Connecticut man Jose Morales convicted of brutal Christine Holloway murder, while baby Vanessa remains missing

Content warning: This article describes intimate partner violence with graphic descriptions of murder. Please take care while reading.

In a case that has gripped Connecticut for more than five years, a jury has convicted Jose Morales of the 2019 murder of his girlfriend, Christine Holloway. Despite the conviction, their daughter, Vanessa Morales, remains missing, and her community is desperate for answers.​

On December 2, 2019, police discovered the body of Christine Holloway, a 43-year-old daycare worker, in her Ansonia, Connecticut, home. She had suffered blunt force trauma to her head and torso. Her 14-month-old daughter, Vanessa, was missing from the scene. An Amber Alert was issued, but Vanessa has not been found since, according to the ​Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Jose Morales, Vanessa’s father, was arrested two months later and charged with Holloway’s murder and tampering with evidence. Morales pleaded not guilty.

The Morales evidence

BREAKING: Jose Morales found guilty of murder & tampering with evidence in the 2019 death of his girlfriend Christine Holloway. #WFSB pic.twitter.com/soDURhUoYW

— Matt McFarland (@MattMcFarland3) April 22, 2025

Investigators noted injuries on Morales, including abrasions and swelling, and recovered items with blood-like substances from donation bins, linking them to both Holloway and Morales, ​according to CNN.

Morales’ trial began in March 2025, following multiple delays. His defense argued that he was under the influence of PCP during the incident. The court allowed limited evidence regarding Vanessa’s disappearance, acknowledging its relevance to the case. ​

Meanwhile, Supervisory Assistant State’s Attorney Howard Stein stated at the trial that Morales struck Holloway multiple times in the head and torso with an instrument that left round-shaped marks approximately one inch in diameter, resulting in severe skull fractures and other blunt force injuries leading to her death.

At Morales’ trial, the prosecution did not publicly disclose a specific motive for the killing. However, State’s Attorney Stein argued that evidence concerning Vanessa’s disappearance is “connected and intertwined” with Holloway’s killing and is relevant to establishing Morales’s identity, intent, means, and opportunity.

He noted that Vanessa was “always with her mother, exclusively with her mother,” highlighting the significance of her absence following Holloway’s death.

The search continues

In 2020 video, detectives kept pressing Jose Morales, accused of murdering his wife in Ansonia, about why he didn’t seem to care his 1-year-old daughter, Vanessa, was missing.https://t.co/NqxUu6Ga0U pic.twitter.com/3v0lq4p4Vn

— The Valley Indy (@ValleyIndy) April 14, 2025

While Morales has not been charged in connection with Vanessa’s disappearance, authorities continue to investigate her case.​

The case has garnered significant attention on social media, with dedicated pages like “Finding Vanessa Morales” sharing updates and appeals for information. Law enforcement acknowledges the role of social media in keeping the case in the public eye.

A jury declared Morales guilty of Holloway’s murder and tampering with evidence on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, after approximately four hours of deliberation.

Authorities urge anyone with information about Vanessa’s disappearance to contact the FBI New Haven Hotline at (203) 503-5555 or the Ansonia Police Department at (203) 735-1885.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse, or if you believe someone you know is being abused, contact The National Domestic Violence Hotline. The hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-SAFE or spoken with online via the hotline’s website. Mobile phone owners can also text “START” to the number 88788