ShawnAlert For Missing Children in IL/MO


CHRISTIAN FERGUSON Case
CHRISTIAN FERGUSON Age Progression 
Case Type: Non Family Abduction  
DOB: Oct 9, 1993 Sex: Male
Missing Date: Jun 11, 2003 Race: Black
Age Now: 13 Height:  4'0" (122 cm)
Missing City: SAINT LOUIS Weight:  75 lbs (34 kg)
Missing State : MO Hair Color: Black
Missing Country: United States Eye Color: Brown
Case Number: NCMC964942
Circumstances: Both of the photos shown are of the child. Christian was age-progressed to 13 years. He was in a relative's vehicle at approximately 6:30 a.m. on June 11, 2003 when it was stolen. The vehicle has since been recovered but the child's whereabouts remain unknown. The child has a medical condition which requires daily medication that is not with him. He was last seen wearing only a diaper and was wrapped in a multicolored blanket.


Task force formed for missing boy cold case

By Bill Bryan
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/07/2007

ST. LOUIS — It's been nearly four years since Christian Ferguson, a 9-year-old boy with severe disabilities, vanished under mysterious and suspicious circumstances. The boy's father, Dawan Ferguston, reported that his son was taken by a car thief — a story that neither police nor the boy's maternal relatives accepted.

Unofficially, Christian is presumed dead, but authorities have been unable to find a body.

Although St. Louis police, with an assist from the FBI, worked diligently, clues evaporated, leads eventually ran out and the case went cold.

With the case stagnant, St. Louis Police Chief Joe Mokwa and the FBI have decided to energize the investigation by creating a five-member task force whose sole duty will be Christian's case. The team, which began its work last week and will run indefinitely, consists of a sergeant and two detectives from the Police Department plus two FBI agents.

"The department has devoted a lot of manpower to locating Christian," Mokwa said. "We must continue to do everything in our power to bring

resolution to this case for the family and the St. Louis community.

"It is my hope that the task force will generate new leads and public interest that will ultimately solve the case."

Christian's mother, Theda Thomas, has been an outspoken proponent of keeping her son's disappearance in the public eye and keeping the case alive. She said Sunday she was encouraged by Mokwa's formation of the task force.

"Something like this happening to a deserving case is a great thing," she said.

She said she hopes Christian's body can be recovered so that he can have a proper funeral and burial.

"We're also hoping that the person who is responsible will be held accountable," she said. "We don't believe the father's story, and we want justice to be served."

Shortly after 6 a.m. on June 11, 2003, Dawan Ferguson, who had legal custody of Christian, dialed 911 from a pay phone at Skinker and Page boulevards and said someone had taken his SUV while he had stopped to make a call there. He said his son, Christian, who suffered a severe metabolic disorder that required constant care and medication, was inside the vehicle.

Police located the vehicle in Ferguson two hours later, but no sign of the boy was ever found. Volunteers have scoured various areas without finding a clue.

Within hours of reporting the crime, Dawan Ferguson stopped talking to St. Louis police, asked for a lawyer and ended all cooperation with investigators. He has refused to talk with them since. He has also said through a lawyer that he will not discuss the case.

Police have been skeptical about Dawan Ferguson's story for many reasons, including:

— Ferguson said he stopped to make a call at a pay phone even though he had a cell phone with him.

— A resident of the street in Ferguson where the SUV was found told police it had been parked there for hours — ostensibly at the time Dawan Ferguson was using the pay phone miles away.

— A TV news tape revealed that a car belonging to a close friend of Ferguson's was parked near the pay phone at Skinker and Page shortly after the 911 call. That friend lives several blocks from where the SUV was recovered.

No criminal charges involving Christian's disappearance have been filed. In an unrelated matter, Ferguson pleaded guilty of defrauding a financial institution and on three counts of misuse of a Social Security number in the purchase of an SUV. He got a loan by forging his elderly grandmother's name. He was sentenced to eight months in prison and was released early last year.

Anyone with information about Christian's disappearance is asked to call 314-444-2930, or the CrimeStoppers at 1-866-371-8477.

Events planned

Two events to commemorate Christian around the time of the anniversary of his disappearance will be held next month, Theda Thomas said.

— On June 9, a family-oriented parade will march from Mark Twain Elementary School, 5316 Ruskin Avenue, to Lexington Elementary School, 3130 Norwood Avenue. That event, which is free, runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will feature arts, crafts and children's activities.

— On June 10, a benefit reception will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Monsanto Family YMCA, 5555 Page Boulevard. The cost is $25.

bbryan@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8950


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