In September 1994, Christine and John Grega took a family trip to Vermont hoping to rekindle their struggling marriage. What was meant to be a healing getaway turned into a devastating tragedy. By the end of that weekend, 31-year-old Christine Grega was dead—brutally murdered in their ski condo in Dover, Vermont. More than three decades later, her death remains shrouded in unanswered questions, controversy, and sorrow.
Despite the violence of her death and a criminal case that spanned years, Christine’s name does not appear on the Vermont State Police list of unsolved homicides. Yet, for many, her case is anything but resolved.
The Night of the Murder
On the night of September 12, 1994, a couple staying at the Timber Creek Condominium complex were startled by frantic knocking at their door. A man, later identified as John Grega, was yelling that his wife had fallen in the tub and that his young son was asleep in their car. Cautiously, the couple asked him to bring the child to verify his identity. Once he did, they called 9-1-1.
Emergency services were dispatched at 8:30 p.m. The first officer arrived within six minutes and found a harrowing scene: John Grega sobbing over Christine’s naked and unresponsive body on the bathroom floor. The room was heated, but her body was icy cold—her skin described as “purplish, bluish, gray.”
Rather than begin CPR, the officer immediately reported a fatality to dispatch. An EMT arrived minutes later and, despite Christine’s condition, thought he detected a pulse. They began CPR, during which large amounts of water and vomit were expelled from Christine’s mouth. CPR was briefly halted due to difficulty establishing an airway, and when a more senior EMT arrived, he was alarmed to find that no one was continuing life-saving measures. He took over, and efforts resumed.
Christine was moved to an ambulance and a regional medical examiner joined en route, continuing CPR without success. At 9:10 p.m., Christine was pronounced dead.
The Evidence of a Violent Death
While John Grega claimed Christine had fallen in the tub, the evidence told a different story.
The autopsy revealed a horrifying series of injuries:
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Blunt force trauma to the head, face, and body
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Broken ribs
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Bruises and abrasions
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Severe neck injuries, including a fractured hyoid bone
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Evidence of strangulation and asphyxiation as the official cause of death
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Signs of sexual assault, with severe vaginal and rectal trauma
Although initially missed, the fractured hyoid was later identified by a state forensic expert. Disturbingly, the police later “lost track” of Christine’s larynx and hyoid bone—crucial forensic evidence in a case of strangulation.
The brutality of Christine’s death shocked first responders and medical personnel. There was no question she had been murdered. The only question was—by whom?
John Grega: Husband, Father, Suspect
John and Christine Grega’s relationship began in the early 1980s at St. John’s University in Queens, New York. They married in 1985 and eventually settled back on Long Island, where John joined his brother in the family window-cleaning business. After struggling with infertility, the couple celebrated the birth of their son in 1992.
By 1994, they appeared to have built a stable, happy life—at least outwardly. They were preparing to buy a bigger home and had careers they seemed to enjoy. But internally, their marriage was strained again. They’d recently experienced another pregnancy loss and were considering divorce.
The Vermont vacation was meant to help them reconnect. Instead, it ended in horror.
John told police conflicting details about the hours leading up to Christine’s death. His account was vague and inconsistent, and it did not align with the medical findings. Prosecutors believed he was hiding something—and that he was the one who killed her.
The Legal Battle: Conviction, Exoneration, and Lingering Doubts
In 1995, John Grega was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors argued that he brutally attacked his wife, possibly in a fit of rage over their relationship struggles or an argument that turned violent. The jury convicted him, and he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
However, nearly two decades later, new DNA testing on evidence recovered from Christine’s body showed the presence of male DNA that did not match John Grega. In light of this, his conviction was overturned in 2012, and he was released from prison.
John Grega then filed a wrongful conviction lawsuit against the state of Vermont, alleging mishandling of evidence and a flawed investigation. The case dragged on for years. Tragically, in 2015, just three years after his release, John Grega died in a car crash in Florida.
To this day, no one else has been charged in connection with Christine Grega’s death.
The Unresolved Questions
Despite the DNA evidence that cast doubt on John Grega’s guilt, many questions remain:
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Who did the unknown male DNA belong to?
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Why was Christine sexually assaulted so violently?
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What happened in the hours before her death?
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Why were key pieces of forensic evidence—like the hyoid bone—lost?
For Christine’s family, justice has never been served. The public still doesn’t know who murdered her—or why.
A Case Lost in Time
One of the most troubling aspects of Christine Grega’s case is that it is no longer listed among Vermont’s official unsolved homicides. Given the brutality of her death and the lack of resolution after decades, it is baffling that her case doesn’t appear in a public database of cold cases.
Anyone with information about the murder of Christine Grega is encouraged to contact Vermont authorities. Tips can be submitted anonymously by texting VTIPS to 274637 (CRIMES) or through the official tip form.
Final Thoughts
The murder of Christine Grega remains one of Vermont’s most disturbing unsolved cases. It’s a story of a family in crisis, a violent and painful death, and a justice system that still has no answers after more than 30 years.
Her name deserves to be remembered. Her case deserves to be solved. And someone out there knows the truth.
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