Christopher Louis Zaharias was three years old when he was taken from Santa Ana, California, on November 20, 1987. He and his younger sister, Lisa Mae Zaharias, were removed from the family home by their non-custodial mother, Susan Elizabeth Zaharias, after a heated argument with their father, Louis Zaharias. At the time Christopher was about 3 feet tall, weighed 40 pounds, had blonde hair, blue eyes and a slight speech impediment.

Susan has been wanted on felony child-abduction charges since February 1988. Reports indicate she struggled with cocaine and methamphetamine use and may have received help from family members. The three were reportedly seen with a family in Pennsylvania soon after the abduction and were later spotted in Detroit in 1988; leads have also placed them in Michigan, Oklahoma, California and possibly Canada. They may have been traveling in a black 1986 Toyota 4-Runner with California plate 2X85442.

Age-progressed images of Christopher, Lisa and Susan have been produced and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office continues to investigate. If anyone has information about Christopher’s whereabouts or the vehicles and locations mentioned, please come forward.