Here is a fairly recent article about her. Sad to see she's never been found but glad to see she still hasn't been forgotten.

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10206471

No mention of her husband... interesting.

Thats coincidental that you mention her as I just watched that segment today. These days when I'm not on the road for work, I work at the house and watch my UM segments during the day.

Her husband is strange in his interview and acts like a robot. He seemed guilty to me but I don't know. What's everyone's opinion?

Thats coincidental that you mention her as I just watched that segment today. These days when I'm not on the road for work, I work at the house and watch my UM segments during the day.

Her husband is strange in his interview and acts like a robot. He seemed guilty to me but I don't know. What's everyone's opinion?

There is not one single doubt in my mind that he killed Christi and disposed of her body. I wish he would finally develop a conscience and tell the authorities where he put her so her family can at least bury her.

Her husband is strange in his interview and acts like a robot. He seemed guilty to me but I don't know. What's everyone's opinion?

Yes I totally agree with you, at one point he even giggles: I think he says something like:

"There's even been a rumor saying I chopped her up and put her in garbage bags and buried her at the dump! That's one of the first ones I heard, and that one really got to me because I guess they were actually up there digging *giggle* around...

:mad:

Yeah, I lump him in with Jule Calor and Tim McClure for having a big ZERO on the believability meter.

Her husband has got to be one of the least convincing guilty-as-sin rednecks I have ever seen........don't let the "What, Me Worry?" demeanor fool you.......:mad:

I'm actually amazed our State Patrol believed him for so long........

The thing that really gets me is, we had a case up here in Omaha the summer before last......a girl (Jessica O'Grady) went missing, her body was never found.......yet there was enough physical evidence to convince a jury her 'boyfriend' (Christopher Edwards) was guilty of second-degree murder and deserved to go away for 20-odd years.

If the SP could've gotten some more physical evidence + put that together with the backstory of domestic abuse.......Mark could be sitting in a cold concrete cell right about now.....

I dont think your SP believed him at all, folks, we must remember this was 1987! They didnt have the science they do now, he sold both of their cars within weeks of the "disappearance" of Kristi, it is believed one of those cars was the crime scene, in fact, didnt the person that Mark sold it to or another future owner of the car say they found a bunch of dried blood in the car but it was too degraded for testing?

I dont really doubt that Mark killed Christi, whether it was pre meditated or not is another story, but I do think he killed her. My own theory is, Mark and Christi went out for drinks as everyone knows, they leave the bar, they probably both were intoxicated to some extent, they got in an argument, Christ probably told Mark they were through and that she was going to get a divorce, he just wasnt going to let that happen, he beats on her or strangles her. Then he panicks and buries her out in the country somewhere where she would never be found.

I almost wonder if Mark didnt get rid of her body until later, because he would have had to bury her pretty quick in order to get home about an hour after leaving the bar. But he tried to tell the baby sitter that Kristi walked past her without the sitter knowing? I mean I know the DA's office is reluctant to prosecute this guy without a body, but it is a certainty she is dead. But in 1987 and even a lot now, they just wont prosecute a case without a body. But up until the 1990's no body almost always meant, no charges!

I personally think it would be hard to convict Mark of first degree murder because it would be hard to prove pre meditation but I think 2nd degree murder or voluntary manslaughter would be indictable. Heck, at this point, Mark has already been free for over twenty years, the family probably wouldnt even disapprove of a plea bargain to voluntary manslaughter if he would just fess up and tell where he buried her body.

But huskerz, your state patrol didnt believe him, they thought he did it almost from the start, but the Dawson County District Attorney's office then and still does refuse to press charges or take it to a grand jury and see if they would indict even. The Dawson County DA these days is too busy focusing on trying to burn at the stake that 25 year old teacher that ran off to Mexico with that 13 year old illegal immigrant kid she was sleeping with.

Also huskerz, the problem too is that your sp did the best they could do, Mark sold the cars, it was 1987 science, they really couldnt have done more than what they did. Yes the domestic stuff didnt look good, but you really cannot convict someone based on that, you cant just get more physical evidence if there is none to find. Like I said, I am pretty sure Mark either beat or strangled Kristi to death, there was blood, he cleaned it up, in 1987, it was twenty years ago, the big science then was finger prints.

A deathbed confession is the best we can hope for then prolly? :(

No mention of her husband... interesting.


Yeah no update on him at all or his thoughts on the case. My view is he got drunk that night and she had a few herself and as someone already stated after some drinks and on the way home had the courage to tell him that it was over and that she visited a lawyer and boom that was it and he went in a drunken rage. The babysitter also stated that Christi always paid her and usually with a check, that night he just handed her cash and that was it.

"There's even been a rumor saying I chopped her up and put her in garbage bags and buried her at the dump! That's one of the first ones I heard, and that one really got to me because I guess they were actually up there digging *giggle* around...

:mad:


C'mon now...let's be fair to the guy...he DID say that particular accusation "really got to" him.

Awww...poor him.

Please forgive the bump if this info has been mentioned elsewhere in the forum and I missed it! I was watching the Christi Nichols segment tonight and remembered it from the olden (pre-Spike) days and wanted to see what updated info may exist on her case.

I did find the following which I do not recall having heard before:

In 1990, Mark filed for divorce from Christi on grounds of desertion. He said she had left of her own accord, abandoning him and their son and daughter. Authorities believe she was seeing another man at the time of her disappearance. After she went missing, a note from Christi, addressed to the other man, was found in the Nicholses' car. Christi wrote she would be leaving after Christmas, but promised to contact him within a few months. Investigators interviewed the man and he has been ruled out as a suspect in Christi's case. Mark took a polygraph about her disappearance in 1987, but the results were inconclusive.

Foul play is suspected in Christi's disappearance and it is classified as a homicide. Mark is the only suspect in her case. Trace amounts of blood was found on the floor of her bedroom, and in the trunk of Mark's 1977 Mercury Cougar. Authorities stated there was not enough blood to indicate Christi was dead. Mark told investigators it was menstrual blood, but analysis proved this statement was untrue.

This is courtasy of the following site: http://www.briansprediction.com/cp/cases/n/nichols_christi.html

I too thought it seemed pretty obvious that the husband was guilty...he certainly didn't seem very heartbroken or concerned. I just hope she is at peace.

Also...now I understand crystaldawn's avatar!

Please forgive the bump if this info has been mentioned elsewhere in the forum and I missed it! I was watching the Christi Nichols segment tonight and remembered it from the olden (pre-Spike) days and wanted to see what updated info may exist on her case.

I did find the following which I do not recall having heard before:

In 1990, Mark filed for divorce from Christi on grounds of desertion. He said she had left of her own accord, abandoning him and their son and daughter. Authorities believe she was seeing another man at the time of her disappearance. After she went missing, a note from Christi, addressed to the other man, was found in the Nicholses' car. Christi wrote she would be leaving after Christmas, but promised to contact him within a few months. Investigators interviewed the man and he has been ruled out as a suspect in Christi's case. Mark took a polygraph about her disappearance in 1987, but the results were inconclusive.

Foul play is suspected in Christi's disappearance and it is classified as a homicide. Mark is the only suspect in her case. Trace amounts of blood was found on the floor of her bedroom, and in the trunk of Mark's 1977 Mercury Cougar. Authorities stated there was not enough blood to indicate Christi was dead. Mark told investigators it was menstrual blood, but analysis proved this statement was untrue.

This is courtasy of the following site: http://www.briansprediction.com/cp/cases/n/nichols_christi.html

I too thought it seemed pretty obvious that the husband was guilty...he certainly didn't seem very heartbroken or concerned. I just hope she is at peace.

Also...now I understand crystaldawn's avatar!

Yes I wondered if people would recognize my avatar, its a picture of her that wasn't shown on the UM segment.

Thanks, I read that recently too and noticed the same things you did that I hadn't read before. The note to her "boyfriend" found in the Nichols' car telling him she would be leaving soon, I wonder if Mark found it and that was the trigger. I also notice it says blood was found in the house as well as the car, I only remember UM mentioning the car. No doubt in the hours when Mark dropped off the kids at the grandma's he was disposing of her body in a way that no one would find it....not yet anyway.

Yes I totally agree with you, at one point he even giggles: I think he says something like:

"There's even been a rumor saying I chopped her up and put her in garbage bags and buried her at the dump! That's one of the first ones I heard, and that one really got to me because I guess they were actually up there digging *giggle* around...

:mad:

Yeah this always bugged me. He just seemed so matter-of-fact as he discussed the rumors.

Yes I wondered if people would recognize my avatar, its a picture of her that wasn't shown on the UM segment.

Thanks for confirming on the avatar...I kind of feel like I've solved my first mystery :)

One last thought...I decided to peruse doe to see if there may be any matches. I found 1 match in the surrounding states (within driving distance)/time frame and physical characteristics that may possibly be a viable option for Christi's remains.

Any thoughts?

Christi's case: http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2469dfne.html

Possible match: http://doenetwork.org/cases/390ufwy.html

The latter case does not mention how long the body had been there which makes it difficult to fit a time frame, however, the reconstructive pics make it evident that decomposition was fairly advanced so a 5 year length of time could be possible. It looks like the area the remains were located in is under 6-8 hours drive time from where they lived in NE.

Anyway...thoughts?

One last thought...I decided to peruse doe to see if there may be any matches. I found 1 match in the surrounding states (within driving distance)/time frame and physical characteristics that may possibly be a viable option for Christi's remains.

Any thoughts?

Christi's case: http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2469dfne.html

Possible match: http://doenetwork.org/cases/390ufwy.html

The latter case does not mention how long the body had been there which makes it difficult to fit a time frame, however, the reconstructive pics make it evident that decomposition was fairly advanced so a 5 year length of time could be possible. It looks like the area the remains were located in is under 6-8 hours drive time from where they lived in NE.

Anyway...thoughts?

I think the facial features are very similar. The mouth, the nose, the jaw, everything. The bone structure seems to be really close. Have you submitted it to the doenetwork as a possible match?

I have to tell you, I wasn't expecting them to look very much alike at all. I thought maybe this was just "wishful thinking" but I'm actually shocked by the similarities. It's definitely worth looking into, imo.

I did submit it to doe today and asked them to review as a potential match.

That's great cmyweb! Keep us updated, k?

I would say chances are that the unidentified woman in Wyoming is not Christi Nichols but it is always worth a look. There is somewhat of a resemblance. The main difference is that Christi Nichols was 5'9'' while the unidentified woman was 5'5'' to 5'6'. However Sheridan County, Wyoming, where the unidentified woman was found is in North Central Wyoming along the border with Montana. I-90 runs through Sheridan County. The body was found roughly 500 miles from the Nichols home. The biggest problem with Mark dumping Christi's body in that location is the time. When (if any) time did Mark have ample opportunity to drive that distance and back without it being noticed he was gone?

My guess is he probably dumped in within a 30 mile radius of Gothenburg. Christi's clothes were found dumped in that suitcase near Maxwell, Nebraska which is about 20 miles west of Gothenburg and about 10 miles west of North Platte. It would not surprise me if Mark dumped the body somewhere in this location. It would have to b e somewhere close so that he would not be gone too long but at the same an area that was secluded enough and that he was comfortable enough with that he knew he would not be disturbed while burying the body.

It is my opinion that Mark disposed of Christi's body in the early morning hours after they left the bar but before Mark arrived home. Either this or Mark left the house again at some point after the baby sitter left and was gone for several hours leaving the children home alone. However that would be risky with small children in the house as they could wake up and freak out if he was not there. I also think it is possible, as another poster, I think it was CD, that suggested that Mark may have disposed of the body the next afternoon during that two hour period of time he was unaccounted for after he had dropped the children off at Christi's grandmothers to allegedly go search for Christi.

Remember, the day Christi disappeared, Mark listed off all of the things Christi had allegedly taken in terms of clothes. I do believe it is possible he disposed of the suitcase at the same time he disposed of the body. As I mentioned earlier, the suitcase was missing the day Christi was reported missing but it was not discovered until March of 1988 near Maxwell. It could be Mark buried the suitcase under snow or whatever and maybe that is why it was not discovered until the spring when the snow melted? Any thoughts anyone?

Kadrmas,

The distance between Christi's home and the location of the doenetwork's jane doe presents a few problems that you pointed out. Timing of disposing of the body being one of them.

I guess it's always possible that he kept the body in a temporary location until he could arrange enough time to move her farther away, virtually guaranteeing that she'd not be found.

Although, this has been done many times before, it is kind of a rare behavior.

One of the cars was a sedan, the one with the known blood stains, and was probably the scene of the murder. What kind of car was the other? A truck? A 4WD? Something better suited to packing up a dead body and shovels, tarps, other concealments of murderous activities?

It just makes me wonder, because he sold *both* cars shortly after her death. That makes me think both cars bore crucial evidence.

I would say chances are that the unidentified woman in Wyoming is not Christi Nichols but it is always worth a look. There is somewhat of a resemblance. The main difference is that Christi Nichols was 5'9'' while the unidentified woman was 5'5'' to 5'6'. However Sheridan County, Wyoming, where the unidentified woman was found is in North Central Wyoming along the border with Montana. I-90 runs through Sheridan County. The body was found roughly 500 miles from the Nichols home. The biggest problem with Mark dumping Christi's body in that location is the time. When (if any) time did Mark have ample opportunity to drive that distance and back without it being noticed he was gone?

My guess is he probably dumped in within a 30 mile radius of Gothenburg. Christi's clothes were found dumped in that suitcase near Maxwell, Nebraska which is about 20 miles west of Gothenburg and about 10 miles west of North Platte. It would not surprise me if Mark dumped the body somewhere in this location. It would have to b e somewhere close so that he would not be gone too long but at the same an area that was secluded enough and that he was comfortable enough with that he knew he would not be disturbed while burying the body.

It is my opinion that Mark disposed of Christi's body in the early morning hours after they left the bar but before Mark arrived home. Either this or Mark left the house again at some point after the baby sitter left and was gone for several hours leaving the children home alone. However that would be risky with small children in the house as they could wake up and freak out if he was not there. I also think it is possible, as another poster, I think it was CD, that suggested that Mark may have disposed of the body the next afternoon during that two hour period of time he was unaccounted for after he had dropped the children off at Christi's grandmothers to allegedly go search for Christi.

Remember, the day Christi disappeared, Mark listed off all of the things Christi had allegedly taken in terms of clothes. I do believe it is possible he disposed of the suitcase at the same time he disposed of the body. As I mentioned earlier, the suitcase was missing the day Christi was reported missing but it was not discovered until March of 1988 near Maxwell. It could be Mark buried the suitcase under snow or whatever and maybe that is why it was not discovered until the spring when the snow melted? Any thoughts anyone?

I agree its more likely that he disposed of her remains in an area closer to where they lived. And the two hours would not give him time to travel to Wyoming (in fact, I suspect that's when he actually tossed the suitcase). However, we don't know he didn't hide the remains and dispose of them later? I don't recall how thorough the police searched when she was first reported missing. (And keep in mind they had the apparent note from the boyfriend to distract them...I think they assumed she took off and didn't immediately look at Mark as a suspect).

I thought about the height issue and I didn't feel that was enough to exclude looking at the jane doe. My thought is that unless they got Christi's exact measurements from her physician, the 5'9" could be off by an inch or so. I assume Mark gave the description and he really had no reason to be accurate. Plus the 5'5"-5'6" on the jane doe appears to be an estimate so perhaps the pathologist was also off a bit.

Either way...we'll see what happens and I will certainly post if I hear anything back from doe. I just think it would be great for the family to have some kind of closure...

Doe responded today. They said that the two cases have never been compared and they are forwarding the details to their match panel for further analysis.

Holy wow, I watched this again today, and that husband! What an idiot!

I had forgotten how weird he presented on screen, like a mouth breathing, knuckle dragger.

The only reason he's gotten away with this murder is by pure luck. He certainly couldn't have carefully planned and masterminded the perfect crime. The fact that his wife was missing, and he dropped the kids off with grandma so he could go looking for the missing wife, without even asking grandma if his wife was there is a HUGE flashing red "guilty" sign pointing right at him.

