Christie told authorities that her father, Kenneth Ray Farni, physically abused her in 1978. She was placed in a foster home in the 50 block of Peach Street in Medford, Oregon shortly afterwards. Christie testified before a grand jury regarding her allegations on December 14, 1978. She was last seen walking to Jackson Elementary School later during the morning hours. She never arrived as scheduled and has not been heard from again.

Christie had been living with the foster family for only three days prior to her disappearance. Her school allegedly called her foster parents at 1:30 p.m. on the day of her disappearance and told them Christie never arrived to class, but the police were not notified until after 4:00 p.m.

Christie's father and stepmother cooperated with the investigation into her disappearance. Her mother died in a motorcycle accident in 1977, one year prior to her disappearance. Kenneth moved to California sometime after Christie went missing. He died in an car crash in 1994, at the age of 47.

Christie's case was reopened in recent years by authorities. Two individuals confessed to her supposed murder some years before, but investigators now believe they were not connected to her case. Authorities speculated that Christie may have been abducted by an unidentified family member and either murdered or hidden in a safe location. Christie's surviving family members stated they believe her foster family may have been involved in her disappearance. There is no evidence to support any theory.

Christie's family members reside in Oregon, Michigan, Arizona and California; officials stated that they re-interviewed her relatives in recent years. Her disappearance remains unsolved and is still classified as a non-family abduction.