New person of interest identified over 40 years after 8-year-old girl went missing

Authorities in Florida say they have identified a new person of interest in the cold case of Christy Luna, who disappeared in 1984 at the age of 8.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:43am

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Christy Luna went missing in 1984 at the age of 8 in Greenacres, Florida. Authorities have now identified a new person of interest in the cold case - Warren Gilbert Williams Jr., a convicted child sex offender who died in 2016. Investigators say they received an anonymous tip that Williams was remodeling a home near the general store where Christy was last seen, and that he left to buy cigarettes and never returned. Authorities searched Williams' former property but found nothing. They are now urging anyone with information about Williams or the case to come forward.

Why it matters

Christy Luna's disappearance has remained an unsolved mystery for over 40 years, leaving her family and the community searching for answers. The identification of a new person of interest, even decades later, offers a potential breakthrough in the cold case and could provide closure for Christy's loved ones.

The details

Christy Luna went missing on May 27, 1984, while going to a general store less than two blocks from her home in Greenacres, Florida to buy cat food. A massive search at the time did not turn up any leads. Over the years, authorities have named several persons of interest, but no one has been charged. Now, they are looking into Warren Gilbert Williams Jr., a convicted child sex offender who died in 2016. Investigators say they received an anonymous tip that Williams was remodeling a home near the general store the day Christy went missing, and that he left to buy cigarettes and never returned. Williams had a 'peculiar past of sexual activity with children' and was convicted of sexual battery on a child under 12 and lewd and lascivious molestation. Authorities searched Williams' former property but found nothing.

  • Christy Luna went missing on May 27, 1984.
  • Authorities received an anonymous tip about Williams last year.
  • Authorities searched Williams' former property last month.

The players

Christy Luna

An 8-year-old girl who went missing in 1984 in Greenacres, Florida.

Warren Gilbert Williams Jr.

A convicted child sex offender who died in 2016 and is now a new person of interest in Christy Luna's disappearance.

Sgt. Chris Karpinski

With the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's cold case unit.

Bill Springer

An investigator who has been investigating Christy Luna's disappearance since the sheriff's office assumed the case in 1984.

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What they’re saying

“We want to learn more about him. I know it's a long time ago. People, friends, neighbors, witnesses that day who think maybe they saw him, please come forward.”

— Sgt. Chris Karpinski, With the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office's cold case unit

“I want people to come forward. I'm not going to question why you didn't come forward, because I don't care. My job is to find Christy, not to judge people because they didn't come forward. So if you've got information and you've been sitting on it for 30 years, 40 years, I don't care. Bring it out and we'll look at it, see what we can do with it.”

— Bill Springer, Investigator

What’s next

Authorities are continuing to investigate Warren Gilbert Williams Jr. as a person of interest and are urging anyone with information about him or the case to come forward, even decades later.

The takeaway

The identification of a new person of interest in Christy Luna's decades-old disappearance case demonstrates the persistence of law enforcement in solving cold cases and the importance of the public coming forward with any information, no matter how much time has passed, in order to provide closure for victims' families.