What was he thinking? He shoulda covered his tracks by staying home and calling all their friends and family to ask if she was there, then take the kids to grandma to go looking for her. He dropped the kids off with grandma so he could go bury the body under the guise of searching for Christi.

"An investigation revealed traces of Christi's blood in the couple's house and in the husbands car. Recent DNA tests have proved that the blood found was indeed Christi's"

Jesus 20 years + this guys gets to run around, i wonder whatthe children think ???

I can't believe this guy has skated by! What kind of man gets rid of his wife's clothes the day after she goes missing. And selling the cars the next day...doesn't that cry out foul play?

ON the doe network possible match: the two look reasonably well enough alike to make it plausible (so good find, cmywebb), but I think the biggest problem is that the remians were found in 1992 along an interstate near mile post 5, according to the doenetwork. Christi disappeared in 1987. It's hard to imagine remains could have sat close to an interstate for nearly 5 years before being noticed. I suppose it's possible that Mark hid the remains in one location for a long time, then moved them to the spot where they were found years later, but it seems unlikely.

I have a theory....remember, it's a theory. Mark Nichols killed her, hid the body in the trunk of the car. This would explain why the babysitter never saw Christi Nichols...she never came in the house...Mark's explanation that she went up makes no sense! After the babysitter left, Mark brought Christi's body in the house, maybe wrapped it up in something, then drove to this location, dumped it, and returned home. The whole "we went to sleep" story was a lie, along with most of the crap that he spewed from his hillbilly mouth. It's amazing how this fool has been free for over 20 years now.

This case has some major parallels to the Linda Sherman case. In both, the husbands claim their wives left them, but neither was ever seen again. I don't buy it.

I have a theory....remember, it's a theory. Mark Nichols killed her, hid the body in the trunk of the car. This would explain why the babysitter never saw Christi Nichols...she never came in the house...Mark's explanation that she went up makes no sense! After the babysitter left, Mark brought Christi's body in the house, maybe wrapped it up in something, then drove to this location, dumped it, and returned home. The whole "we went to sleep" story was a lie, along with most of the crap that he spewed from his hillbilly mouth. It's amazing how this fool has been free for over 20 years now.

Just bumping this up since this is another one of my favorite cases and one of the first I saw. It's so tragic, especially since Christi seemed like a really sweet and harmless young mom.

Yeah, I was always creeped out by Mark (I know basically everyone on here has the concensus that he's guilty, and I totally agree). He didn't seem like the brightest guy in the world anyway, lmao.... or the nicest. He definitely came across as one of those white trash chauvenist types would wouldn't hesistate to hit a woman. Like his comment about how he pushed her down to stop her from leaving the house.

Just curious too, was the last time Christi was confirmed to be alive, at the bar when they both went out (which seems suspicious in itself of him to do. The babysitter even mentioned that too)? I know the segment mentions they left the bar and went to a gas station, I wonder if the attendant noticed her.

Sadly what probably happened was that he killed her sometime between then and when he got home. :( Getting rid of their cars and her clothes is pretty telling too. I could tell that one detective was suspicious about her suitcase being found and Mark knowing exactly what was in it. That guy probably thought he was guilty too, but just couldn't prove it.

As stupid as Mark seemed, I'm not sure he'd bring the body in the house, just in case the kids woke up or something. He probably hid the body the next day, after dropping the kids off. Even sadder that her grandma is almost certainly passed away now (she looked about 75 in 1988) without ever knowing what happened.

Although I believe Mark Nichol is guilty as sin, I do tend to think people look into his performance in UM a little too much as being damning.

Mark Nichols is from the South, and has a drawl. I think a lot of his performance is due to his background more than anything.


There are lot of other things to prove him as being guilty.

Although I believe Mark Nichol is guilty as sin, I do tend to think people look into his performance in UM a little too much as being damning.

Mark Nichols is from the South, and has a drawl. I think a lot of his performance is due to his background more than anything.


There are lot of other things to prove him as being guilty.

True, he probably always had that deep southern accent and wasn't that sharp to begin with. I personally go by his behavior more than anything, even before they got the the part about Christie disappearing - i.e. his explanation for pushing her down in "self defense".

I think unfortunately, luck is on this man's side until her bones can be found. He probably hid the body somewhere like in water or something. It is a possibility he put the body somewhere and years later moved it again to Montana, but until she's found, we'll never know.

I feel sorry for his kids more than anything. One, for the fact that their mother left their life when they were no more than toddlers, and for the fact their father probably did it.

True, he probably always had that deep southern accent and wasn't that sharp to begin with. I personally go by his behavior more than anything, even before they got the the part about Christie disappearing - i.e. his explanation for pushing her down in "self defense".

I don't intend to be obnoxius, but Mark Nichols' accent is definitely not southern. He speaks a pronounced rural Midwestern dialect, as evidenced by his annunication. If I knew nothing about where he could possibly be from, I would place him in northern Missouri, southern to central Illinois (maybe Indiana), or southern Nebraska (where Gothenburg is indeed located).

Sorry. I'm kind of a linguistics dork. :(


Interesting point that's lingering beneath the surface, though. Do we as Americans trust people less when they have thick southern accents? :)

I don't intend to be obnoxius, but Mark Nichols' accent is definitely not southern. He speaks a pronounced rural Midwestern dialect, as evidenced by his annunication. If I knew nothing about where he could possibly be from, I would place him in northern Missouri, southern to central Illinois (maybe Indiana), or southern Nebraska (where Gothenburg is indeed located).

Sorry. I'm kind of a linguistics dork. :(


Interesting point that's lingering beneath the surface, though. Do we as Americans trust people less when they have thick southern accents? :)

LOL, no worries, I'm pretty analytical with stuff too. ;)

Now that I think about it, you're right. He doesn't sound like Texas southern or anything. Maybe from my California perspective I was lumping them together a little bit subconsciously.

However you slice it though, he sounds ignorant. Even in the .00000001% chance he's not guilty, he's not exactly the nicest or brightest guy in the world either.

LOL, no worries, I'm pretty analytical with stuff too. ;)

Now that I think about it, you're right. He doesn't sound like Texas southern or anything. Maybe from my California perspective I was lumping them together a little bit subconsciously.

However you slice it though, he sounds ignorant. Even in the .00000001% chance he's not guilty, he's not exactly the nicest or brightest guy in the world either.

Oh, I agree--he's dumber than a brick. I mean, if you're going to lie, at least take some time fabricating a halfway believable scenario. And don't draw any more suspicion to yourself than what's already there. Moving out the DAY AFTER your wife goes missing? Good one. Mark Nichols has to be one of UM's worst liars of all time.

I'm surprised that his kids (who must be in their 20's now) haven't pressed Mark Nichols as to where their mother is. I would definitely be having a word or two with Mark in private if I was one of his son's.

Just a general question: Is that Mark nichols playinghimself in the reenactments or is it an actor? And not only in the reenactments, but is that him shown p[umping gas and taking cash at the gast station?

And for anyone who can remember life waaaayyy back in 1987, remember when gas station attendants actually existed?

I'm surprised that his kids (who must be in their 20's now) haven't pressed Mark Nichols as to where their mother is. I would definitely be having a word or two with Mark in private if I was one of his son's.



1. considering that he killed their mother, the boys might be a little scared that their father might kill again to keep her murder a secret. heck maybe he threatened to kill them if they told.

2. OJ's children never ratted him out. Some kids still love their fathers no matter what he;'s done.

3. Maybe he did tell them what happened. Maybe they confronted him and he confessed. The kids might have decided not to do anything for reasons of their own.

4. It wouldn;t help the kids financially or personally to be sons of a convicted murderer. That kind of stigma could follow them all throughout life.

5. Considering who their father is, these kids may not be the smartest apples in the room. They probably believed anything their daddy told them. :D

I don't intend to be obnoxius, but Mark Nichols' accent is definitely not southern. He speaks a pronounced rural Midwestern dialect, as evidenced by his annunication. If I knew nothing about where he could possibly be from, I would place him in northern Missouri, southern to central Illinois (maybe Indiana), or southern Nebraska (where Gothenburg is indeed located).

Sorry. I knew that the moment I finished posting it that Mark was from Nebraska, not down south.

Ah, what do I know. I'm from Connecticut. Anybody that doesn't speak like us, is considered southern or from Boston. :)

Sorry. I knew that the moment I finished posting it that Mark was from Nebraska, not down south.

Ah, what do I know. I'm from Connecticut. Anybody that doesn't speak like us, is considered southern or from Boston. :)

Ah, no problem at all. Like I said, I'm kind of a linguistics dork, especially American dialects. For years I used to think anyone that didn't sound like me had to be a so-called "yankee", which is typically an ignorant and catch-all term in and of itself. You could say I thought everyone "had that northern accent pretty bad." :lol:

Travel around as much as I do and nobody has an accent--except Bostonians and those south Louisiana people that talk Cajun. Most say I don't have an accent and I've grown up in the South my whole life. I'm sure I slip every now and then and an accent might come out, but otherwise not really. It's weird because I've heard maybe 2 people say I have a Southern accent, 1 thought I was from the RI area (huh?!), and others say neutral.

Mine's fairly distinct--enough to make someone say, "Whoa, holy accent!" It would probably be a heavy one if I hadn't gone to college or joined the Army (thus exposing myself to people from all over). Curiously, I get asked if I'm a Texan all the time....and I don't have that drawl at all. It's a mountain twang.

For the kid's sake, I hope it's #5, because if it's anything from 1-4, they need their heads examined.

Well to be honest, those kids have grown up with Mark Nichols and heard his version of events for over twenty years. My guess is they have been brainwashed and been told stuff so many times they believe it. They probably fully believe that their mom ran off and abandoned them and is still alive somewhere. No Mark did not play himself but the guy that played him looked almost identical to him. Mark I believe is from Arkansas originally that is why his accent is the way it is. I also think besides the fact he was not the brightest bulb to begin with it seemed to me he was intoxicated or under the influence of something when he was interviewed by UM.

Well no use playing the devils advocate for no reason, the guy is guilty as the day is long. There just seems to be no reason whatsoever that she would run away. Granted, it has happened in the past that a loved one has taken off on their own accord and never called anyone since but it's a huge step to take in order to do that leaving behind your roots.

Christy is pegged as a woman with low self esteem by her own mother. In all honesty a woman like that would have a hard time starting a life of her own and NEVER calling her folks just once. So I rule out the disappearance. Personally I've never gotten the impression Mark did it himself. He seems too dumb to cover up his own crime. But I do think he hired someone to do it, therefore his excuse is only his alibi and the half hearted attempt to look for her that day

No Mark did not play himself but the guy that played him looked almost identical to him.


Thanks, kadrmas15. I initially had assumed he was portraying himself for two reaons.
First, as you note, the guy looks "almost identical".
Second, there is a sort of "real life" clip of the actor filling up tanks and taking cash from customers. It looked like a pretty mundane thingto film an actor doing.

So that's why I initially believed it was MN playing himself. But then when I realized he waould also have to been the re-creating the awkward and uncomfortable doctor visit as well as the re-creation of the babysitter's version of events, I started wondering.

Well no use playing the devils advocate for no reason, the guy is guilty as the day is long. There just seems to be no reason whatsoever that she would run away. Granted, it has happened in the past that a loved one has taken off on their own accord and never called anyone since but it's a huge step to take in order to do that leaving behind your roots.

Christy is pegged as a woman with low self esteem by her own mother. In all honesty a woman like that would have a hard time starting a life of her own and NEVER calling her folks just once. So I rule out the disappearance. Personally I've never gotten the impression Mark did it himself. He seems too dumb to cover up his own crime. But I do think he hired someone to do it, therefore his excuse is only his alibi and the half hearted attempt to look for her that day

Actually towards the beginning of the segment when they're going to the hospital for Christie having a sprained thumb (when Mark was acting weird outside), they mentioned Christie was seeing another guy.... although I can't really blame her given the jerk that Mark seems like.

They didn't go into it beyond that, but I still wouldn't think she was planning to run off with him. More than likely it was just someone she was friends with where it developed into a crush or with romantic feelings (he probably felt bad for her situation). I'm guessing alot of his anger stemmed from that, although he only had himself to blame. He probably wasn't too nice as is, and that made him even more ticked off.

Heck she might've not been cheating at all and was simply friends with that dude, but Mark jumped to conclusions. I've known about guys like him who probably wanted it both ways - i.e. having Christi all to himself and not allowing her to have much of a life, but yet didn't want to invest in the relationship and be nicer to her.

BTW that's interesting about Mark possibly hiring someone to kill her (if that's what happened). :( That's true that given his backwoods intelligence (or lack of, lol) he probably would've slipped a long time ago.

I remember this case and it really makes me sick that they still haven't found anything because I've been completely convinced her husband is guilty.

Just a recent article I found today:

http://www.northplattebulletin.com/index.asp?show=news&action=readStory&storyID=16669&pageID=3

Thanks for looking the info up. So still nothing new with this case...really sad. I wish Mark Nichols (as if he ever will) would just come forward with what happened on that night...most of us can reasonably conclude that he killed Christi Nichols. The only question is how, with the other part of the question being where he placed her body.

I just watched this case and when the husband says "just let us know your okay, just let us know where you are" I just felt FURIOUS. He knows right where she is...and all this time her kids have grown up thinking their mother ran off on them...its sickening really...

But I do see this case being solved one of two ways:
1. Her body is found. Often bones are found years later because animals have dug them up from where they are buried and carried them to places where they are spotted. I think this could still happen, or that someone could stumble upon them.

2. The idiot spills all to a woman/friend. I can see him falling head over heels for someone and telling his little secret. Then he beats the woman up and she goes straight to the cops and tells all. Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. He wouldn't be the first one to end up in jail that way.

I SOOOOOO hope this scum is jailed one day soon. I am actually surprised he hasn't ended up in prision for something else by now.

But I do see this case being solved one of two ways:
1. Her body is found. Often bones are found years later because animals have dug them up from where they are buried and carried them to places where they are spotted. I think this could still happen, or that someone could stumble upon them.

Although, for all we know her body may have been already found and is unidentified.


2. The idiot spills all to a woman/friend. I can see him falling head over heels for someone and telling his little secret. Then he beats the woman up and she goes straight to the cops and tells all. Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. He wouldn't be the first one to end up in jail that way.

He's managed to keep his mouth shut this long, why would the next few years be any different.

One last thought...I decided to peruse doe to see if there may be any matches. I found 1 match in the surrounding states (within driving distance)/time frame and physical characteristics that may possibly be a viable option for Christi's remains.

Any thoughts?

Christi's case: http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2469dfne.html

Possible match: http://doenetwork.org/cases/390ufwy.html

The latter case does not mention how long the body had been there which makes it difficult to fit a time frame, however, the reconstructive pics make it evident that decomposition was fairly advanced so a 5 year length of time could be possible. It looks like the area the remains were located in is under 6-8 hours drive time from where they lived in NE.

Anyway...thoughts?

Any more news on this post? Any news on the unidentified woman?

Well, I have tried finding info on where Mark Nichols is living now in Arkansas but have not been able to find him. It seems he hightailed it out of Gothenburg not long after Christi 'disappeared'. I am assuming he fled there because everyone there thought he was guilty and he probably felt the cops were bringing too much heat on him. First he moved to North Platte which is about 30 miles west of Gothenburg. Then he eventually packed it up and moved out of state altogether and returned to his home state of Arkansas.

But personally, I think it is really to the point, why not indict Mark Nichols? I really do not think anything there will turn up and I have seen people indicted off of much less than what they have on Nichols. As the saying goes, you could indict a ham sandwich. I mean go for it and see what happens? This seems like the type of crime that if it happened now, Mark Nichols would have not got away with it. But I imagine Mark Nichols interview on UM could be used as evidence.

Menstrual blood?

GOD, I hope this SCUM truly gets what's coming to him one day...

