Isabel Celis was a six-year-old girl who disappeared from her bedroom in Tucson, Arizona, in April 2012. Her case attracted national attention and sparked one of the largest searches for a missing child in Arizona’s history. Five years later, in March 2017, her remains were found in a remote desert area near Tucson. But how did she die? And who is responsible for her murder?
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The Disappearance of Isabel Celis
Isabel was last seen by her family on Friday, April 20, 2012, when she went to bed around 11 p.m. The next morning, her father discovered that she was missing from her bed and called 911. Her mother had left for work an hour earlier. Police found a broken screen in her bedroom window, suggesting that she was kidnapped by someone who entered through the window. More than 100 law enforcement officials, including FBI and U.S. Marshals, joined the search for Isabel, but no trace of her was found. Her parents kept up hope that she would return, buying her Christmas presents and fixing up her room. But their daughter never came back.
The Discovery of Isabel Celis’ Remains
Five years after her disappearance, there was a break in the case. In March 2017, police received a tip from a man named Christopher Clements, who was in jail for unrelated charges. Clements told his former girlfriend to go to their front yard and dig up a plastic bag with a piece of paper in it. On the paper, the name Isabel Celis was written. He also told her to call the FBI with that information. The FBI contacted Clements, who offered to lead them to Isabel’s remains in exchange for dropping his charges and releasing his impounded vehicle. They agreed, and Clements led them to a remote desert area in Marana, north of Tucson, where they found bones that were later confirmed to be Isabel’s by DNA analysis.
The Cause of Death of Isabel Celis
According to the autopsy report, Isabel’s death was ruled as a homicide by unspecified means. The report stated that only a portion of her skull was recovered, and that she suffered a fractured vertebrae at or near the time of death. The fracture would have likely caused some internal bleeding and inflammation, but the exact cause and manner of death could not be determined due to the condition of the remains. The report also noted that there was no evidence of sexual assault or abuse.
The Trial of Christopher Clements
Christopher Clements, 41, was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and burglary in connection with Isabel’s death. He was also charged with the murder of another girl, Maribel Gonzales, 13, who disappeared in 2014 and whose remains were found near Isabel’s. Clements pleaded not guilty to all charges and claimed that he was innocent. His trial began in February 2023 and lasted for several weeks. The prosecution presented evidence that linked Clements to Isabel’s family, such as phone records that showed he made multiple calls to their home months before her disappearance, and cellphone data that placed him near the area where her remains were found hours after she vanished. They also presented testimony from his former girlfriends, who said he had a habit of driving around neighborhoods looking for cars to buy and sell, especially Hondas and Acuras. The Celis family owned a non-working Acura parked outside their house. The defense argued that knowing about a crime is not illegal, and that there were many ways Clements could have learned about Isabel’s location without being involved in her murder. They also questioned the credibility of the witnesses and the validity of the evidence. The jury deliberated for two days before reaching a verdict. On March 3, 2023, they found Clements guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
