The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s detectives say they may be closing in on new answers in one of the county’s most heartbreaking cold cases.Investigators plan to announce a new person of interest Wednesday in the disappearance of 8-year-old Christy Luna, who vanished from Greenacres more than four decades ago.Luna was last seen on May 27, 1984, walking home from a neighborhood convenience store after buying cat food on a Sunday afternoon. Despite massive searches and years of investigation, she was never found.The case has haunted the community for 41 years.Cold case Detective Bill Springer, who has spent years working the investigation, said the person responsible for Luna’s disappearance has evaded justice for decades.“There’s a special place in hell for the guy who did it,” Springer said last year. “And there’s another place in hell for the person who knows about it and doesn’t come forward.”Luna’s mother, Jennie Johnson, has never stopped hoping for answers.Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News“In the back of my mind, I hope a couple took her,” Johnson said. “That’s how I cope. In the back of my mind, I try not to think the worst because it’s too hard to deal with.”Springer said his team has pursued every tip and every lead in the decades-old case.Last year, investigators focused on a possible lead involving a convicted sex offender in Michigan whose parole officer contacted detectives after finding Luna’s photo on the man’s phone.The man was identified as Jerry Alex Grof, though investigators said he also used the name Jerry Bailey.Springer traveled to Michigan to interview him. The man claimed he had seen Luna’s photo on the dark web.But investigators were unable to place him in the Greenacres area at the time Luna disappeared.“That’s why I say if somebody remembers the Bailey family being in Greenacres back in the day, I would like to talk to them,” Springer said.Now, detectives say they are preparing to reveal another person of interest in the case.Authorities have not yet released the person’s name or explained what evidence led them to the new development.The sheriff’s office is expected to provide more details during a public announcement Wednesday.Investigative reporter Terri Parker will be there and will bring the latest developments as detectives reveal who they are now focusing on in the decades-old mystery.Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
GREENACRES, Fla. —
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office’s detectives say they may be closing in on new answers in one of the county’s most heartbreaking cold cases.
Investigators plan to announce a new person of interest Wednesday in the disappearance of 8-year-old Christy Luna, who vanished from Greenacres more than four decades ago.
Luna was last seen on May 27, 1984, walking home from a neighborhood convenience store after buying cat food on a Sunday afternoon. Despite massive searches and years of investigation, she was never found.
The case has haunted the community for 41 years.
Cold case Detective Bill Springer, who has spent years working the investigation, said the person responsible for Luna’s disappearance has evaded justice for decades.
“There’s a special place in hell for the guy who did it,” Springer said last year. “And there’s another place in hell for the person who knows about it and doesn’t come forward.”
Luna’s mother, Jennie Johnson, has never stopped hoping for answers.
Your neighborhood: Local coverage from WPBF 25 News
“In the back of my mind, I hope a couple took her,” Johnson said. “That’s how I cope. In the back of my mind, I try not to think the worst because it’s too hard to deal with.”
Springer said his team has pursued every tip and every lead in the decades-old case.
Last year, investigators focused on a possible lead involving a convicted sex offender in Michigan whose parole officer contacted detectives after finding Luna’s photo on the man’s phone.
The man was identified as Jerry Alex Grof, though investigators said he also used the name Jerry Bailey.
Springer traveled to Michigan to interview him. The man claimed he had seen Luna’s photo on the dark web.
But investigators were unable to place him in the Greenacres area at the time Luna disappeared.
“That’s why I say if somebody remembers the Bailey family being in Greenacres back in the day, I would like to talk to them,” Springer said.
Now, detectives say they are preparing to reveal another person of interest in the case.
Authorities have not yet released the person’s name or explained what evidence led them to the new development.
The sheriff’s office is expected to provide more details during a public announcement Wednesday.
Investigative reporter Terri Parker will be there and will bring the latest developments as detectives reveal who they are now focusing on in the decades-old mystery.
Get the latest news updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.