If I remember right, Mark almost appeared to be near sweating during the interview (check out his neck).Why would he be sweating if he was telling the truth?

Of course, an equally logical explanation could be that he was just nervous about being on camera. While its not rocket science, as a journalist, I can assure you not everyone can stand in front of a camera and answer questions, even if they are telling the truth.

But I imagine Mark Nichols interview on UM could be used as evidence.[/QUOTE]

Haha...you are all going to laugh your asses off at me when I say this,I already know,but I don't think he did it. The very first impression I get from him,every time I watch the episode now and again,is that he is BEYOND way too stupid to pull a pair of boots off,let alone a murder. He's almost delightfully stupid. I mean,he's more entertaining than anything else. Personally,I think he knows who did it,I think he was involved in some way and may have even asked to have her killed,but I don't think he did it himself,he's just wayyyy too dumb. I'm not kidding when I say that I would be utterly shocked if he were even able to do elementary math. Unless he was severely drugged during the interview,he's a total mouth-breather. I'm shocked he was able to take care of his children himself after she died. A total DOOF.
That being said,again,I find it hard to believe he could have done this himself,and not have tripped up along the way. I could see where he was involved in some way,but I highly doubt he killer her himself.
There have been murder cases tried and then the defendant being found guilty on conjecture alone,we had a case locally here a few years ago,no body,no trace,exact same situation. Nothing. The husband was tried an convicted with no body,no proof of death,no DNA evidence,nothing. Two small kids left behind,and there's been no trace of her since,but he's rotting in jail,of course we all know he's guilty around here. So I like to think that even based on the circumstantial evidence they have in Christy's case,he would have at least been indicted by now. And for the blood found in the house? Hey,I gotta tell ya,if I came up missing,and investigators were to come in and luminal my house,they'd find my blood everywhere. A little here,a little there,some in every room of the house,and not a drop of it would be anything other my clumsy self,bleeding when I stubbed my toes,or being from after surgeries that I've had,falling on the floor and cracking my head (yeah,I have epilepsy,so it's not like I just go around falling on the ground all the time or anything).
Point being that the trace blood they did find in the home,and car,really could be explained away,as something unrelated to her disappearance.
Don't get me wrong,I don't believe she's still alive,I don't think she just up and "left",I think she was murdered,I just don't think it was him that did it.
Told ya you'd laugh at my take on this case,but thought I'd share anyway....

Alright I just watched this segment again and boy I dont know how this guy didnt get convicted....Around the part where he said there were rumors that he hacked her up and put her in garbage bags and put her in the dump.....what if those werent rumors going around and thats what he actually did. Because if there was a history of abuse and she was going to divorce him not only would he lose his wife, but he would lose his kids and quite possibly his house not to mention all the money he would have to pay. I not only think he killed Christi but I also think that he planned it. He probably found something around the house or in her car about the divorce hence why on her last night she was drunk

Alright I just watched this segment again and boy I dont know how this guy didnt get convicted....Around the part where he said there were rumors that he hacked her up and put her in garbage bags and put her in the dump.....what if those werent rumors going around and thats what he actually did. Because if there was a history of abuse and she was going to divorce him not only would he lose his wife, but he would lose his kids and quite possibly his house not to mention all the money he would have to pay. I not only think he killed Christi but I also think that he planned it. He probably found something around the house or in her car about the divorce hence why on her last night she was drunk

Plus he appeared to be, in my opinion, the DUMBEST man ever. I mean....LOW IQ.


I do think he is guilty but I doubt he was smart enough to tell east from west, let alone pull off a stunt like this.

He is just unlikable and DUMB.

Haha...you are all going to laugh your asses off at me when I say this,I already know,but I don't think he did it. The very first impression I get from him,every time I watch the episode now and again,is that he is BEYOND way too stupid to pull a pair of boots off,let alone a murder. He's almost delightfully stupid. I mean,he's more entertaining than anything else.


I agree... The idea that this guy would have been able to pull off the murder and cover up is almost laughable. He'd have to be the absolute luckiest person on the face of the earth. I've heard of dumb luck, but this guy would set the bar.

did the person who sent the profile of the found dead girl who looks really similar to her get a response after they said they would compare them?? im really interested to know!

did the person who sent the profile of the found dead girl who looks really similar to her get a response after they said they would compare them?? im really interested to know!

I found Chrisit's page on Namus: https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/4677/0/

I looked for the Jane Doe that was posted earlier in the thread, http://doenetwork.org/cases/390ufwy.html , to see if she had been compared against Christi, but I couldn't find her in Namus.

The only female who was slightly similar was white/native/latina and the date of discovery and location were different from the doenetwork lady. https://identifyus.org/en/cases/8894 The doenetwork lady was discovered 4/13/92 off I90 in WY. This Namus Doe was discovered 3/1/92 off I80 in WY.

Namus hasn't listed this woman as being compared to any missing persons and ruled out. When they compare an unidentified person to a missing person, they list who it was they compared them to and ruled out. I don't know if doenetwork had followed up on the tip to compare the lady in WY to Christi but it looks like Namus hasn't compared any unidentified people to Christi.

Also, Namus doesn't have records of any unidentified white women under 40 last known to be alive in Nebraska, as Christi was.

This isn't too different from what I read here - but I think Christi's first mistake was going out with Mark at all, and the second was drinking with him. I absolutely believe Mark is guilty. I think Mark knew the writing was on the wall, he'd noticed a change in Christi, and I think he was telling the truth when he said she was more snappish, or however he put it, because I think she was starting to feel more empowered after talking to the lawyer. I think Mark felt that by going out, they were "starting over" maybe he even had thoughts about talking about "changes"...in his mind they had a good time together. (He's too stupid to lie about everything.)

I think on the way home he said something like "Let's try it again" or he tried to make a pass, and she told him no, it was too late, and then she either told him about the lawyer, the affair, or both. I think she never would have done this without alcohol, but she ended drinking more than she intended so she could get the courage up to tell him, or because the situation was awkward and she was trying to have a good time.

I feel (this is speculation) she may have confronted him on an affair he didnt' think she knew anything about. But she refused to feel guilty and I think she shouting at him - he decided she betrayed him, letting him think that he had another chance when she'd already started the divorce process and he went through the roof. I don't think Christi every got back home, and I believe the babysitter. She's got a lot of courage.

the rest is pretty much what has already been posted....I find it odd that he didn't ask his mother-in-law, "Is Christi there?" which would make sense, but instead, "I have to find her..." I really wish this could be solved, he's not smart enough to get away with this, but evidently he is...

This isn't too different from what I read here - but I think Christi's first mistake was going out with Mark at all, and the second was drinking with him. I absolutely believe Mark is guilty.

One thing is for sure - Mark didn't bury her body at the dump. The way he reacted to that allegation was as if he was simply denying that specific act, not so much denying murdering her.

Good point. I hope he is eventually arrested, but it's probably doubtful at this point.

I don't think he was smart enough to get away with it...I just think he was lucky enough to do so.he came across as being really,really dumb.

Good point. I hope he is eventually arrested, but it's probably doubtful at this point.

I don't think he was smart enough to get away with it...I just think he was lucky enough to do so.he came across as being really,really dumb.

Without a body an arrest warrant would be improbable. And that's the thing - It seems to me as if Mark was simply able to hide the body well.

Yes, surely he can't have just been acting that stupid..? He must have got lucky, I think.

Him sounding dumber than Gomer Pyle aside...his story is so ridiculously implausible that he has to be guilty. Just my opinion. If I came home with my husband and we both walked in, I'd acknowledge the babysitter, even if I was angry with my husband or semi drunk...she's just watched your kids for the past several hours, what normal mother wouldn't ask "how were the kids tonight?" ?

Yes, surely he can't have just been acting that stupid..? He must have got lucky, I think.

Him sounding dumber than Gomer Pyle aside...his story is so ridiculously implausible that he has to be guilty. Just my opinion. If I came home with my husband and we both walked in, I'd acknowledge the babysitter, even if I was angry with my husband or semi drunk...she's just watched your kids for the past several hours, what normal mother wouldn't ask "how were the kids tonight?" ?

I agree, absolutely. It's actually a UM cliche, the husband who is abusive, who's wife is just about to leave him, and who suddenly turns around and saying, "I don't know what happened. Everything was fine. I woke up and she left a note saying "You and the kids have a nice life" and she walked out the door, got into a car, and I haven't seen her again." And it's always the most caring mothers that they say this about too.

One of the more obvious guilty husbands in the history of the "spouse disappears/is murdered and surviving spouse is the suspect" category. I just wish the cops/DA had enough to nail this scumbag. I also can't help but wonder how the kids turned out and what they were told about the situation over the years. They are also victims in this.

One of the more obvious guilty husbands in the history of the "spouse disappears/is murdered and surviving spouse is the suspect" category. I just wish the cops/DA had enough to nail this scumbag. I also can't help but wonder how the kids turned out and what they were told about the situation over the years. They are also victims in this.


Absolutely.

I'll say the same thing about Mark Nichols that I said about Chad Noe.

It is ASTOUNDING that somebody this dumb could get away with murder.

One of the more obvious guilty husbands in the history of the "spouse disappears/is murdered and surviving spouse is the suspect" category. I just wish the cops/DA had enough to nail this scumbag. I also can't help but wonder how the kids turned out and what they were told about the situation over the years. They are also victims in this.

Yes, that!

I'll say the same thing about Mark Nichols that I said about Chad Noe.

It is ASTOUNDING that somebody this dumb could get away with murder.

And bordering on unbelievable that their luck hasn't run out yet after all this time. So irritating that these moronic cretins can commit these crimes and for some stupid, small reason, they get away with it.

...Chad Noe, ye-es...he's the one with the really classy mother and grandmother, right? (<- Aussie sarcasm)

Kind of interesting if he was just acting dumb...sometimes smartest people in the world are the ones you would never expect could tie their own shoes

Kind of interesting if he was just acting dumb...sometimes smartest people in the world are the ones you would never expect could tie their own shoes

nope.
this guy is just naturally one of the dumbest people ever featured on UM.
act dumb?
This guy can't even act innocent which he was trying for in the segment.

Could this be Mark?: http://www.facebook.com/#!/5nichols

Mark currently lives in Pea Ridge, AR. Mark and Christi's son does live in NE, however.

Mark currently lives in Pea Ridge, AR. Mark and Christi's son does live in NE, however.

Then this must be him, but says he lives in Hastings, NE: http://www.facebook.com/#!/mark.nichols.16568

Then this must be him, but says he lives in Hastings, NE: http://www.facebook.com/#!/mark.nichols.16568

That is definitely him. It seems he's moved back.

Then this must be him, but says he lives in Hastings, NE: http://www.facebook.com/#!/mark.nichols.16568

Wow, his profile says that he's remarried. I wonder if he remembers each and every piece of clothing in her closet too :rolleyes: .

Wow, his profile says that he's remarried. I wonder if he remembers each and every piece of clothing in her closet too :rolleyes: .

:lol: :eek: :(

Wow, it just hit me that yesterday officially marked the 25th anniversary of Christi Nichols' disappearance. The Omaha World-Herald just published this article about it:
http://www.omaha.com/article/20121211/NEWS/712119919/1685

There's no new information here, but there is an interesting theory about how Christi's body might have been buried in a railway overpass or construction project. I would be inclined to believe that since it still blows my mind that someone who looks as unintelligent as Mark Nichols could dispose of her body so well that no one's found anything after all this time.

Not saying that I don't doubt Mark Nichols's guilt for a second, but wasn't the theory presented in the segment that Christi was having an affair? IIRC there was still a possibility (albeit a very low one) at the time during the segment that she ran off with her lover. I wonder if they ever found this guy and if they questioned him about anything.

Not saying that I don't doubt Mark Nichols's guilt for a second, but wasn't the theory presented in the segment that Christi was having an affair? IIRC there was still a possibility (albeit a very low one) at the time during the segment that she ran off with her lover. I wonder if they ever found this guy and if they questioned him about anything.

Yeah, this was the most disappointingly vague part of the segment. We learn so little about Christi's relationship with this other man that I wondered if it was actually true or if it was just some false rumour started by Mark since guilty husbands often like to push the whole "she ran off with her lover" scenario when their wife goes "missing".

If Christi really was seeing another man, I wonder why she didn't have him around as protection when she told Mark they were divorcing since she seemed pretty afraid about how he was going to react.

Yeah, this was the most disappointingly vague part of the segment. We learn so little about Christi's relationship with this other man that I wondered if it was actually true or if it was just some false rumour started by Mark since guilty husbands often like to push the whole "she ran off with her lover" scenario when their wife goes "missing".

If Christi really was seeing another man, I wonder why she didn't have him around as protection when she told Mark they were divorcing since she seemed pretty afraid about how he was going to react.

I thought the segment hinted that Christi's family knew she was seeing another man, but I may be wrong about that.

Just checked out the Charley Project profile and it goes into more detail about this man she was supposedly saying. Apparently, they found a note from Christi addressed to him in her vehicle, but authorities quickly ruled this guy out as a suspect after questioning him:
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/n/nichols_christi.html

Mark really doesn't have a lot going for him in this case, does he?

-Mark and Christi were having marital problems.
-There were allegations of physical abuse in their relationship.
-Christi was seeing a divorce attorney and was planning on divorcing Mark.
-Mark admits to arguing with Christi on the night she was last seen alive.
-Mark says a suitcase is missing and is miraculously able to describe the contents in the suitcase down to a nail file.
-Mark lied to Christi's mother on the morning she went missing.
-Mark unexpectedly showed up at Christi's grandmother's house and asked her to watch their children with virtually no explanation.
-Christi's blood was found in Mark's car and in their bedroom.

The ONLY miniscule thing Mark has that would make one question is guilt in this case is the "other man" Christi was seeing. Police did rule this man out as a suspect early on in the case, but they did find the note written from Christi to the man saying she was leaving Mark after Christmas and that she would contact him in a "few months". I suppose that's what Mark wants people to believe; that she left him after an argument and met with foul play elsewhere. But it's blatantly obvious that Mark Nichols murdered his wife and has so far gotten away with it. Everything is there in black and white. Mark admits to arguing with Christi that night in their bedroom. Coincidentally, this is also where police found traces of Christi's blood. Mark drops his kids off the next morning, and is unaccounted for for two hours. Coincidentally, Christi's blood is also found in Mark's car. Why has there not been an arrest made in this case!?

They should re-interview Mark Nichols if they haven't already. I can't believe after all the evidence they found to support the fact that Mark killed Christi, that they never arrested him. Slow, sloppy poiice work?

I think Mark Nichols is just damn lucky he committed the crime in 1987 when forensic science was still relatively primitive and LE were a lot more relucant to prosecute someone for murder if there was no body. If Mark commits this crime a couple years later, LE probably feels a lot more comfortable trying to build a circumstantial case against him even without Christi's body. Hell, there are a lot of people sitting in prison right now for murder who had far less evidence against them than Mark Nichols. If they could just find her body, I'm sure he would still be charged, even after all this time. Unfortunately, it wouldn't surprise me if Mark really did entomb Christi's body in some construction project somewhere, making her remains almost impossible to find.

I just rewatched this case on the forbidden site and someone left a comment claiming to be a friend of the Nichols' daughter, Lindsey. They said that in the 7th or 8th grade, Mark punched Lindsey and gave her a black eye! If true, what a POS :mad:!

I still think the case could be built against and successfully prosecuted in court against Mark Nichols. Especially today. Can you imagine Mark Nichols up against a good prosecutor shredding him on the witness stand?

It sounds like Mark may have found the letter to Christi's bf and went ballistic from there,imo.Just a possibility to consider.That would certainly place a clear motive to a jury.

I've been thinking about this case so much lately. I too have no earthly idea why Mark hasn't at least been re-interviewed by the State Patrol. As RobinW said, there are people sitting in prison right now who were convicted on far less evidence.

