Police in Florida have identified a deceased convicted child sex offender as a new person of interest in the 1984 disappearance of 8-year-old Christy Luna, and are urging anyone who knew him to come forward with information.
Luna vanished on May 27, 1984, after leaving her Greenacres home to buy cat food at a general store less than two blocks away, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office. Despite an extensive search and decades of investigation, no one has ever been charged in connection with her disappearance.
At a recent news briefing, authorities said they are now focusing on Warren Gilbert Williams Jr., who was 46 at the time and died in prison in 2016, according to ABC News.
Detectives said an anonymous tip received last year reported that Williams had been remodeling a home near the general store the day Luna went missing, and left to buy cigarettes at the store, but never returned to the job.
Investigators also learned that Williams, who lived in what is now Lake Worth Beach, installed a concrete pad in his backyard about a week after Luna disappeared. With the consent of the current homeowners, investigators recently excavated the yard but reported that they did not find any evidence linked to the case, CW34 reported.
Authorities emphasized that there is currently no physical or testimonial evidence directly tying Williams to Luna's disappearance. However, they noted his criminal history, which includes convictions for sexual battery on a child under 12 and lewd and lascivious molestation, as well as a later prison term in Alabama for child sexual abuse.
Detectives said they are seeking more information about Williams' activities and associates around the time Luna went missing. They also stressed that previously named persons of interest have not been ruled out as the investigation continues.
Investigators urged anyone who knew Williams or has information about Luna's disappearance to contact the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, even if they have stayed silent for decades. An investigator said the priority remains finding out what happened to Luna, not questioning why witnesses may have waited to come forward, as per WBAL.
