A Sister’s Search: DNA Connection Sparks New Hope in 50-year Case

“We want her back in our family. I want her back as my sister.”

For the last 50 years, Colleen Ferris has searched for answers about what happened to her missing sister, Christine Gregg.

On June 16, 1976, Christine, who was 18 years old, gave birth at a hospital in Sacramento, California. The baby was adopted, and Christine was never seen again.

Christine's disappearance remains unsolved, but a surprising DNA match has brought new relatives into Colleen's life and renewed hope that answers may still be out there.

Colleen shared that she and Christine were very close throughout their childhood. The sisters grew up in a difficult household in San Jose, California, and as they got older, Christine would occasionally leave home for periods of time. Still, she eventually always came back.

Christine Gregg (right) and her sister Colleen Ferris (left). (Courtesy of Colleen Ferris)

The last time Colleen saw Christine was in December 1975 before she left home again. Months later in June, their family received a phone call from a hospital in Sacramento and learned that Christine gave birth to a child who would be put up for adoption. Since then, there’s been no contact or any indication of where Christine went. 

Photos of Christine Gregg prior to her disappearance. (Courtesy of Colleen Ferris)

Colleen never stopped searching, and in 2020, she submitted her DNA to 23andMe, hoping it might provide new clues about Christine’s disappearance.

Instead, it introduced her to family members she never knew before.

Through the DNA database, Colleen connected with April Alley, who is Christine's biological granddaughter. The match confirmed that Christine had a daughter who went on to build a family of her own.

“I felt like I was the closest to Christine I had been since the last time I saw her,” Colleen shared. “It did give me quite a bit of hope.”

Through these new relationships, Colleen’s hope has only been getting stronger and is now shared by multiple generations of Christine's family.

“Having different types of family, whether it is adoptive, chosen, or biological, I've found that each one has deep importance,” April said. “I'm really grateful that my aunt Colleen was brave enough to push forward and was tenacious in the search for Christine, it gives me that drive to keep pushing for answers.”

Christine Gregg (right) and her siblings. (Courtesy of Colleen Ferris)

Because the adoption was closed, one of the biggest mysteries for investigators is where Christine gave birth. The family does not remember the name of the hospital, and Colleen has contacted multiple Sacramento-area hospitals in hopes of locating records that could provide information, but so far, she has had no luck.

Identifying the hospital could fill in important gaps for law enforcement in the timeline of Christine's disappearance.

“Christine, I really want you to come home,” Colleen shared as a message to her sister. “There's nothing to run away from anymore. All of our ghosts and terrors are gone, and what is not, you and I have always fought together to keep them away and we will continue to.”

Christine Gregg (right) and her sister Colleen Ferris (left). (Courtesy of Colleen Ferris)

In 2024, a forensic artist at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) created an age progression image showing what Christine may look like all these decades later. Today, Christine is 68 years old.

Christine's family hopes the image will spark memories and encourage anyone with information to come forward. 

Christine age progressed to 66 years old. (Courtesy of NCMEC)

If you have any information about Christine or her disappearance, please call NCMEC at 1-800-843-5678 or the Sacramento Police Department at 1-916-808-5471.

View Christine’s missing poster here: https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/2011735/1