I was thinking about the timeline of major events presented in the segment:

27 NOV 1987 (FRI) - Christi goes to the ER with the thumb injury. (the physician who saw her that day actually still works at Gothenburg Memorial Hospital: http://www.ghospital.org/staff/bio.php?doc_id=53341)

9 DEC 1987 (WEDS) - Christi goes to begin divorce proceedings in Cozad, NE, a neighboring town. (HE still practices law: http://lawyers.justia.com/lawyer/claude-berreckman-735437)

10 DEC 1987 (THURS) - the day of Christmas shopping, the supposed evening out at the bar, and Mark coming home late and meeting their babysitter.

11 DEC 1987 (FRI) -Connie Stanley calls at 0930; Mark lies to her about Christi's whereabouts.

- Mark drops the children off at Violet Williams' house at 1130 without calling beforehand or asking about Christi.

- Mark makes a missing person report with the Gothenburg Police at 1337.

12 DEC 1987 (SAT) - Mark moves out of the residence.


This all happened in less than one month. It happened that quickly. I guess I never realized it until I sat down and actually thought about it. Christi's kids never even got to spend the holidays with her. I wonder if her daughter--who would've been old enough to do so at the time--ever asked why her mother wasn't there on Christmas morning. I also wonder what she could have been told.

As I alluded to above, there are two people that can certainly well attest to the circumstances and effects of Mark and Christi's marital problems that are still living. I hope to God, if ever the opportunity arises, they'll still be around to testify against Mark Nichols someday.


I really feel like Christi probably told Mark that night that she was divorcing him. I've always taken for granted that at least a few people could substantiate the story about going out to the bar, but I guess I'm not even sure if that even really happened--or, at the very least, as Mark said it did. I also honestly think it could've been an accident. I could see Mark becoming so enraged that he might have beaten poor Christi to death without intending to. I'm nearly certain that two-and-a-half hour time gap between dropping the children off at their great-grandmother's and filing the police report went toward a massive cover-up effort on Mark's part. I guarantee you he was cleaning out a vehicle pretty damn well.

I feel like her body is within fifty miles of Gothenburg, at the absolute most.

I feel like this case is SO incredibly solvable. It's so frustrating that it seems to be just sitting still right now.

On a related note, I've come across recent photographs of Mark. He's grayed, but if you saw him on the street you'd know immediately it was Mark Nichols you were looking at.

Bump

I really feel like Christi probably told Mark that night that she was divorcing him. I've always taken for granted that at least a few people could substantiate the story about going out to the bar, but I guess I'm not even sure if that even really happened--or, at the very least, as Mark said it did. I also honestly think it could've been an accident. I could see Mark becoming so enraged that he might have beaten poor Christi to death without intending to. I'm nearly certain that two-and-a-half hour time gap between dropping the children off at their great-grandmother's and filing the police report went toward a massive cover-up effort on Mark's part. I guarantee you he was cleaning out a vehicle pretty damn well.

I agree. Based off of your timeline, Nichols definitely killed her. She saw the divorce attorney two days before she disappears. I think Christi proposed going out to the bar with Mark that night because she was going to break the news of the divorce to him. Probably wanted to do it in a public place just in case he snapped. But since they were in public, I think Mark held the rage inside of him. Fueled by alcohol, I think sometime on the way home he killed her and hid her body. This is why the babysitter says she only saw Mark inside the house. The next day was used to either go back and hide Christi's body better and/or clean out his vehicle. Everything Mark Nichols did are the actions of a guilty man, IMO. I don't remember the specifics, but did Mark even make any attempt to call Christi's family or friends to see if they had seen her?

I honestly think, initially, the reason police did not arrest Mark Nichols was because there was the possibility that Christi did in fact runaway to start a new life. The segment did make mention that she was seeing another man at the time of her disappearance. But I cannot fathom how after all of these years law enforcement has not made an arrest in this case. The only thing in Mark Nichols' favor was this minute possibility that she ran off with another man, but now that it's been 20 plus years since she disappeared, don't you think that possibility now becomes an impossibility?! There is more than enough evidence against Nichols to warrant an arrest and conviction, IMO.

-Christi's blood was found in the trunk of his car.
-Christi's blood was also found in the master bedroom of the house she shared with Mark.
-Mark and Christi went out to a bar the night before she allegedly disappeared, and only Mark is seen returning to their home.
-Mark lied to Christi's mother on the morning of her disappearance.
-Mark left his children with Christi's grandmother leaving over two hours of time that no one can account for Mark Nichols' actions.
-The day after his wife disappears, Nichols moves out of the house he and Christi shared.
-The motive is simple: he was angry after finding out about the divorce proceedings. It's not rocket science. She starts divorce proceedings and then tells Mark about them the next day, and then she disappears. Coincidence?
-Nichols was able to describe the exact contents of a suitcase that was missing, which was later located with everything still inside. Does this not SCREAM that it was Nichols himself who packed the suitcase to create the illusion that Christi ran off? Especially if he can describe everything his wife took.
-Christi left behind her driver's license, and did not pick up her paycheck from work. These are not the actions of a woman running away to start a new life.
-Nichols was physically abusive to Christi.

What more do you need to get a conviction on this guy?!

I agree. Based off of your timeline, Nichols definitely killed her. She saw the divorce attorney two days before she disappears. I think Christi proposed going out to the bar with Mark that night because she was going to break the news of the divorce to him. Probably wanted to do it in a public place just in case he snapped. But since they were in public, I think Mark held the rage inside of him. Fueled by alcohol, I think sometime on the way home he killed her and hid her body. This is why the babysitter says she only saw Mark inside the house. The next day was used to either go back and hide Christi's body better and/or clean out his vehicle. Everything Mark Nichols did are the actions of a guilty man, IMO. I don't remember the specifics, but did Mark even make any attempt to call Christi's family or friends to see if they had seen her?

I honestly think, initially, the reason police did not arrest Mark Nichols was because there was the possibility that Christi did in fact runaway to start a new life. The segment did make mention that she was seeing another man at the time of her disappearance. But I cannot fathom how after all of these years law enforcement has not made an arrest in this case. The only thing in Mark Nichols' favor was this minute possibility that she ran off with another man, but now that it's been 20 plus years since she disappeared, don't you think that possibility now becomes an impossibility?! There is more than enough evidence against Nichols to warrant an arrest and conviction, IMO.

-Christi's blood was found in the trunk of his car.
-Christi's blood was also found in the master bedroom of the house she shared with Mark.
-Mark and Christi went out to a bar the night before she allegedly disappeared, and only Mark is seen returning to their home.
-Mark lied to Christi's mother on the morning of her disappearance.
-Mark left his children with Christi's grandmother leaving over two hours of time that no one can account for Mark Nichols' actions.
-The day after his wife disappears, Nichols moves out of the house he and Christi shared.
-The motive is simple: he was angry after finding out about the divorce proceedings. It's not rocket science. She starts divorce proceedings and then tells Mark about them the next day, and then she disappears. Coincidence?
-Nichols was able to describe the exact contents of a suitcase that was missing, which was later located with everything still inside. Does this not SCREAM that it was Nichols himself who packed the suitcase to create the illusion that Christi ran off? Especially if he can describe everything his wife took.
-Christi left behind her driver's license, and did not pick up her paycheck from work. These are not the actions of a woman running away to start a new life.
-Nichols was physically abusive to Christi.

What more do you need to get a conviction on this guy?!

I don't know but the police dropped the ball with this case. The only hope now, if you can call it that, is finding her remains. Maybe then he'll be charged with her death.

-Christi's blood was found in the trunk of his car.
-Christi's blood was also found in the master bedroom of the house she shared with Mark.
-Mark and Christi went out to a bar the night before she allegedly disappeared, and only Mark is seen returning to their home.
-Mark lied to Christi's mother on the morning of her disappearance.
-Mark left his children with Christi's grandmother leaving over two hours of time that no one can account for Mark Nichols' actions.
-The day after his wife disappears, Nichols moves out of the house he and Christi shared.
-The motive is simple: he was angry after finding out about the divorce proceedings. It's not rocket science. She starts divorce proceedings and then tells Mark about them the next day, and then she disappears. Coincidence?
-Nichols was able to describe the exact contents of a suitcase that was missing, which was later located with everything still inside. Does this not SCREAM that it was Nichols himself who packed the suitcase to create the illusion that Christi ran off? Especially if he can describe everything his wife took.
-Christi left behind her driver's license, and did not pick up her paycheck from work. These are not the actions of a woman running away to start a new life.
-Nichols was physically abusive to Christi.

What more do you need to get a conviction on this guy?!

I think what Mark Nichols needs in this case is another viable suspect. Someone else who may have either wanted or benefited from his wife's disappearance or death.

To my knowledge which is relegated to the UM segment, no such person has ever been identified as a possible suspect in the disappearance and/or death of Christi Nichols.

In addition from where I stand Mark Nichols didn't do himself any favors by going on UM. It was an extremely awkward interview which didn't cast him in a favorable light. Maybe that means something but then again perhaps it doesn't.

I agree with the others that finding Christi's remains would probably be the only means of bringing this case to some sort of conclusion.

I think what Mark Nichols needs in this case is another viable suspect. Someone else who may have either wanted or benefited from his wife's disappearance or death.

Christi was seeing another man shortly before she disappeared. She even wrote him a letter saying she would be going away for awhile "after Christmas" and that she would contact him in a few months. This is why I think police were initially leery about going after Mark. Perhaps they thought it was possible that Christi did indeed run away and that she would contact her lover. The man was interviewed by police and was ruled out as a suspect. Which brings us right back to Mark Nichols.

To my knowledge which is relegated to the UM segment, no such person has ever been identified as a possible suspect in the disappearance and/or death of Christi Nichols.

Just Mark. I can't believe he hasn't been requestioned (to my knowledge) since she's disappeared.

In addition from where I stand Mark Nichols didn't do himself any favors by going on UM. It was an extremely awkward interview which didn't cast him in a favorable light. Maybe that means something but then again perhaps it doesn't.

I used to think if you didn't go on UM you were most likely guilty, and that the spouses of missing husbands/wives who went on were most likely innocent, but this guy has guilty printed all over his forehead. Mark said the blood found in the master bedroom was menstrual blood, but tests confirmed that this was not true. Tests also confirmed that the blood came from Christi.

I agree with the others that finding Christi's remains would probably be the only means of bringing this case to some sort of conclusion.

I disagree. Bringing Mark Nichols up on charges for murdering his wife would bring this case some sort of conclusion, and then maybe he'd be willing to tell where he buried her. He had the motive, the means, and the opportunity. And there is even physical evidence which would indicate that Christi bled in their bedroom and in the trunk of his car. All of these things cannot be explained innocently. The case against Mark Nichols is even stronger than that of Jeffrey MacDonald (who I think is guilty as hell).

The problem is we've yet to have any credible evidence that directs attention away from Mark Nichols is regards to this case. Does that mean it doesn't exist? I don't know.

Prosecutors in general like to have nice tidy little cases that they can bring to trial due in part to double jeopardy stipulations. Without the remains of Christi Nichols they would be taking a risk in Mark Nichols getting acquitted in the murder of his wife and then if her remains ever did turn up they couldn't retry him.

I know people have been convicted on less evidence than what is allegedly against Mark Nichols even without Christi's remains but that is really irrelevant here. I can completely understand the prosecution not wanting to pursue this case on probabilities or a patchwork investigation without having the lynch pin of a body to prove that this actually is a case of murder.

Again I agree the fact that this alleged crime took place in the years before sophisticated DNA evidence was viewed as widely admissible in court proceedings was a major factor in how this case was approached. The police also may have done a less than admirable job in investigating this case across the board but again without having all the details of their investigation in front of me, I'm not going to judge.

In summation, without Christi's remains surfacing this case will never see a courtroom. It would've happened long before now if that was the case.

A prosecutor may be weary about trying a murder case without a body, but I don't see how this one would be that difficult in obtaining a conviction. I could see the defense raising the fact that without a body there is no proof that Christi is even dead...but then the prosecution could use Christi's friends and family to testify that she would have never left her children for over twenty years without so much as a phone call. It's really not that difficult as people seem. A conviction can be obtained without a body. This is the best quote I could find in regards to trying a missing persons case as a murder, "circumstantial evidence, when sufficient to exclude every other reasonable hypothesis, may prove the death of a missing person, the existence of a homicide and the guilt of the accused". Everything in that quote applies to Mark Nichols. It's time to pull the trigger.

I think the extensive history of physical abuse (which multiple impartial people can cite, not just Christi's friends and family) and the blood evidence are definitely enough to warrant at least a grand jury investigation. That's not even bringing Mark's highly suspect behavior into the mix.

I don't quite see the logic in sitting still after considering it. On the surface it makes sense: you wouldn't want to run the risk of giving Mark Nichols a ticket out of being convicted. But Good Lord, he's probably been doing that already for 26 years now. What's the difference? What are the chances of Christi's remains being discovered after two and a half decades? I don't feel like a district attorney's risk aversion--if that IS a factor here--needs to serve as any kind of touchstone in this case. I think it could be time to execute some actions.

For the record, I always got the impression the State Patrol did the absolute best it could in this case, and it hasn't at all forgotten her. It's likely the D.A.'s office that didn't make the critical moves.

Just by looking at Mark's face in the segment I can tell he is hiding something. He has that guilty look. Some people give themselves away when they are lying and Mark is one of those people. Like when he says he want her to come home, I can sense the BS meter going off. :(

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7799463

I don't know who created this entry, but it seems like it's someone who might have known Christi.

There's a few interesting pieces of information there.


ETA: I recall reading in one of the articles about Christi that Mark was allegedly angry about Christi seeing a counselor. I wonder if the one mentioned here is the same one referenced in the article.

bump

If you woke up in the middle of the night and saw your wife, no matter how mad you were at her, covered in blood, wouldn't you try to wake her up and say, "Hey what's the matter"!? What an idiot!

How this man never has been indicted is beyond me.

I was just thinking the same thing. He admitted he saw her bloodied and lying on the bedroom floor after they had been arguing for a couple of hours?

Then quickly sells both family cars... among all the other strange things.

And if the info in the link above is correct, on the day she went missing, he gave 3 different stories regarding her whereabouts: 1) he tells her mother she is sleeping, 2) he tells a counselor she's shopping, 3) he tells her grandmother that she ran off with a man.

How can the person who should be the initial #1 suspect tell three different tales about the disappearance of his wife (who was divorcing him) and not have the authorities breathing down his neck?

Didn't he also move out of the house the day after she disappeared?

Didn't he also move out of the house the day after she disappeared?

Just yesterday, I read that he did move out immediately.

Lots of red flags everywhere in this case. What a shame nobody did a thorough investigation. I think it even took them years to finally admit that it was a murder, and Christi hadn't just run away.

Just yesterday, I read that he did move out immediately.

Lots of red flags everywhere in this case. What a shame nobody did a thorough investigation. I think it even took them years to finally admit that it was a murder, and Christi hadn't just run away.

I think the investigation was thorough. I always got the impression the Nebraska State Patrol wanted to call it a homicide very early on due to everything we've been talking about here, but were discouraged from doing so by the D.A.'s office, which at the time was reluctant to do so because of the lack of a body.

I think the investigation was thorough. I always got the impression the Nebraska State Patrol wanted to call it a homicide very early on due to everything we've been talking about here, but were discouraged from doing so by the D.A.'s office, which at the time was reluctant to do so because of the lack of a body.

Did Mark retain custody of the kids after her disappearance?

Did Mark retain custody of the kids after her disappearance?

Christi's family fought him for custody immediately after the disappearance, but yes, he ultimately did.

ETA: As far as I understand, Mark and the children moved to a larger city some miles west of Gothenburg a few years after Christi's disappearance, then to Arkansas where they spent many years. Now all three live in Nebraska, but in different cities. Christi's son doesn't live far from Gothenburg. He is 27; her daughter is 29 and has children of her own.

Christi's children also have half-siblings; I assume their mother is probably Mark's current wife.

