Christine Green, 16: Left For School In 1985 But Never Arrived
The way this case has been categorized will differ depending on what database or report you’re looking at. Some list 16-year-old Christine Green as a runaway while others have her as an endangered missing person, but one thing that can be agreed upon is that she was last seen on April 23, 1985. It was at approximately 8:00 a.m. when Christine left her home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and made her way from her residence on Greenway Street to the Woodland Avenue trolley. The teen was scheduled to attend Bartram High School that day but reportedly never arrived.
It was unlike Christine Green to skip school or not attend classes as she was noted as being a good student. An investigation would uncover that she didn’t have a habit of being late or absent, so for her to disappear without notice caused serious concern. Christine’s mother was reportedly ill and bedridden at the time and was said to have been close with her daughter. The teen was one of eight children and according to all accounts, Christine had great relationships with her siblings as well as her parents.
It isn’t unusual for rumors and gossip to circulate when a teenager goes missing, and Christine Green wasn’t any different. There was speculation that she may have run off after learning she was pregnant, but none of that could be substantiated. Sadly, this is why many young Black teens continue to be registered as runaways, even decades after they have gone missing.
Adding to the air of mystery is the disappearance of 16-year-old Allen Briscoe, another student at Bartram High School. Allen reportedly went missing in December 1985, eight months after Christine vanished. According to reports, Allen was seen at school on the day but it was reported that the high school closed early. Authorities claimed that Allen and a friend rode the subway around Philadelphia before making their way back to their neighborhood by bus. He was reportedly last seen getting off a bus before telling the person he was with that he was on his way to see a friend who was a girl.
There have been theories about these two cases being connected, but I could not come across specific information to confirm that. Authorities do not believe that Allen was a runaway.
At the time of her disappearance, Christine Green stood 5 feet tall and weighed 90 pounds. She had black/dark brown hair and brown eyes. In 1984, Christine had her left kidney removed resulting in a surgical scar on her left flank. It was also reported that if she were to develop a fever she would have been in need of medication. She was last seen wearing a pink blouse, blue vest, jeans, and black shoes. Her dental records and fingerprints are not on file, but her DNA is on record. Christine’s nicknames are “Dinky” or “Tina.” She would be 52-years-old at the time of this publication.
Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department at (215) 686-3093. The agency case number is 85-12-024179.
Please share this story about Christine Green to reignite interest into this cold case. She is our sister and her life matters.
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