By now everyone knows in great detail the story of Gabby Petito and have made general assumptions about what may have happened between her and fiance Brian Laundrie. But until this week and only due to very unusual circumstances did the public hear of missing Christina Nance who happens to be Black.

Found dead in police van

In Huntsville, AL, her family is heartbroken and demanding answers after 29-year-old Christina’s body was found inside an unused police evidence van. She had been missing for two weeks. She was found as an off-duty officer walked to his car parked nearby.

Body identified on Monday

On Monday, Nance’s body was identified. So far, no foul play is suspected. And now, it’s up to an autopsy report to determine exactly how Nance died.

Official police statement

“The official cause of death will be determined pending the completion of the autopsy and toxicology reports,” a police statement said. “The results of the toxicology analysis and other additional studies can take several months to complete, and they will be finalized by a state medical examiner.”

Who was Christina?

A local television station sat down with Christina’s family to learn more about what happened to her.

“She was just very positive, fun-loving and caring person, very sweet, very sweet,” said Christina’s sister, Whitney Nance.

”She was fun to be around, real sweet, innocent,” said Christina’s cousin, Amanda Mastin.

”We have no idea how she ended up there out of all places. Why there out of all places? Why there?” added Nance.

Frantically searching for two weeks

The family reported Christina missing about two weeks ago and has been frantically searching for her.

But we never heard the story

Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurry has said that surveillance video from a nearby building showed Nance “somewhat disoriented” and “alone” getting into the van. McMurray wouldn’t say what date the footage was taken. He did say Nance’s family would be able to see the footage today before it was released to the media.

Dead several days before found

McMurray said that Nance’s death occurred days before her body was found. It is still unclear exactly how long Nance was in the van before she died, according to local media.

Civil Rights attorney hired by family

Nance’s family has hired prolific civil rights attorney Ben Crump to help them.

“We will get to the truth of what happened to Christina Nance,” Crump said in a Twitter post.  “We lift up Christina’s family with prayer as they mourn this devastating loss.”

News coverage and race?

The loss of a young life no matter the color of the person’s skin is tragic.

And many may feel, as I do, that while the Petito case is unusual, it has been over-reported. The cases of 543,018 individuals reported missing in 2020 were virtually ignored. Forty percent of those missing people were people of color. Among the missing are 5,700 indigenous people. And between 2011 and 2021, nearly 700 indigenous women disappeared in the area where Gabby Petito was found.

Startling statistics

Of people who disappear, many return home on their own, some never are found and some are found dead. But news coverage should be fair and even. And let’s not be caught up in missing white woman syndrome.