Sadly, the recent developments in the Wendy Camp case has made me realize how easily bodies can be concealed as long as the people responsible can keep quiet about it. The only reason they found Wendy, Lisa and Cynthia is because there were multiple people involved in the crime and one of them finally talked. Otherwise, those bodies never would have been discovered.

In Christi's case, there's probably no else who can squeal on Mark. He seems to have hidden her body very well and one rumour is that she was entombed in a railway overpass or construction project. If that's true, they'll probably never find her unless Mark decides to talk and he's been able to keep silent for over 25 years. But I suppose there's always a chance that he'll pull a Chad Noe and brag about it in a drunken stupor someday.

Even without a body there's still plenty of evidence against Mark. I don't understand how they aren't going after him after all these years.

I think I saw this plot on a movie once: Have the PD make a fake news report that Christi's remains have been found. Follow Mark. With any luck, he's as dumb as he looks and goes to check to make sure Christi is right where he put her.

Hey, just dreaming.

I think I saw this plot on a movie once: Have the PD make a fake news report that Christi's remains have been found. Follow Mark. With any luck, he's as dumb as he looks and goes to check to make sure Christi is right where he put her.

Hey, just dreaming.

I could totally see him doing it.

I've always wondered if Mark truly thinks he's gotten off scot-free, or if he ever wonders in the back of his mind if he'll be collared some day.

Like RobinW said, he's probably done pretty well to hide her, unfortunately. Although I did always wonder if that "garbage bags at the dump" thing WAS actually how it in fact went down--since it "really got to him".

I think I saw this plot on a movie once: Have the PD make a fake news report that Christi's remains have been found. Follow Mark. With any luck, he's as dumb as he looks and goes to check to make sure Christi is right where he put her.

Hey, just dreaming.
It's certainly legal for police to lie to a suspect.I've often thought that a lot of these cases could have been solved with a really tough interrogation.
It seems a lot of times,that wasn't even done.Perhaps there was a rea$on for that.

I think I saw this plot on a movie once: Have the PD make a fake news report that Christi's remains have been found. Follow Mark. With any luck, he's as dumb as he looks and goes to check to make sure Christi is right where he put her.

You know, I always wondered if this is exactly what the sheriff working on the Tara Calico case was attempting when he publicly announced that he believed two suspects had hit her with their truck and disposed of her body. He might have been hoping that the suspects would panic and go check on her body, leading the police right to it.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=7799463

I don't know who created this entry, but it seems like it's someone who might have known Christi.

There's a few interesting pieces of information there.


ETA: I recall reading in one of the articles about Christi that Mark was allegedly angry about Christi seeing a counselor. I wonder if the one mentioned here is the same one referenced in the article.

Wow Meg, that's a great find! :) Quite a bit of info the segment left out too.

Interesting that they argued at Mark's parents' house before going to the bar, and it was bad enough the police were called out. As if he didn't already look guilty enough beforehand!

In the segment, its mentioned that they briefly stopped at a gas station convenience store on their way home. Was Christi seen still alive there I wonder?

Where did the information about him entombing her remains in a construction site come from? If it was a business or a home that was being built circa late 1987, chances are its still there now, but how easy would it be to tear part of it down? And if so, would there be probable cause to go searching?

Where did the information about him entombing her remains in a construction site come from?

Ninety-eight percent sure that came from an investigator's comment from one of the articles that have been posted in this thread. I don't know if he had reason to believe that this scenario could have been a definite possibility or if he was simply speculating.

Personally, I don't know if I can envision Mark being that clever. On the other hand, he would have to put in much work in hiding her in a more conventional way, and I'm not sure how he could do that so quickly without an accomplice.

At this point, on the night of December 10, 1987, I think Mark and Christi had another argument, and that this time, Mark's violence culminated in Christi's death. I don't think he intended to do it, but it happened. I just don't know when he disposed of her body.

I tend to think it wasn't the early morning of December 11th. I think a huge strike against Mark would be if Diane Janssen would have reported seeing him dirty, disheveled, sweating, or looking otherwise nervous and/or like he'd just completed a substantial amount of physical labor when he returned and paid her, and by all accounts she never did. I have a feeling Christi was in the trunk of the car all night and the next day until some point before the police report was made at 1:37 PM. I just have no idea how or where Mark would get rid of poor Christi in broad daylight--although the area in and around Gothenberg is pretty rural.

^ Definitely. For a guy with Mark's intelligence (or lack of, lol), he's unfortunately had a streak of luck all these years. I doubt he'd have been smart enough to even think of that, unless there was a freeway overpass or building under construction in plain sight he just chanced upon?

Yeah, I'm definitely of the theory that they got into an argument sometime after they left the bar but before making it home. You'd think if they'd already previously gotten into it at his parents' house, she wouldn't chance being alone with him again and would've stayed behind at the bar (the same one she worked at).

I totally believe the babysitter Diane, whom says she never heard any trace of Christi. That's a good point about how, if Mark had already done something, she'd have noticed blood or at least him sweating and being disheveled. I'd hate to think she was (in the trunk, maybe knocked out if he punched her) still alive and actually made it back home, only to get finished off in the bedroom, just feet away from her kids and everything. :( Although, if her blood was both in the car and the bedroom, signs would point to that.

Yeah, no doubt that bogus "driving around looking for Christi" story (between 11:30 when he dropped the kids off, and 1:37 when he filed the report) was when he disposed of her body somewhere. Gothenberg is pretty rural, and there was even less stuff in the oldest Google Earth pic from 1993 (so even a little less than that in '87), but even if he drove her body out of town, you'd think something would've surfaced.

Not sure how credible it is, but was it ever investigated or looked into, about any highway overpasses under construction in late 1987-88 that could be leads?

I tend to think it wasn't the early morning of December 11th. I think a huge strike against Mark would be if Diane Janssen would have reported seeing him dirty, disheveled, sweating, or looking otherwise nervous and/or like he'd just completed a substantial amount of physical labor when he returned and paid her, and by all accounts she never did. I have a feeling Christi was in the trunk of the car all night and the next day until some point before the police report was made at 1:37 PM. I just have no idea how or where Mark would get rid of poor Christi in broad daylight--although the area in and around Gothenberg is pretty rural.

That's an interesting point you brought up that I didn't even realize before. The babysitter did not see him sweaty, dirty, etc. when he paid her that night, and didn't describe any odd behavior (other than Mark was the one who paid her instead of Christi). I'm assuming that the babysitter had seen both Mark AND Christi leave together when they went out, or else she would have said she just saw Mark leave and come back. But didn't they find drops of blood in the bedroom that matched Christi? And Mark said it was menstrual blood, IIRC? If blood was found in the master bedroom that matched Christi, I think Mark would have had to have killed her there. And if the babysitter saw them leave together, that would mean they would have had to have returned together too. Maybe Christi just rushed up to the bedroom, angry at Mark, which is why the babysitter didn't see her?

I think the investigation was thorough. I always got the impression the Nebraska State Patrol wanted to call it a homicide very early on due to everything we've been talking about here, but were discouraged from doing so by the D.A.'s office, which at the time was reluctant to do so because of the lack of a body.

Meg , I kinda side with the DA slightly on this one. Its to do with the way some databases work.... if the cops declared it a murder then they wouldnt have been able to enter Christie`s details into missing persons databases therefore if her body turned up anywere in the US it would be difficult to identify her remains ....

By keeping this case as a missing persons case her (Christie`s) details are on databases were unidentified bodies can be matched to missing persons therefore if her body turns up one day a match can be made which might help the prosecution ........

such a similar conundrum has also dogged cases of other missing women across the country most notably one in Texas a few months after Christi went missing .....

Maybe Christi just rushed up to the bedroom, angry at Mark, which is why the babysitter didn't see her?

The babysitter said she didnt hear any other footsteps to suggest that Christi may have gone straight to the bedroom after entering the house - therefore it looks like Mark entered the house alone when he went & paid the babysitter , maybe at that point Christi was in the trunk ...

That's an interesting point you brought up that I didn't even realize before. The babysitter did not see him sweaty, dirty, etc. when he paid her that night, and didn't describe any odd behavior (other than Mark was the one who paid her instead of Christi). I'm assuming that the babysitter had seen both Mark AND Christi leave together when they went out, or else she would have said she just saw Mark leave and come back. But didn't they find drops of blood in the bedroom that matched Christi? And Mark said it was menstrual blood, IIRC? If blood was found in the master bedroom that matched Christi, I think Mark would have had to have killed her there. And if the babysitter saw them leave together, that would mean they would have had to have returned together too. Maybe Christi just rushed up to the bedroom, angry at Mark, which is why the babysitter didn't see her?

Do you think Mark might've knocked her out and she was in the trunk or something at the time? And after the babysitter left, he ended up killing her in the bedroom? :(

I was always under the impression that he'd killed her after leaving the bar but before getting back home, but Meg had an excellent point with that, which I never thought of either.

What time approximately, did they leave the bar? And was Christie still alive when they stopped at the convenience store on the way home (I wonder if there's any witnesses, like a clerk, that were ever questioned)? I suppose he could've cleaned himself up before getting back home, but chances are he killed her in the very early morning of the 11th, and disposed of her body that afternoon (when he was "searching" for her).

Even for a guy as moronic as Mark, you'd think he wouldn't have chanced it with his kids being asleep in the same house (and it looked like a small, one-floor house, so I doubt Christie could've slipped past the babysitter).

But didn't they find drops of blood in the bedroom that matched Christi? And Mark said it was menstrual blood, IIRC? If blood was found in the master bedroom that matched Christi, I think Mark would have had to have killed her there.

Trace amounts of blood were found in the bedroom as well as in the trunk of Mark's car, a 1977 Mercury Cougar.

I'm not sure how old either of those samples were. I'm not sure the blood in the bedroom necessarily indicates she was killed there, as there isn't anything inherently unusual about finding a trace amount of Christi's blood in her own bedroom. I do think it's much more unusual to find it in the trunk of Mark's car, however.

If you recall, the Nichols owned two cars. This is only an assumption, but I reckon the other vehicle was driven primarily by Christi. I can't readily envision her leaving a note addressed to the man she was allegedly having an affair with in a vehicle Mark regularly used. Therefore, although I know plenty of her genetic material was shed in Mark's car, it is still particularly interesting that her blood was found in his trunk. Coupled with that lame menstrual blood lie, it becomes even more interesting.

Meg , I kinda side with the DA slightly on this one. Its to do with the way some databases work.... if the cops declared it a murder then they wouldnt have been able to enter Christie`s details into missing persons databases therefore if her body turned up anywere in the US it would be difficult to identify her remains ....

By keeping this case as a missing persons case her (Christie`s) details are on databases were unidentified bodies can be matched to missing persons therefore if her body turns up one day a match can be made which might help the prosecution ........

such a similar conundrum has also dogged cases of other missing women across the country most notably one in Texas a few months after Christi went missing .....

I'm making an assumption re: the D.A.'s office. I don't at all know for certain that it is the reason this case has never been classified as a homicide, although I deduce that it's a strong possibility. I think the decision probably had less to do with making information more widely available, and far more to do with the fact that there was a lot of circumstantial evidence against Mark (excellent, but circumstantial nonetheless) and nothing hard, neatly packaged, and dumped right into the D.A.'s lap. I think they were probably risk-averse and I think it might have hurt the case.

Don't many missing persons databases include "Possible Homicide" as a category field?

Trace amounts of blood were found in the bedroom as well as in the trunk of Mark's car, a 1977 Mercury Cougar.

I'm not sure how old either of those samples were. I'm not sure the blood in the bedroom necessarily indicates she was killed there, as there isn't anything inherently unusual about finding a trace amount of Christi's blood in her own bedroom. I do think it's much more unusual to find it in the trunk of Mark's car, however.

If you recall, the Nichols owned two cars. This is only an assumption, but I reckon the other vehicle was driven primarily by Christi. I can't readily envision her leaving a note addressed to the man she was allegedly having an affair with in a vehicle Mark regularly used. Therefore, although I know plenty of her genetic material was shed in Mark's car, it is still particularly interesting that her blood was found in his trunk. Coupled with that lame menstrual blood lie, it becomes even more interesting.

Don't get me wrong, there's no doubt in my mind that he put her body in his trunk after he killed her. I just don't think it's likely that he killed her before they returned to relieve the babysitter. I think he killed Christi at the house (in the bedroom), and then moved her body to the trunk after the babysitter left.

I'm making an assumption re: the D.A.'s office. I don't at all know for certain that it is the reason this case has never been classified as a homicide, although I deduce that it's a strong possibility. I think the decision probably had less to do with making information more widely available, and far more to do with the fact that there was a lot of circumstantial evidence against Mark (excellent, but circumstantial nonetheless) and nothing hard, neatly packaged, and dumped right into the D.A.'s lap. I think they were probably risk-averse and I think it might have hurt the case.

Don't many missing persons databases include "Possible Homicide" as a category field?

Yes they do , the key word there being "possible" - if they were to categorize it as a homicide full stop, then that brings in the complications I described earlier ...

If they had found a very large amount of Christie`s blood in the house or trunk then I think the prosecutors will have been more likely to prosecute even if they mostly had circumstantial evidence ...

Don't get me wrong, there's no doubt in my mind that he put her body in his trunk after he killed her. I just don't think it's likely that he killed her before they returned to relieve the babysitter. I think he killed Christi at the house (in the bedroom), and then moved her body to the trunk after the babysitter left.

Do you think Christi may have been knocked out/unconscious in the trunk of Mark's car when he came back home? (Considering they lived in a small ranch house, I'm pretty positive the babysitter was right about her not hearing Christi at all.) And when she left, he ended up killing her?

It's even eerier than I initially thought, if that's indeed how it went down. I wonder if there was any trace of a struggle in the bedroom? I'd think she would've at least screamed for help or tried to fight him off or run.

Do you think Christi may have been knocked out/unconscious in the trunk of Mark's car when he came back home? (Considering they lived in a small ranch house, I'm pretty positive the babysitter was right about her not hearing Christi at all.) And when she left, he ended up killing her?

It's even eerier than I initially thought, if that's indeed how it went down. I wonder if there was any trace of a struggle in the bedroom? I'd think she would've at least screamed for help or tried to fight him off or run.

No I think she was alive and they both returned to the house, and the babysitter just missed her. Mark was a big man and Christi was a small woman, so I doubt she was able to put up much of a fight. He could have knocked her out with one punch and then killed her.

No I think she was alive and they both returned to the house, and the babysitter just missed her. Mark was a big man and Christi was a small woman, so I doubt she was able to put up much of a fight. He could have knocked her out with one punch and then killed her.

Good point. Even though it'd ordinarily seem to be in Christi's nature to talk to Diane (the babysitter) and she was usually the one that paid her... possibly Mark & Christie got into an argument on the way home, and she just went off to bed and told Mark to pay her instead.

Yeah, Mark, despite being a big oaf, was MUCH bigger and stronger than she was, and sadly I could easily see him seriously hurting her and knocking her out with a single punch. I'd still wonder why Christie would risk it and go back home alone with him, though? Especially (which was left out in the segment) considering they two had already gotten into enough of a domestic dispute at his parents' house for the police to be called.

Just thinking about Cars' theory over the past few days, I thought of another possibility. If Christi made it into the house that night, they may have continued to argue upstairs in the bedroom (which is consistent with the story Mark gave police). Mark may have struck her hard enough to cause hemorrhaging in her brain that became fatal overnight (depending on the severity, this can get you sometimes as early as six hours after trauma). So while she may have been alive (although not well) before he went to sleep, he may have awoke to find her unresponsive with no vital signs.

If we pay any credence to the Find-A-Grave information, it may also explain Mark's strange, alleged comment about finding his wife asleep and bleeding on the floor.

Just thinking about Cars' theory over the past few days, I thought of another possibility. If Christi made it into the house that night, they may have continued to argue upstairs in the bedroom (which is consistent with the story Mark gave police). Mark may have struck her hard enough to cause hemorrhaging in her brain that became fatal overnight (depending on the severity, this can get you sometimes as early as six hours after trauma). So while she may have been alive (although not well) before he went to sleep, he may have awoke to find her unresponsive with no vital signs.

