Timeline: Events leading up to Christina Nance being found dead in an unused HPD van
Christina Nance's family reported her missing on October 2. On October 7, she was found dead in the back of a Huntsville police van.
On October 7, a Huntsville police officer found 29-year-old Christina Nance dead in an unused police van. Here's what we know so far.
September 25 Surveillance Video Shows Person In Police Lot
Surveillance video from the lot the van was parked in on Saturday, September 25, shows a person walking around the lot, leaning on a police car and going behind the van Nance's body was later found in. The Huntsville Police Department (HPD) claims the person in the video is Nance. Although the surveillance video is time-stamped as September 26, per HPD, the timestamp is 12 hours off.
They say security video shows that Nance entered the unlocked police van through its rear door.
HPD purchased the van in 1995 when it was used to transport inmates until it was repurposed in the early 2000s. HPD says the van was last used to transport evidence in March 2021.
September 28 HPD Says Surveillance Video Shows Movement in the Van
HPD says the surveillance video, which is from an unmonitored city camera, shows movement in the van through Tuesday, September 28. They say the video shows windows in the van going up and down.
October 2 Family Reports Nance Missing
On October 2, Nance's family reported her missing.
October 7 HPD Officer Finds Nance's Body
A Huntsville police officer on October 7 discovered Nance's body after they noticed shoes that were left outside the van.
October 12 Madison County Coroner Announces No Signs of Foul Play
The Madison County Coroner on October 12 announced that an autopsy showed no signs of foul play or trauma in Nance's death. Police say the official cause of death will be determined by the state medical examiner once additional studies, including toxicology, are completed.
October 15 HPD Releases Surveillance Video From September 26
On October 15, the Huntsville Police Department released the surveillance video taken on September 26 of the police lot the van was parked in.