Jan 27, 2026
Jan 27, 2026
Christa
Nicole Belusko
37
2
2'4 inches
30 lbs
White
Female
The story of Christa Nicole Belusko’s disappearance is a deeply troubling case that began with the horrific murder of her mother, Christine Belusko. In September 1991, two-year-old Christa, a little girl with brown hair and brown eyes, was last seen with her mother at the Mount Airy Lodge in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. The official date of Christa's disappearance is listed as September 20, 1991, originating from Staten Island, New York. This date is tragically significant because it was on this day that Christine Belusko's body was discovered in a weedy area across from the South Beach Psychiatric Center on Staten Island. The scene was one of immense brutality; Christine had been handcuffed, strangled, and struck 17 times with a hammer. The murder weapon, a hammer with the name "Loyd L" inscribed on it, was found at the scene. Tragically, there was no sign of little Christa. For nearly three decades, Christine Belusko’s identity remained a mystery, her case a "Jane Doe" in the police files. A breakthrough finally came in April 2021 when advancements in forensic genealogy allowed investigators to identify the remains as Christine Belusko. This identification led to a startling revelation when authorities contacted Christine’s family. Her family was not only unaware of her murder but also informed investigators that Christine had a two-year-old daughter named Christa. Family and friends had believed that Christine had moved to Florida to start a new life, as she had told them she intended to do when she left her home in Clifton, New Jersey, in July of 1991. This new information transformed a cold-case homicide into an active and urgent search for a child who had been missing for 30 years. The investigation into what happened to Christa Nicole Belusko is fraught with challenges, not the least of which is the three decades that have passed since she was last seen. The identity of her father remains unknown, adding another layer of complexity to the case. Authorities are operating under the hope that Christa may still be alive, possibly raised by someone else and unaware of her own history and the tragic fate of her mother. In an effort to generate new leads, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has released an age-progressed image showing what Christa might look like as an adult. This case is an overview of a heart-wrenching story that began with a brutal murder and led to the long-unanswered question of a little girl’s whereabouts. Investigators continue to seek information from the public, holding onto the hope that someone, somewhere, knows what happened to Christa Nicole Belusko.
Sep 20, 1991
Staten Island
New York
Staten Island
Richmond County District Attorney's Office
718-876-6300
10/07/2026