If we pay any credence to the Find-A-Grave information, it may also explain Mark's strange, alleged comment about finding his wife asleep and bleeding on the floor.

That theory sounds the most plausible to me, all things considered!

Despite Mark's obviously violent and abusive/controlling tendencies, he may have not ordinarily had it in him to be a murderer, but panicked when he realized he'd severely hurt Christi (possibly dead or still unresponsive on the floor when he woke back up, say at 7 or 8am?). If he arrived back home at 12:30 but didn't go to sleep until 2am, that's definitely time enough for them to have been arguing and he might've snapped and punched her in the heat of the moment.

When he dropped the kids off at Christi's grandma's house and "searched" for her for two hours, that's pretty obviously the time when he went to hide her body.

He's hardly the brightest crayon in the box, so I don't doubt at least some of what he told police was true. I doubt he'd be able to concoct some mastermind story in just a few hours.

Just thinking about Cars' theory over the past few days, I thought of another possibility. If Christi made it into the house that night, they may have continued to argue upstairs in the bedroom (which is consistent with the story Mark gave police). Mark may have struck her hard enough to cause hemorrhaging in her brain that became fatal overnight (depending on the severity, this can get you sometimes as early as six hours after trauma). So while she may have been alive (although not well) before he went to sleep, he may have awoke to find her unresponsive with no vital signs.

If we pay any credence to the Find-A-Grave information, it may also explain Mark's strange, alleged comment about finding his wife asleep and bleeding on the floor.

I think you hit the nail right on the head with this one.

I think you hit the nail right on the head with this one.

Might be a small detail, but I'm wondering, do we know for sure if they had a ranch house or a two-story? The other homes shown in Gothenburg when the segment starts, were smaller, one-story houses way more common in rural small towns, as opposed to the double story tract houses you often see in metropolitan areas.

Mark wasn't exactly a rocket scientist making six figures either, the guy worked at a gas station, lol. Christie probably made quite a bit more money than he did, being a bartender (or at least employed at a local bar).

Also, do we know if they lived on a residential street right in town...or perhaps a little bit outside the town limits in a farming area or something?

Only reason I thought of that is because, if it was a small ranch house in town, and they were in a heated argument for some time; despite being 1 to 2am, there's at least a chance some neighbors might've heard them. Especially if she screamed for help or maybe tried to run before he hit her?

Might be a small detail, but I'm wondering, do we know for sure if they had a ranch house or a two-story? The other homes shown in Gothenburg when the segment starts, were smaller, one-story houses way more common in rural small towns, as opposed to the double story tract houses you often see in metropolitan areas.

Mark wasn't exactly a rocket scientist making six figures either, the guy worked at a gas station, lol. Christie probably made quite a bit more money than he did, being a bartender (or at least employed at a local bar).

Also, do we know if they lived on a residential street right in town...or perhaps a little bit outside the town limits in a farming area or something?

Only reason I thought of that is because, if it was a small ranch house in town, and they were in a heated argument for some time; despite being 1 to 2am, there's at least a chance some neighbors might've heard them. Especially if she screamed for help or maybe tried to run before he hit her?

As you might be able to tell, I am extremely interested in this case. I found property records for Mark once that showed he lived in a home on Avenue A in Gothenburg from 1983 (the year he married Christi) until 1987, at which he point he moved to Hastings, NE. I've never been able to dig up the information again and I do not recall the house number, however, I do recall looking in street view on Google maps and immediately noticed it was not the house used in the segment at all. I also do not recall if there was a second floor, but my memory seems to suggest that there was not.

The area is residential and typical of "older" neighborhoods--most of the homes were built between 1910 and 1940. The large Victorian homes like those shown at the beginning of the segment--which are not the sort of homes found on Avenue A--typically sit along nearby Lake Avenue and were built around the 1890s.

So, yes, the home was in a residential area no more than two minutes or so from downtown Gothenburg with neighbors nearby.

As you might be able to tell, I am extremely interested in this case. I found property records for Mark once that showed he lived in a home on Avenue A in Gothenburg from 1983 (the year he married Christi) until 1987, at which he point he moved to Hastings, NE. I've never been able to dig up the information again and I do not recall the house number, however, I do recall looking in street view on Google maps and immediately noticed it was not the house used in the segment at all. I also do not recall if there was a second floor, but my memory seems to suggest that there was not.

The area is residential and typical of "older" neighborhoods--most of the homes were built between 1910 and 1940. The large Victorian homes like those shown at the beginning of the segment--which are not the sort of homes found on Avenue A--typically sit along nearby Lake Avenue and were built around the 1890s.

So, yes, the home was in a residential area no more than two minutes or so from downtown Gothenburg with neighbors nearby.

Great work, Meg! :) Yeah, I've been really interested in this case as well, back to 1994. I've tried looking up property records, but many times they only go back to the late 90s (i.e. the "last sold" date for houses). Yeah, you can definitely sort of tell when many homes were built just by their style. Inner cities and places closer to downtown are actually much older than suburbs (which didn't get built until the late 60s/70s, and really exploding in the 80s/90s, now almost every square inch is developed). Despite Gothenburg still being a pretty small town, the main streets and downtown area has probably existed since the late 19th century!

That's interesting that UM didn't film it on their street. Just about everything they did was on-location (far as I can tell), but I've noticed they sometimes shot it nearby. For example, Roger & DJ Dean's actual house was on Bighorn Ct, but the segment was filmed at the corner of Lodgepole Trail, just a block away or so. (A neighbor probably let them film the reenactment inside and around their house, maybe it was less traumatic to them, or just easier?).

But anyway, I'm Street-Viewing Avenue A as we speak, and it's definitely not where they filmed the other houses. It looks like mostly small farmhouses and mobile homes. Chances are, Mark & Christi didn't have an upstairs. Although it's a really small town (with even less stuff in 1987) and being late at night, there is a chance nobody would've heard her screaming or fighting with Mark.

It's interesting and eye opening how UM left out the fact that they'd gotten into a fight at his parents' house even before they went out. Makes you wonder why she'd go out with him again, or chance being alone with him? It's just very sad that she made that one mistake when she was almost free of Mark.

But anyway, I'm Street-Viewing Avenue A as we speak, and it's definitely not where they filmed the other houses. It looks like mostly small farmhouses and mobile homes. Chances are, Mark & Christi didn't have an upstairs. Although it's a really small town (with even less stuff in 1987) and being late at night, there is a chance nobody would've heard her screaming or fighting with Mark.

Right. This happened during the work week as well, so there were probably relatively few people awake at that hour early on a Friday morning--not to mention the very chilly temperature typical of Nebraska in December that would compel most people to remain indoors.

It's interesting and eye opening how UM left out the fact that they'd gotten into a fight at his parents' house even before they went out. Makes you wonder why she'd go out with him again, or chance being alone with him? It's just very sad that she made that one mistake when she was almost free of Mark.

I feel so terribly for her, her family, and her children. There's no question in my mind she was a spousal abuse victim and that it ultimately caused her demise. :(

Right. This happened during the work week as well, so there were probably relatively few people awake at that hour early on a Friday morning--not to mention the very chilly temperature typical of Nebraska in December that would compel most people to remain indoors.

I hadn't thought of that, but those are good points too. Neighbors probably had space heaters making noise and/or were sound asleep. Especially if they had to be at work the next morning.

I feel so terribly for her, her family, and her children. There's no question in my mind she was a spousal abuse victim and that it ultimately caused her demise. :(

Absolutely agree. Even in the 1 in 100 billion chance Mark is innocent of her murder, he's an abuser and a despicable human being. Like earlier in the segment when he admitted he pushed her onto the bed, causing her fractured thumb she went to the local hospital for. Every time I've watched it, I always think: Dude, who the (blank) do you think you are trying to control a grown woman, one you supposedly love, from going out!?

She'd seemed ready to move on with her life, especially seeing the lawyer in another town. Chances are, she'd have taken the kids with her and left Mark cold turkey. Sadly, so many abused women never get the courage to even do that. Hopefully one day, evidence gets tied back to Mark and he can get life without parole.

Something just hit me that I'm surprised I hadn't thought more about before.

How much do we know about this other guy that Christi was seeing shortly before she disappeared? I wonder if it was just a fling/flirtationship/affair, or were they seriously romantically involved? Even if they had deep feelings for each other, maybe they had to sneak around because it was a small (i.e. probably conservative/right-leaning) town, and the general societal taboos because Christi was married (albeit to a scumbag) would've made people view them kinda negatively.

I'm assuming he was a nice guy and protective, unlike Mark. That's no small point either, because I'm thinking this relationship might've precipitated her finally having the courage to go through with getting a divorce. If that's the case, I also wonder if this guy ever stood up to Mark to protect her. You'd think he'd at least be concerned for her (and the kids') safety, because the guy was obviously a loose cannon and abusive to begin with.

Something just hit me that I'm surprised I hadn't thought more about before.

How much do we know about this other guy that Christi was seeing shortly before she disappeared? I wonder if it was just a fling/flirtationship/affair, or were they seriously romantically involved? Even if they had deep feelings for each other, maybe they had to sneak around because it was a small (i.e. probably conservative/right-leaning) town, and the general societal taboos because Christi was married (albeit to a scumbag) would've made people view them kinda negatively.

I'm assuming he was a nice guy and protective, unlike Mark. That's no small point either, because I'm thinking this relationship might've precipitated her finally having the courage to go through with getting a divorce. If that's the case, I also wonder if this guy ever stood up to Mark to protect her. You'd think he'd at least be concerned for her (and the kids') safety, because the guy was obviously a loose cannon and abusive to begin with.

About the only thing I've ever read about this alleged affair was that a letter to the man authorities believe Christi was seeing was found in Christi's car. The only contents of that letter that have ever been revealed (as far as I know) is that Christi wrote that she was planning to leave Mark sometime after Christmas, and that she would contact the man after a few months. Other than that, zilch. I'd like to know more about him, too.

About the only thing I've ever read about this alleged affair was that a letter to the man authorities believe Christi was seeing was found in Christi's car. The only contents of that letter that have ever been revealed (as far as I know) is that Christi wrote that she was planning to leave Mark sometime after Christmas, and that she would contact the man after a few months. Other than that, zilch. I'd like to know more about him, too.

Thanks Meg, I figured if anybody would've known about that, it'd be you. :) I vaguely recall reading that awhile back now too. I'm guessing Christi only was sticking around even that long in order to have a decent Christmas for her kids before things might've gotten chaotic for awhile, if she had to move out of town. I bet it was a long distance relationship (though how she met this guy, I have no idea?). I wonder if he ever came forward or talked to the police. Poor guy might've even felt guilty or somewhat indirectly responsible for what happened, or for not standing up to Mark before, who knows?

I think the boyfriend was the initial reason why the authorities were reluctant to go after Mark, because he was a possible other person of interest in her disappearance. But the segment made it clear that the man was questioned and cleared, IIRC. Still baffles me why no charges have been brought against Mark. I was thinking about making a post that was to play devil's advocate for the case of Mark's innocence, but I couldn't even do it. He's guilty as hell.

I think the boyfriend was the initial reason why the authorities were reluctant to go after Mark, because he was a possible other person of interest in her disappearance. But the segment made it clear that the man was questioned and cleared, IIRC. Still baffles me why no charges have been brought against Mark. I was thinking about making a post that was to play devil's advocate for the case of Mark's innocence, but I couldn't even do it. He's guilty as hell.

I know these posts are old but I know the family of Christi Jo Nichols and I feel it is a travesty of justice that this case is not being looked at again. I think there is enough information, red flags, smoking guns, etc that there is no reason why investigators cannot probe Mark Nichols further. It's time he told the truth for the sake of the family. They DESERVE to place the remains of their loved one in a proper resting place in a cemetery. Investigators need to step up to the plate and re-investigate this. There is much on this story and furthermore I have to wonder why Mark Nichols was never charged, body or no body. There are plenty of other cases out there that have been solved on much less information. There is one thing that has not been brought out and I cannot say it is a fact but I understand Mark Nichols knew before hand his wife was leaving him and I don't think it came from her. In other words, someone within the Gothenburg PD gave Mark Nichols information that may have led to her death. If this is true, this case needs a second look. There needs to be a grand jury investigation on this.

I know these posts are old but I know the family of Christi Jo Nichols and I feel it is a travesty of justice that this case is not being looked at again. I think there is enough information, red flags, smoking guns, etc that there is no reason why investigators cannot probe Mark Nichols further. It's time he told the truth for the sake of the family. They DESERVE to place the remains of their loved one in a proper resting place in a cemetery. Investigators need to step up to the plate and re-investigate this. There is much on this story and furthermore I have to wonder why Mark Nichols was never charged, body or no body. There are plenty of other cases out there that have been solved on much less information. There is one thing that has not been brought out and I cannot say it is a fact but I understand Mark Nichols knew before hand his wife was leaving him and I don't think it came from her. In other words, someone within the Gothenburg PD gave Mark Nichols information that may have led to her death. If this is true, this case needs a second look. There needs to be a grand jury investigation on this.

I agree with you completely, JKO. I never knew about Mark being alerted that Christi was fixing to leave by someone within the Gothenburg PD. Do you have any other information you feel comfortable sharing with us concerning the case as you know Christi's family? Completely understand if you wish not to for privacy reasons, but I have always felt very strongly that this was a murder. Christi's case has always stuck with me--I guess I feel like I can identify with her in a lot of ways. Thanks for coming by and posting.

Doesn't surprise me that Mark got tipped off by someone, which probably led to Christi's death. I just wonder if there were witnesses in the bar that night (when Mark allegedly was getting along great with Christi shooting pool) that could corroborate his story on that point.

Just been watching the Christi segment and I got to say Mark seemed so unusually calm and emotionless in most his appearances which I found interesting but one thing that I hadnt noticed before which I picked up on was that at the end of the segment were he said a lot of people think he was violent and he was not a violent person - he blinked a bit and seemed slightly agitated ........hmm, it makes me wonder ....is he upset about being characterised as violent ? or is he cognizant of the fact that he is saying something misleading ? or is the real Mark coming out....... Since he moved out of the family home the day after Christi disappearance were did he live ?

Try 1205 avenue A in gothenburg. I street viewed it and it looks more like the house in the segment. Although I don't think that is the actual house used. I found this address actually belonged to mark nichols in gothenburg at the time of the disappearance.

Yep. Guilty. I just rewatched this segment again. He's pushing all of my "he's lying" buttons...

Yep. Guilty. I just rewatched this segment again. He's pushing all of my "he's lying" buttons...
Its funny you say that because an FBI profiler once said sometimes guilty people exhibit extreme calm. in such situations as Mark found himself in .....

Try 1205 avenue A in gothenburg. I street viewed it and it looks more like the house in the segment. Although I don't think that is the actual house used. I found this address actually belonged to mark nichols in gothenburg at the time of the disappearance.
Interesting stuff. Thanks :)

I'm kind of confused with the timeline of events. Okay so Christi and Mark were out playing pool at the bar she worked at, left, he arrived home by himself (babysitter never saw her and Mark paid her). So, based on that I'm assuming she was killed between leaving the bar and mark arriving home. I know blood was found in the car that was later confirmed to be Christi but it was also found in the bedroom. I'm also guessing that since he dropped the kids of in the morning to "look for Christi", thats when he actually got rid of her body and disposed of evidence during those hours he dropped the kids off. Im just wondering how her blood got into the bedroom then. Unless it was from an older beating as I know she was beaten up frequently

I'm kind of confused with the timeline of events. Okay so Christi and Mark were out playing pool at the bar she worked at, left, he arrived home by himself (babysitter never saw her and Mark paid her). So, based on that I'm assuming she was killed between leaving the bar and mark arriving home. I know blood was found in the car that was later confirmed to be Christi but it was also found in the bedroom. I'm also guessing that since he dropped the kids of in the morning to "look for Christi", thats when he actually got rid of her body and disposed of evidence during those hours he dropped the kids off. Im just wondering how her blood got into the bedroom then. Unless it was from an older beating as I know she was beaten up frequently
Yeah that's the thought since he is likely lieing about her coming home. If they were at the bar drinking together he might of been hoping for a good time but whether he was tipped off and confronted her or she just did on her on accord she likely got the courage to tell him she was done and already started filing for divorce and he probably snapped on her. Even if she did come home with him as said he may have done it there. What if he hit her in the car and she walked into the restroom not wanting to be seen by the babysitter/kids. And then he killed her later and put her in the trunk. Either way he seems guilty and his knowing the details of what she packed combined with not asking her grandmother of her whereabouts and lieing to her mom scream guilt and cover up on his part. He obviously needed time to hide her body and come up with a cover up story and his actions early on reflect it.

