Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP7827) and 12 other sources
Christina Monteiro, a 19-year-old woman from New Bedford, Massachusetts, was last seen by her family on June 7, 1988. She lived a transient lifestyle and struggled with substance abuse, which is a detail that connects her case to a broader and more disturbing pattern of disappearances and murders in the area. Christina's family had contact with her until around May or June of that year, but she was never heard from again. She was described as 5’3” to 5’5” tall, weighing approximately 110 pounds, with brown hair and eyes, along with distinct scars and tattoos. At the time of her disappearance, she was battling heroin addiction, which was a factor that linked her to several other missing or murdered women from the New Bedford area during this period.

Christina’s case is closely tied to the infamous New Bedford Highway murders. Between 1988 and 1989, the remains of nine women, all with histories of drug use and prostitution, were discovered along highways surrounding the city. Investigators suspect that these women were victims of a serial killer, and Christina is considered one of the possible victims in this disturbing series. Her disappearance, along with that of Marilyn Roberts, another woman who vanished around the same time, remains unsolved. Both women were linked by their lifestyles and their mysterious disappearances, and both are presumed to have fallen victim to the same predator.

Though the case has never been fully solved, law enforcement explored several leads, including individuals connected to other victims. At one point, a local attorney, Kenneth Ponte, who had ties to some of the women, was investigated, but no definitive link was established. Christina’s family has waited decades for answers, but like the other women believed to be victims of the New Bedford Highway Killer, her fate remains a haunting mystery.

Last Seen: Jun 7, 1988

Possible Unidentified Matches (7)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

78%Possible
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP9631
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP9631 • Found Mar 5, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 97%Est. 20–35 vs 19
Race 100%Black
Location 61%172 mi away
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"–5'5"
Weight 100%110 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7912
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP7912 • Found May 7, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 61%171 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'3"–5'5"
Weight 100%120 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
Jane Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP6857
Jane Doe — Bronx, New York
UP6857 • Found Apr 8, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 14–20 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 63%162 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'3"–5'5"
Weight 59%142 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP122454 • Found Jul 3, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 19
Race 100%Black
Location 50%247 mi away
TimingFound 4 weeks after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'7" vs 5'3"–5'5"
Weight 100%100–120 lb vs 110 lb
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1482 • Found Oct 24, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 59%179 mi away
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"–5'5"
Weight 100%120 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP6938
Jane Doe — Queens, New York
UP6938 • Found Feb 5, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 16–19 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 63%161 mi away
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'3"–5'5"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP8338
Jane Doe — Queens, New York
UP8338 • Found Apr 19, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 63%161 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'3"–5'5"
Weight 5%163 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.