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Pregnant 12 Y/O Vanishes

Did Celina Mays escape her dysfunctional family or did she run into foul play?

By Cat LeighPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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Photo by Josh Bean on Unsplash

Celina Mays was born on May 28, 1984, in Willingboro, New Jersey, to CJ Mays and Lynn Vitale. When the couple met, CJ had been a musician and Lynn an exotic dancer. Both of them had issues with alcohol and drugs. They had a problematic relationship and ended up separating. They went through a bitter custody battle in which Lynn was granted full custody of Celina.

After the separation, CJ moved in with some of his family members and began working as an accountant and bookkeeper for the Gospel of Christ Ministries, a Pentecostal congregation in Mount Holly for which his sister Cerita Smith was the pastor. CJ became a radical Christian resulting in Lynn not allowing him to see Celina.

Though Lynn had struggled with substance abuse issues, she was able to get clean and got a job as a school custodian. Meanwhile, Celina was doing well in school and had lots of friends. Sadly, Lynn died in 1994 of a brain aneurysm.

Lynn’s relatives fought for Celina’s custody, however, a judge granted CJ full custody of his daughter.

Now living with her father, his new wife, and his relatives, Celina was forced to abandon her school and her friends. CJ homeschooled her, focusing heavily on religious teachings, and drastically limited her social life.

Just before her 12th birthday, Celina discovered she was pregnant. According to those around her, she seemed excited to become a mother. She was very concerned for her fetus’ health, asking many questions, taking prenatal vitamins, and regularly going to the doctor.

Though she never revealed the father’s identity, there have been various theories:

  • One of the cousins Celina lived with, 21-year-old Sean Smith, had fathered seven children with a few different women. In 1998, he would be charged with aggravated assault towards two teenagers who attended the family’s church. He denies ever having had a sexual relationship with Celina.
  • A relative believed the father was someone Celina had met at a roller skating rink.
  • Celina’s obstetrician says she mentioned the father being 16-years-old and not a member of the church.
  • It has been suggested that CJ raped her. Nevertheless, her father claims he did not know who the baby’s father was and repeatedly threatened Celina with a paternity test if she didn’t tell him.

On December 13, 1996, Celina went to a doctor’s appointment. Her due date was approaching — December 29. Celina seemed like she was happy and the doctor told her everything was healthy with her and the baby.

On December 15, Celina and her family spent the evening at the church and then went home to have dinner. When Celina was done, she thanked her cousin for preparing the meal and went to bed at 11 PM.

The next morning, CJ went to wake up his daughter. However, Celina was gone. Tucked under her blanket were pillows to replicate the shape of a body. All of her belongings were still in her room.

Theories:

Murder

Due to Celina’s age, the father of the baby would have been charged with rape if identified. It has been suggested that whoever the father was killed Celina because her due date was approaching. She may have snuck out of the house to meet with him or he lived with her.

Abortion Gone Wrong

It has been proposed that Celina, either by her choice or not, sought an abortion. Most likely not done by a professional, she may have died from complications.

Her obstetrician has said she never asked about any termination options and maintained that she seemed very excited to become a mother.

Runaway

CJ and his sister Cerita believe Celina planned her disappearance.

In the late 1990’s, former members of the Gospel of Christ Ministries accused the congregation of brainwashing their members. Given that she was a pregnant 12-year-old, some people believe a former member helped her escape the church.

However, it has also been suggested that she ran away with the father of her baby. And according to some of CJ’s relatives, Celina is with her mother’s family.

Labor Gone Wrong

Due to Celina’s age, it has been theorized that she gave birth on the night of her disappearance, however, she and the baby died of complications. Though there is no evidence, it is possible that her family got rid of their bodies.

There have been several reported sightings of Celina, however, none of them have ever been confirmed.

Lynn had a life insurance policy worth $50k which Celina inherited when she turned 18— she has yet to claim it.

According to authorities, CJ, his relatives, and the church, were not helpful in the investigation. CJ died in April of 2019.

Celina Mays has been missing for 23 years. If alive, she is 35-years-old and her child 22-years-old.

...

Check out Cat Leigh's Medium publication for more true crime stories: True Crime by Cat Leigh.

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About the Creator

Cat Leigh

Visit my publication on Medium for more true crime cases.

❤️ You can support my work on Ko-fi.

💌 [email protected]

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