Yep. Guilty. I just rewatched this segment again. He's pushing all of my "he's lying" buttons...
The part that gets me is when he tells the rumor of him cutting her up then gives a sick twisted laughing smirk. I could never say or joke like that about my wife if she were missing or presumed dead. I also agree with the detective if my wife packed a bag there is no way I could tell you what she packed. He comes off as an arrogant jerk but like many abusers that's how they operate. They are psycho and think that they can get away with anything.

The fact that he was able to NAIL what items she had taken really sealed it for me. My husband is a very detail-oriented guy, but if you asked him what clothes I was wearing or what items I took, he wouldn't be able to say anything other than, "She always wears a purple jacket. Her contact lenses are missing, as is her iPad." Don't even get me started on our daughter. He'd say, "I don't know what she was wearing. Probably a Dora shirt."

To be SO detailed is a bit chilling.

The fact that he was able to NAIL what items she had taken really sealed it for me. My husband is a very detail-oriented guy, but if you asked him what clothes I was wearing or what items I took, he wouldn't be able to say anything other than, "She always wears a purple jacket. Her contact lenses are missing, as is her iPad." Don't even get me started on our daughter. He'd say, "I don't know what she was wearing. Probably a Dora shirt."

To be SO detailed is a bit chilling.
I totally agree. I pay attention to things very closely when I'm focused. But I don't focus on my wife's wardrobe contents to that extent and what normal husband would. I could say what she wears often and maybe if I'm lucky could figure out one or two items missing but even that's a stretch. The fact that he knew everything she packed doesn't show that he's a caring husband that pays attention to his wife it further highlighted his possessive abusive tendencies.

I totally agree!

I don't know about the husband. He doesn't seem the smartest tool in the shed. Well that's the way he comes across in the segment. I found his Facebook page and he seems to be living his life without a care in the world. If he didn't do it directly i definitely think he knows who did. I personally wouldn't be able to look my children in the eye if i knew what i had done!

I don't know about the husband. He doesn't seem the smartest tool in the shed. Well that's the way he comes across in the segment. I found his Facebook page and he seems to be living his life without a care in the world. If he didn't do it directly i definitely think he knows who did. I personally wouldn't be able to look my children in the eye if i knew what i had done!

hes also liked a "Donald Trump For President" page :lol:

anyway it was clear as day that he didn't have a care in world about her. he had a nonchalant attitude about the whole thing, he sold her car 2 weeks after her disappearance aswell as packed up all her stuff.

reasons i think hes guilty and that she didn't pull a "gone girl" is his accuracy on the contents of the suitcase as if he packed it himself and the babysitters account that she never saw/heard Christi come in that night.

I think Christi was drunk and spilled the beans about the other man and the divorce and he flew into a rage. i would guess he strangled her then placed her in the trunk and returned home then maybe later that night or next day he disposed of the body and suitcase.

Just saw this segment tonight and he goes to number 1 for the most obviously guilty spouse in UM ever.
Sometimes when I see cases when the killer, who is generally the husband, gets convicted I wonder how did they think they could get away with it. Well this is the counterexample.
Even the cop who was interviewed was all but saying he did it.
It's so sad it's over 30 years now and still nothing, it seems we will never fully know the details of how he did it.

I detest this guy but one thing for certain is that he's no dummy. He pulled off the perfect crime (so far). This is one of those cases where there are no other witnesses since he did it all on his own. And he'll never talk. I can only hope something similar befalls to him one day

I detest this guy but one thing for certain is that he's no dummy.

Watching this guy's interview in the segment, he sounds like a MAJOR dummy, and that's being generous.

That's what makes him getting away with it all the more infuriating.

He may "sound" and look like a moron but this guy didn't make the mistakes most killers do. ZERO witnesses. Doesn't talk much, doesn't get riled when questioned. Doesn't change his story. Even the smartest killers flub up on most of those.

My latest article tackles her disappearance. Lots of additional information.

https://lostnfoundblogs.com/f/christi-nichols-marked-for-murder

My latest article tackles her disappearance. Lots of additional information.

https://lostnfoundblogs.com/f/christi-nichols-marked-for-murder

Great work on this. This one has always been near the top for me in getting me in my emotions, both anger (at mark) and very sad for christy.

it is frustrating that he was informed of her attorney visit. Goth. police official wtf? surely he was not aware of how potentially fatal the abuse was? so the people helping mark were probably only foreseeing a child custody battle? Or did they know he was physically assaulting her and did not care? I agree 100 with your final thoughts on the article. there's no doubt in my mind that he killed her. and I think it was premeditated if you consider his actions before and after. it is chilling to hear that he choked her and stabbed a wall.

My latest article tackles her disappearance. Lots of additional information.

https://lostnfoundblogs.com/f/christi-nichols-marked-for-murderAnother great read there CD.

I always felt that he killed Christy but your article now solidifies it.

My latest article tackles her disappearance. Lots of additional information.

https://lostnfoundblogs.com/f/christi-nichols-marked-for-murder

Oy, vey... Well, I think we can say this is one time when UM didn't go out of their way to make the accused look more guilty than he was -- Mark did that all on his own. After reading your blog, they probably painted him in an even better light. What an absolute piece of hot garbage this guy is. Ugh.

After reading your blog post, I'm struck by a few things:
1) How truly YOUNG Christi was -- I didn't realize this when I first watched UM but seeing the pictures you posted, she was almost a child herself
2) The depth of the abuse was far worse than what UM portrayed -- Mark is a serial domestic abuser and he obviously abused Christi for a long time
3) She took multiple steps to get out of this relationship -- too bad it was a few days too late
4) There is no way in hell she would have taken off without her children (or at the very minimum, a plan to get them back ASAP)
5) Yet another case of crappy small town police tipping off the abuser and not only doing nothing for the victim, but making things worse for her. I hope that police chief realizes he has blood on his hands over this.
6) Mark's story of the final night is ridiculous -- the fact that he detailed all of the things she took with her absolutely seals the deal. That guy is as dumb as a box of rocks and for him to be able to detail every item she took with her only shows that he packed the bag.
7) As for the blood under the carpet, Mark said "menstrual blood" -- does he realize the average menstrual blood lost is small (2 to 3 tablespoons) over 4-5 days? (Thank you, CDC for the facts.) Plus, what woman sits on carpet and bleeds out long enough to make a stain that big?

Mark is just a big, dumb bully. He terrorized this poor woman and abused the hell out of her. I'm not saying she was perfect as I wasn't there, but she surely didn't deserve the physical (and likely mental) abuse she endured. My guess is that they were both really immature and didn't know how to function well together. I feel horrible for her kids and family. I can't imagine the heartache.

My best hypothesis on what happened to Christi is that she went out with Mark as part of getting her kids back. They probably argued on the way home from the bar. I would guess this was over the kids but it wouldn't be out of the range of possibility that Mark demanded sex from her too. In any case, the argument escalated and he probably started beating her. He either beat her to death and/or strangled her. I'm not sure if he hid the body temporarily and finished the job the next day, or if he did it all that night. But he is absolutely guilty of this in my mind. He is just a disgusting human being.

I have zero doubt that Mark Nichols killed Christi. I think one major reason as to why he wasn't charged was that note found in Christi's car about her leaving and coming back around Christmas. The one oddity about this case that I can't ever seem to rectify is that according to Christi's family as well as Mark, the day prior to Christi's disappearance was very tense. Mark says that she was acting angry with him the entire day. But that night they go out and play pool together and hang out at a bar?

Also slightly OT: has anyone else noticed the acoustic guitar themed version of the UM theme playing at certain points in the UM segment? I actually like it a lot.

I have zero doubt that Mark Nichols killed Christi. I think one major reason as to why he wasn't charged was that note found in Christi's car about her leaving and coming back around Christmas. The one oddity about this case that I can't ever seem to rectify is that according to Christi's family as well as Mark, the day prior to Christi's disappearance was very tense. Mark says that she was acting angry with him the entire day. But that night they go out and play pool together and hang out at a bar?


To quote from CD's blog, the note read: “I want you to know I will probably be leaving after Christmas and I will try not to see or talk to you until then. It will all work out somehow. I’m really sorry.” To me, this implies she is leaving Mark after Christmas but she isn't leaving now. I can see how Mark's supporters would twist this, however the way I read this is she is telling her boyfriend that she is going to play it cool until after the holidays (which makes some sense) and then leave him after that, and then they can be together. This doesn't imply, at least to me, that she has already left.

I agree the note probably helped throw suspicion off Mark for some people, but after reading CD's blog, I don't think the local cops every looked too hard at Mark either. I'm curious if the county or state police ever got involved. Probably not, as this was technically just a "missing person" and I'm sure Mark (and possibly his family) and the local cops framed it as a disgruntled wife who took off. This is where I'm sure the note helped their case but also her meeting with doctors, lawyers, and counselors. As sick as it is, I bet they used her getting help against her and said she was seeing all these people so she could leave while downplaying the abuse and the real reason for her leaving.

I'm guessing either Mark demanded one more night out as a condition of her seeing the kids, or the police chief/counselor just told her to make nice. Since she wasn't getting any traction with leaving, I'm sure she was just buying time and trying not to make waves. I bet Mark demanded it to show people (the cops) that he was a good husband and they were getting along fine. When the night ended, either she had enough of the charade or he pushed too far and demanded sex.

The only physical evidence I'm having trouble rectifying is the blood in the house (a.k.a. the "menstrual" blood). After she left that night, I don't think Christi ever made in back in that house alive, which is why the babysitter only saw Mark. I think the murder was committed in the car or outside but not in the house. That blood must be from a previous injury. The only other possibility in my mind is that Christi was beaten and in the car and he brought her in after the babysitter left. However I can't see him leaving her out there to yell or run off unless he knew she wasn't going anywhere.

To quote from CD's blog, the note read: “I want you to know I will probably be leaving after Christmas and I will try not to see or talk to you until then. It will all work out somehow. I’m really sorry.” To me, this implies she is leaving Mark after Christmas but she isn't leaving now. I can see how Mark's supporters would twist this, however the way I read this is she is telling her boyfriend that she is going to play it cool until after the holidays (which makes some sense) and then leave him after that, and then they can be together. This doesn't imply, at least to me, that she has already left.

I never thought about the note being written for Mark, but that actually does make sense.

I agree the note probably helped throw suspicion off Mark for some people, but after reading CD's blog, I don't think the local cops every looked too hard at Mark either. I'm curious if the county or state police ever got involved. Probably not, as this was technically just a "missing person" and I'm sure Mark (and possibly his family) and the local cops framed it as a disgruntled wife who took off. This is where I'm sure the note helped their case but also her meeting with doctors, lawyers, and counselors. As sick as it is, I bet they used her getting help against her and said she was seeing all these people so she could leave while downplaying the abuse and the real reason for her leaving.

I think the local police honestly believed she up and left Mark. The UM segment specifically states that when she didn't return after 11 months they turned the investigation over to the State Patrol who definitely viewed Mark as a suspect.

I'm guessing either Mark demanded one more night out as a condition of her seeing the kids, or the police chief/counselor just told her to make nice. Since she wasn't getting any traction with leaving, I'm sure she was just buying time and trying not to make waves. I bet Mark demanded it to show people (the cops) that he was a good husband and they were getting along fine. When the night ended, either she had enough of the charade or he pushed too far and demanded sex.

Just seems weird to me. I could see them going out with the kids, but then going through the trouble of getting a babysitter and then going out while everyone (including the babysitter) knew that they were not getting along.

The only physical evidence I'm having trouble rectifying is the blood in the house (a.k.a. the "menstrual" blood). After she left that night, I don't think Christi ever made in back in that house alive, which is why the babysitter only saw Mark. I think the murder was committed in the car or outside but not in the house. That blood must be from a previous injury. The only other possibility in my mind is that Christi was beaten and in the car and he brought her in after the babysitter left. However I can't see him leaving her out there to yell or run off unless he knew she wasn't going anywhere.

That's another oddity about this case for me: where did he kill her and where was her body at during his return from the bar? Did he callously kill her at some point after leaving the convenience store and then put her body in the trunk until the next day?

To comment on a few things from my research Todd and TheCars...

I think Christi was making sure things stayed calm at home until she was able to leave and take the kids home. It is apparent that the police chief knew she met with the abuse counselor that day but I'm curious if he could have overheard Christi saying she would be back the next day with the kids. If Mark were somehow alerted to that, all hell would have broken loose.

I think the mentality back then was to not make waves, Christi was just supposed to be a nice girl and work on her marriage.

In my conversations with Christi's mother, we tend to think maybe when he arrived back at his house that night perhaps Christi was unconscious and he carried her into the bedroom, leaving the bloodstain. That might explain why he was so angered about seeing the teenager at the park. Mark was at the back of his house, maybe he had carried her in. That might also explain what he was doing the 2.5 hours he had to himself after he dropped the kids off at the grandmother's.

I couldn't help but notice the items Mark bought at the convenience store right before Christi went missing. Breakfast items. As if he knew he would have to feed his children that morning because their mother wouldn't be there to do it.

My latest article tackles her disappearance. Lots of additional information.

https://lostnfoundblogs.com/f/christi-nichols-marked-for-murder

GREAT writeup CD! After reading it, I'm pretty sure Mark stole some lye, buried Christi in that spot where his parents were pouring the concrete pad, then tossed the lye in and hastily covered everything up.

As to the timeline, well, I'll leave that up to other people.

I wonder though if anything could be found under there after all this time though?? Definitely an interesting thought.

To comment on a few things from my research Todd and TheCars...

I think Christi was making sure things stayed calm at home until she was able to leave and take the kids home. It is apparent that the police chief knew she met with the abuse counselor that day but I'm curious if he could have overheard Christi saying she would be back the next day with the kids. If Mark were somehow alerted to that, all hell would have broken loose.

I think the mentality back then was to not make waves, Christi was just supposed to be a nice girl and work on her marriage.

In my conversations with Christi's mother, we tend to think maybe when he arrived back at his house that night perhaps Christi was unconscious and he carried her into the bedroom, leaving the bloodstain. That might explain why he was so angered about seeing the teenager at the park. Mark was at the back of his house, maybe he had carried her in. That might also explain what he was doing the 2.5 hours he had to himself after he dropped the kids off at the grandmother's.

I couldn't help but notice the items Mark bought at the convenience store right before Christi went missing. Breakfast items. As if he knew he would have to feed his children that morning because their mother wouldn't be there to do it.

CrystalDawn,

I am loving some of these blog postings. This one especially. I am very similar to you where I find it very interesting to reach out to the family members or those involved w/ a case to hear their side of the story or items that may have been left out, etc. This case was very well done...many things I had no clue about and I for sure (not that I didn't already), know that Mark is responsible for her death. I really thing he "dumblucked" into the hiding spot, to why she hasn't been found yet. Question for you, what is the address of the house they shared together? I'd love to streetview it to see what it looks like today. Thanks!

