16 year old China Videon was last seen in Christiana, Tennessee on October 19, 1999. She disappeared while out on a trip to get groceries and gas.
Background
China Videon was born on November 30, 1982 and lived on U.S. Highway 231 in Christiana, Tennessee.
She was a junior at Riverdale High School and worked at the Bi-Lo grocery store (now Publix), located on the corner of South Rutherford Boulevard and Southeast Broad Street in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Shortly before her disappearance, she purchased a 1999 Mazda Protege car with tinted windows and TN plate # 784PGX. She did not have a cell phone, but did own a pager and would always get in touch with her mother as soon as she was paged.
According to her mother she had no problems at home, and would always tell her where she would be.
Disappearance
On October 19, 1999, China Videon picked up her paycheck after working a shift the Bi-Lo Grocery store located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
That evening, China took her 1999 Maza Protege out to get groceries and gas. She was last seen visiting her mother at the Just Image beauty salon, located in the Jackson Heights Plaza in her hometown of Christiana, Tennessee.
China hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Her mother reported her missing to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department after she failed to return home. Due to department policy, the search for China didn’t begin for 48 hours.
Investigation
Authorities initially believed China left on her own with an adult male, however foul play is now suspected. Police initially stated she had been seen in the home of two men who worked as managers with her at the Bi-Lo grocery store, however this has not been confirmed.
One early report said that China was last seen at the Golden Gallon convenience store located at 2610 South Church Street, however, by the time investigators went to review the surveillance footage it had already been recorded over.
China’s mother Suzanne reached out to the Center for Missing and Exploited Children for help, and began working with them to distribute flyers with her daughter’s face.
In June of 2000, China’s car was found abandoned at an apartment complex off Harding Road in Nashville, Tennessee. The car looked like it had been there since she disappeared. The groceries China purchased on the day of her disappearance were found inside, as well as some of her personal belongings.
The car was processed for evidence in Nashville, but police weren’t able to find any fingerprints or signs of a struggle inside.
In 2015, authorities announced that they believed China had been murdered. They said they had two suspects in her case, known only as TJ and Chris.
TJ had been living in Goose Creek, South Carolina for over a decade, and worked on James Island. Chris lived in Alabama. Investigators said an arrest was “imminent,” however no arrests have ever been made in connection with her disappearance.
Whereabouts
The location of China Videon, as well as the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, remains unknown. Her case is classified as endangered missing and remains unsolved.
Appearance
White female born on November 30, 1982. China has brown hair, blue eyes, stands 5’3 tall, and weighs 120 pounds. Her ears and belly button are pierced.
She has a tattoo of a blue butterfly with yellow and pink highlights on her right hip and a scar on her right knee.
Clothing & Accessories:
China was last seen wearing a white shirt, denim overalls, silver watch, and a horseshoe navel ring with three purple balls.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of China Videon please contact the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office at (615) 898-7770.
