vanishes
The Pointer
jglod170@uwsp.edu
“She was really outgoing; very nice person, very beautiful girl,” said Katie Kloth, referring to her friend Christine Walters, 23, who was officially reported missing Nov. 17, 2008.
Many share these characteristics as they describe their friend, Walters, who attended the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point up until right before the beginning of the fall semester. She was studying botany and ethnobotany when she was attending school but she had many other interests outside of campus that led her to the West Coast.
It all started back in July when she went to Portland, Ore. to visit with friends for a few weeks.
“She was always looking for adventure, and I think she always just wanted to keep traveling because she wanted to be a yoga instructor, and she didn’t know where she’d fit in,” said Kloth. “She thought out West would be better for her free-spirit-mentality and we all thought that would be good for her too.”
Toni Osiecki, another friend, thinks that her going out West had a lot to do with a recent feeling of freedom from a recent breakup.
“She had just gone through a move after she and her boyfriend broke up and felt like a big weight had been lifted off her shoulders,” said Osiecki. “She felt like she had a fresh start. She was going out to Oregon to visit a mutual friend and it was just a chance for her to get back to her authentic self and do something independent without having anyone to bounce ideas off. I feel like this gave her that empowering energy, to get her back to herself.”
Despite her round-trip ticket, she chose not to return to UW-SP, choosing to stay on the West Coast, in Humboldt County, Cali., to be specific. This area is known for its natural beauty, featuring redwood trees and stunning coasts. The private investigator believes this may be one of the reasons she remained behind, as the area embraced many of the same beliefs as her.
“I think some of her interests were from Stevens Point. That is what got her interested in some of the things that led her to love Humboldt County,” said Chris Cook, private investigator. “People are interested in the similar type of character, philosophical beliefs and spirituality as her, and so that is what I think led her here.”
Some of her closest friends questioned her sudden change of plans to stay though, wondering whether she was really making the right decisions.
Photo courtesy of Toni Osiecki
Christine Walters enjoys nature while out on a boat with her friends. She was reported missing Nov. 17.
“We found out she just decided to stay,” said Kloth. “We didn’t know who she was living with, we didn’t know where she was working, and we didn’t know if that was a good set-up.”
Other friends felt that maybe Walters was still finding herself in a much different world.
“I think two or three weeks wasn’t enough, she was probably loving it, loving the weather and the scenery,” said Osiecki. “She lived in Wisconsin all of her life and it was something she was doing solo. I can just see her living day-to-day and being happy with whatever that day brings.”
Investigators find the events that unfolded around Walter’s disappearance which came later to be the most puzzling.
“In 25 years, I’ve investigated hundreds of cases and I’ve never seen any case with similar circumstances and that is why it is very complex,” said Cook.
An incident that occurred on Nov. 12, leaves many wondering whether something disturbing may have been going on. A call from a rural citizen of Humboldt County said that they found Walters on their doorstep. She showed up without any clothing and seemed to be traumatized. The citizens contacted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department who attempted to help Walters. Despite questioning, they were unable to attain any information as to what might have happened to her. After contacting her mother, she seemed to recover and was ready to return home.
“We didn’t think there was any evidence of drug use or mental illness,” said Cook. “She was just really frightened.”
Two days later, she was trying to return home but was never heard from again. Her belongings were found at a spiritual center in Arcata, Cali. The owner of the center claimed this was a common occurrence while Walters was around.
Hope still remains that Walters will be found and many avenues are being sought to find her, from psychics to search dogs.
“We’re actively looking and working with the sheriff’s department and every day we still hope that we can find out what happened to her since she disappeared,” said Cook.
A fund has been established at the Bank of Deerfield to help with funding the private investigator looking for Walters. Students are already looking to do something to bring awareness to the situation and bring in funds to help find her.
“We’re looking to do some awareness events outside of school and raise money to keep the private investigation open because after a certain date, they typically stop looking or that money the family has allocated themselves for the private investigator will run out,” said Kloth. “They’re stressed out enough that they probably are having a hell of a time figuring out where they’re going to get that money to keep that open.”
Kloth and Osiecki are organizing a fundraiser in the coming weeks with help and donations from Adventure 212. Look for future details in “The Pointer.”
Donations: Deerfield Bank c/o Christine Walters Fund, 15 S. Main St., Deerfield WI, 53531.
If you have information: Any tips about Walters can be given to Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department investigator Dan Paris at (707) 445-7251 or Private Investigator Chris Cook at (707) 616-4507.