CrystalDawn,

I am loving some of these blog postings. This one especially. I am very similar to you where I find it very interesting to reach out to the family members or those involved w/ a case to hear their side of the story or items that may have been left out, etc. This case was very well done...many things I had no clue about and I for sure (not that I didn't already), know that Mark is responsible for her death. I really thing he "dumblucked" into the hiding spot, to why she hasn't been found yet. Question for you, what is the address of the house they shared together? I'd love to streetview it to see what it looks like today. Thanks!

Thank you so much hostedbyrobertstack! As far as their house at the time, I believe it's 1906 Lake Ave in Gothenburg. The picture of it today of course looks quite a bit different than the picture I have in my article but it being 30+ years later that is to be expected. Also I'm not positive but I THINK the address of Mark Nichol's parents former house is 616 17th St. in Gothenburg. Both of his parents have since passed away.

Huskerz85 thank you!! Yes I think it would be interesting to get some ground penetrating radar to check out the "garage" that came to be soon after she went missing. Christi's mother thinks if the lye were used there aren't any remains left to find. :(

Thank you so much hostedbyrobertstack! As far as their house at the time, I believe it's 1906 Lake Ave in Gothenburg. The picture of it today of course looks quite a bit different than the picture I have in my article but it being 30+ years later that is to be expected. Also I'm not positive but I THINK the address of Mark Nichol's parents former house is 616 17th St. in Gothenburg. Both of his parents have since passed away.

Huskerz85 thank you!! Yes I think it would be interesting to get some ground penetrating radar to check out the "garage" that came to be soon after she went missing. Christi's mother thinks if the lye were used there aren't any remains left to find. :(

Thanks! I streetviewed that location, and it didn't seem to match up....however, on the other side of the street, a few houses down, there is 1815 Avenue E....streetview this if you can, this is the house and it still looks identical to the image from your article, almost no changes!

Sorry, it's actually 1815 Lake Ave

https://www.facebook.com/mark.nichols.75839

I'm sure it's happened (and the odds are astronomical) but has there ever been a case where a spouse left her husband and kids and then ran into foul play committed by an unknown third party? Because outside of the abuse and the babysitter's eyewitness account of what happened that night, the evidence of murder against Mark (in terms of prosecuting him in court) is slim. There is no body. There is no "crime scene". They really couldn't find evidence that a crime had been committed. Granted, it's fairly obvious that Mark did it, but you can't prosecute someone on a gut feeling.

I do see a lot of parallel's between this case and the case of Charlotte Pollis. But in the case of Charlotte Pollis, there was no history of abuse in the marriage. Which makes me wonder, because it seems like this board is split on the guilt of Paul Pollis, if Mark Nichols wasn't abusive towards Christi, would there be some people who thought that he may be innocent?

If he wasn't abusive, I think there'd be a much bigger split than there is now.
I don't necessarily think he's innocent, because who else would have any kind of motive in this case, but the lack of a body and next to zero physical evidence is enough to create reasonable doubt in the eyes of the law. Obviously there's a ton of circumstantial evidence. A little reasonable doubt is all Mark Nichols needs to remain a free man after more than 32 years.
Seems to me like criminals inevitably shoot their mouth off to at least one person if they've gone unpunished. Maybe he's done that, but if so we haven't heard about it. Even Chad Noe was dumb enough to virtually confess in one of his "drunken stupors."
If Christi's remains are found then yes, I think the authorities go after Nichols ASAP. I personally don't think they'll ever be found after this much time has passed.

Seems to me like criminals inevitably shoot their mouth off to at least one person if they've gone unpunished. Maybe he's done that, but if so we haven't heard about it. Even Chad Noe was dumb enough to virtually confess in one of his "drunken stupors."


The segment made him look like the biggest idiot you could imagine - burying a body in concrete and then dissolving it using lye (as postulated in CD's blog entry) takes at least *some* smarts. That plus the fact he's kept his mouth shut though means he's probably not as dumb as he appeared.

For those of you who are interested I was recently interviewed in a podcast for the Unfound podcast about my blog on the Christi Nichols case:

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ed-dentzel/unfound

Really, is there anybody else dumber and less convincing than Mark Nichols?

Also slightly OT: has anyone else noticed the acoustic guitar themed version of the UM theme playing at certain points in the UM segment? I actually like it a lot.

I really enjoy it and the other acoustic guitar music in many of the other segments. the same tune makes an appearance to open the cocaine alley segment (Rafael Camarena underground tunnel drug dealer), but I think it is most prominent in the Christy Nichols segment.

Really, is there anybody else dumber and less convincing than Mark Nichols?

I'm trying to think of one...I know Paul Polis was mentioned. Like Mark, he tried to be brash and arrogant in his interview to compensate for something, but it came off very poor. by chance Paul or Mark are innocent, they really have a unique way of communicating that.

once again great work by CD, uncovered a lot of information that again points directly to Mark. It is very sad that Mark had so many enablers.

The segment made him look like the biggest idiot you could imagine - burying a body in concrete and then dissolving it using lye (as postulated in CD's blog entry) takes at least *some* smarts. That plus the fact he's kept his mouth shut though means he's probably not as dumb as he appeared.

I've never understood why people think he is "dumb". I've heard people say the same thing about Michael Scott Martin. Syntax is not intelligence. I'm not saying mark is Einstein, but people are basing their assumptions off of one 5-10 minute TV interview. Mark may be very knowledgeable with mechanical stuff. My grandfather only went to school until 8th grade (it was a different time then). But anybody who played him for dumb would be made a fool. He could fix just about anything mechanically and had a huge amount of practical knowledge of a lot of subjects. I've met people with little formal education (I have a bachelors degree and don't put much stock in formal education) that have a wealth of knowledge about things similar to those postulated about Mark Nichols (using Lye to dispose of a body). These people weren't criminals but based on their experiences, they had knowledge about such things.

Ultimately, I think Mark is guilty. But I've never thought him for a fool.

I've never understood why people think he is "dumb". I've heard people say the same thing about Michael Scott Martin. Syntax is not intelligence.

I think he is dumb because his story is ridiculous, as are many of his actions following his wife's disappearance. I agree that syntax is not intelligence and it is easy to judge people based on how they come across in a short interview.

In this case, what Mark says happened doesn't make sense nor do his actions after the fact. When he was able to tell the police in exact detail what his wife had taken with her, he showed his hand. I've been married for 20 years and if my wife took a suitcase and left, I could MAYBE notice a few things she took but no way would I be able to list all the contents. This was a major mistake by Mark.

He comes off as a bit aloof in his interview, but it's his actions that tell me as a criminal he is dumb. He is just lucky they could never find the smoking gun to put him away.

I think he is dumb because his story is ridiculous, as are many of his actions following his wife's disappearance. I agree that syntax is not intelligence and it is easy to judge people based on how they come across in a short interview.

In this case, what Mark says happened doesn't make sense nor do his actions after the fact. When he was able to tell the police in exact detail what his wife had taken with her, he showed his hand. I've been married for 20 years and if my wife took a suitcase and left, I could MAYBE notice a few things she took but no way would I be able to list all the contents. This was a major mistake by Mark.

He comes off as a bit aloof in his interview, but it's his actions that tell me as a criminal he is dumb. He is just lucky they could never find the smoking gun to put him away.
Absolutely. I give him a nod for being diabolical. I don’t mean that as a compliment. I understand where some are coming from when they say mark is smarter than he looks in the interview, but I agree with you here.

I'm trying to think of one...I know Paul Polis was mentioned. Like Mark, he tried to be brash and arrogant in his interview to compensate for something, but it came off very poor. by chance Paul or Mark are innocent, they really have a unique way of communicating that.

once again great work by CD, uncovered a lot of information that again points directly to Mark. It is very sad that Mark had so many enablers.

Thank you DALLASTEXAN...:) A great point about all the enablers. Three abusive marriages, everyone know and no one did anything. :(

I think he is dumb because his story is ridiculous, as are many of his actions following his wife's disappearance. I agree that syntax is not intelligence and it is easy to judge people based on how they come across in a short interview.

In this case, what Mark says happened doesn't make sense nor do his actions after the fact. When he was able to tell the police in exact detail what his wife had taken with her, he showed his hand. I've been married for 20 years and if my wife took a suitcase and left, I could MAYBE notice a few things she took but no way would I be able to list all the contents. This was a major mistake by Mark.

He comes off as a bit aloof in his interview, but it's his actions that tell me as a criminal he is dumb. He is just lucky they could never find the smoking gun to put him away.


Understood. I agree with the suitcase thing. It was like he laid out all the items, took an inventory of them, and then packed the suitcase before dumping it.

I just watched this last night, and obviously something bad happened to Christi before Mark arrived and paid the babysitter. I’m surprised there hasn’t been an update in all this time.

Here is my writeup on Christi's case.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/631752367223887/permalink/1277779169287867/

Mark came off as one of the DUMBEST people ever interviewed on UM and yet, somehow, they can NOT connect her murder to him. I wonder if he played stupid in the interview, in which case, the dude may just be an evil genius

I've never understood why people think he is "dumb". I've heard people say the same thing about Michael Scott Martin. Syntax is not intelligence. I'm not saying mark is Einstein, but people are basing their assumptions off of one 5-10 minute TV interview. Mark may be very knowledgeable with mechanical stuff. My grandfather only went to school until 8th grade (it was a different time then). But anybody who played him for dumb would be made a fool. He could fix just about anything mechanically and had a huge amount of practical knowledge of a lot of subjects. I've met people with little formal education (I have a bachelors degree and don't put much stock in formal education) that have a wealth of knowledge about things similar to those postulated about Mark Nichols (using Lye to dispose of a body). These people weren't criminals but based on their experiences, they had knowledge about such things.

Ultimately, I think Mark is guilty. But I've never thought him for a fool.

For 35 years he has outsmarted the police. That has to count for something. You can't be THAT dumb and orchestrate a murder like that where the person hasn't been found. A fool couldn't do this. It is possible Mark is not book smart, but I am betting he is street smart.

Thinking about this case again lately.

I've never thought Mark Nichols was clever. What I've come to realize over the many years I've been looking into Christi's disappearance is that Mark Nichols was connected. This is his father's obituary from ten years ago:

https://www.blasestrauser.com/obituaries/Loel-Nichols?obId=34336369

Loel was a city councilman. Mark's mother Verna, who passed about two years later, was an officer of some kind at the Gothenburg State Bank. In a small rural town, that's definitely a power couple. I think Mark was in an ideal situation to have disposed of Christi, who was young, had no connections to Gothenburg save her grandmother Violet, and would've been no match for a man from a prominent family in that community.

It makes you really angry to think about it.

With his parents dead, there's two less people to cover for Mark. If there influence in life is a non-factor, I would hope the case would be more solvable now, unless there are still people on Loel and Verna's side that are still in a position of power to hide the truth.

I'm still surprised that Christi's body hasn't surfaced in nearly 40 years. One hope is that she was buried as a Jane Doe somewhere and that her DNA is on file but hasn't been matched yet.

With his parents dead, there's two less people to cover for Mark. If there influence in life is a non-factor, I would hope the case would be more solvable now, unless there are still people on Loel and Verna's side that are still in a position of power to hide the truth.

I'm still surprised that Christi's body hasn't surfaced in nearly 40 years. One hope is that she was buried as a Jane Doe somewhere and that her DNA is on file but hasn't been matched yet.

I think the Gothenburg Police Department lost ground very early that might be impossible to regain. Any hope of bringing Mark Nichols to justice is going to come down to either his own confession to the crime or discovering Christi's remains. I don't think anything else is going to do it, unfortunately.

I've always strongly felt Christi is within 50 miles of where she disappeared. Probably much closer than that.

I just watched this segment today Mark being totally giddy at the thought of people wasting their time searching the dump for her body is definitely the tell.

I'm with you Megtheegg86 she's definitely nearby.

I just don't think it's going to happen after all this time. Christi has been missing for over 37 years. That alone means she'll probably never be found, and even if a bone or skeletal remains are discovered, my guess is they never be connected to this case absent an investigator who happens to have this case on his mind at or not long after the time the remains are discovered. What are the odds of that?
I'm one of the minority here who thinks that while Mark is guilty, there is also reasonable doubt. If he hasn't been tried yet in absence of the body, he never will be.

Mark has never been looked at as a suspect due to his family connections. He’s guilty as sin and stupid to boot.

I find it interesting that Mark’s parents apparently poured a concrete slab days after Christi vanished. Who knows who owns the land now but if I did, I’d gladly tear down a garage to search the dirt under it for a potential murder victim. I guess Mark had to have had friends in low places, because police purposely ignored a lot of evidence in this case including the blood on the floor. Mark is a serial domestic abuser and a loser.

Mark has never been looked at as a suspect due to his family connections. He’s guilty as sin and stupid to boot.

probably the dumbest husband murderer from the show. I always thought Monica Rizzo's husband came off as dumb and obviously guilty in his segment as well.

probably the dumbest husband murderer from the show. I always thought Monica Rizzo's husband came off as dumb and obviously guilty in his segment as well.

Couldn’t agree more. Just a couple minutes of listening to him talk and you have to wonder how anyone that dumb could get away with this. But bad police work is bad police work.

Couldn’t agree more. Just a couple minutes of listening to him talk and you have to wonder how anyone that dumb could get away with this. But bad police work is bad police work.

Bad police work and fear of reprisal. He's dumb but he's mean, and I bet you anything some people in that town are afraid of him.

Am I crazy or did the segment mention something about blood being found in Mark's trunk? I rewatched it yesterday and it wasn't mentioned at all. Was it edited out?

I believe I remember that.

Seems like most people in this thread are mostly basing Mark's guilt solely upon his "dumbness" or "smugness".

As for those saying "why don't they prosecute him anyway".....No face, no case.

Exactly. That alone leaves reasonable doubt in the eyes of the law.

I read somewhere that they did a DNA test on the blood found in Mark's vehicle and that it matched Christi.

I read somewhere that they did a DNA test on the blood found in Mark's vehicle and that it matched Christi.

Wasn't it said it was dried up old blood?

If a forensics team did a full sweep on one of my vehicles they would probably find blood from both myself and my wife. **** happens over the years...example - dogs scratch us getting in/out, etc

I can truly say that of all the cars my family has had over the years that none of us has ever left blood stains in the trunk of any of them.

Wasn't it said it was dried up old blood?

If a forensics team did a full sweep on one of my vehicles they would probably find blood from both myself and my wife. **** happens over the years...example - dogs scratch us getting in/out, etc

I could've sworn the UM segment said the amount of blood found was miniscule, but I never heard that the blood was definitively matched to Christi.

Seems like most people in this thread are mostly basing Mark's guilt solely upon his "dumbness" or "smugness".

As for those saying "why don't they prosecute him anyway".....No face, no case.

No, we're basing his guilt on the guy being a complete jerk and his actions after she died being 100 percent suspicious, and blood being found in his trunk. As someone else observed, blood is not something the average family leaves in their trunk, and for it to be found when the wife goes missing is a really bad look. Even if the blood was minuscule, it's still there and it's a red flag.

There is a reason cops look at the husband first.

I am as much in favor of "innocent until proven guilty" as anyone, but this guy has been shielded due to his family connections, which are also a bad look for the guy/ Look at the Murdaughs in South Carolina. Corrupt through and through.

Couldn’t agree more. Just a couple minutes of listening to him talk and you have to wonder how anyone that dumb could get away with this. But bad police work is bad police work.

Rewatching this segment again. Mark Nichols is one of the most punchable people ever to be interviewed on UM, plus his story just doesn't add up, and it sounded like everyone in town knew that he was abusing Christi.

There is always that doubt in me, "Can a guy this dumb get away with it?" That's what gives me at least a little bit of pause. There are husbands you feel are guilty. Don Sherman gives you that vibe as well, not so much because of any evidence, but more or less because he has this rare cool as a cucumber vibe about him, too cool if anything. But Nichols seems even more guilty. The problem is, I never thought Sherman was dumb, especially since Linda's skull was found in a place he frequents. So I really don't know what to make of that case. There is always the possibility she took off. At least a slim one. I just can't see this with Christi and Mark. Things don't add up.