Man Convicted of Killing Girlfriend — But Where Is the Baby Who Vanished After the Murder?

A Connecticut man accused of fatally bludgeoning his girlfriend in 2019 and cleaning up the crime scene has been found guilty of murder.

On Tuesday, April 22, Jose Morales, 48, of New Haven, was convicted of murder and tampering with evidence in connection with the death of Christine Holloway, 43, according to News 12 Connecticut.

As PEOPLE previously reported, Holloway was found dead on Dec. 2, 2019, in the bathtub of her home in Ansonia.

Her daughter with Jose Morales, Vanessa Morales, 1, was nowhere to be found, prompting authorities to issue an Amber Alert for her and put her picture on billboards across Connecticut.

Little Vanessa has never been found. 

Vanessa was last seen on Nov. 29, 2019 — two days before her mother was found dead of blunt force trauma, say police.

During the trial, Morales testified that two intruders broke into Holloway’s apartment on the night she was killed, the Associated Press reports. 

He said one of the intruders attacked Holloway with a crowbar, attacked him and kidnapped Vanessa. Morales said he was high on PCP at the time.

On Tuesday, the jury deliberated for less than two hours before reaching its verdict.

Morales closed his eyes when the jury foreman read the verdict in the trial that began on April 7, News 12 reports. 

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Holloway’s family linked arms and became emotional when they learned Morales was found guilty.

He faces 25 to 65 years in prison when he is sentenced on July 8, the AP reports.

Holloway’s family was relieved at the verdict, but say they are still searching for Vanessa, NBC Connecticut reports.

“Now that this portion of our lives is done, we now can focus more on bringing home Vanessa to us again,” Holloway’s sister-in-law Jodi Jacobellis said in a statement, NBC Connecticut reports. 

“Now that this portion of our lives is done, we now can focus more on bringing home Vanessa to us again. I know we never stopped looking for Vanessa.”

Authorities investigated Morales in Vanessa’s disappearance, but never charged him, News 12 reports.

Vanessa was one of the missing children featured in PEOPLE’s Vanished story that ran in the Feb. 5, 2024, issue.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children recently released an age-enhanced photo of Vanessa, NBC Connecticut reports. 

She is almost 6 years old.

Vanessa’s disappearance remains an active investigation. The Ansonia Police Department is asking anyone with information about Vanessa’s whereabouts to contact them.