The Murder of Christie Lynn Mullins: The Secret That Took 40 Years to Surface

In August 1975, 14-year-old Christie Lynn Mullins walked behind the Graceland Shopping Center in Columbus, Ohio—and never returned. Hours later, she was found murdered in a wooded patch just steps from dozens of shoppers. What followed became one of Ohio’s most troubling investigations: a rushed arrest, a coerced confession, and decades of unanswered questions. Nearly forty years later, a family secret finally exposed the real killer. This episode uncovers the missteps, the hidden truth, and how a cold case was finally closed after generations of silence.

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People Magazine – Keil, J. (2023, September 23). Man confessed to teen’s 1975 murder, but niece held his secret for decades. People. https://people.com/

The Columbus Dispatch – Ferenchik, M. (2023). Archival reporting on the Christie Mullins homicide investigation. The Columbus Dispatch. https://dispatch.com/

The Lantern – Baird, M. (2025). The Christie Mullins murder case: 50 years later. The Lantern (Ohio State University). https://www.thelantern.com/

Arlingtonian – Staff Report. (2011). Who was Christie Mullins? Arlingtonian News. https://arlingtonian.com/