Overview

Last Seen: February 16, 1987
Location: Burlington, Racine County, Wisconsin
Age: 19
Status: Missing under suspicious circumstances; foul play suspected
NamUs: MP20595

Main circumstances: Winkler was reportedly frightened or upset shortly before disappearing and was said to have been followed by a black truck. He had been implicated in a restaurant burglary approximately two months earlier. A similar black truck was reportedly associated with two other people connected with that burglary. Winkler subsequently vanished, and no remains have been recovered. Authorities and family members have expressed the belief that he may have been killed, but no homicide has been publicly established and the disappearance remains unsolved.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Christopher James Winkler: The Unsolved 1987 Disappearance from Burlington, Wisconsin

Christopher James “Chris” Winkler was 19 years old when he disappeared from Burlington, Wisconsin, on February 16, 1987. Nearly four decades later, his whereabouts remain unknown, and authorities continue to classify him as a missing person who disappeared under suspicious circumstances.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice continues to maintain an active missing-person listing for Winkler, while his case is also recorded in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under NamUs MP20595.

The Night Christopher Winkler Disappeared

On the evening of February 16, 1987, Winkler reportedly went to a friend’s home in Burlington. His friend was not there, and the friend’s grandfather answered the door.

Accounts of the encounter indicate that Winkler appeared frightened or upset. He was reportedly concerned about a black truck that appeared to be following him. After being told to leave the residence, Winkler disappeared and has never been heard from again.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice does not include all of these details in its current public case summary, but confirms that Winkler disappeared from Burlington on February 16, 1987, under suspicious circumstances.

A Burglary Before His Disappearance

The events surrounding Winkler’s disappearance have long drawn attention because of a burglary that occurred only a few months earlier.

On December 1, 1986, Winkler and three other local men were accused of participating in a burglary at the Auctioneer’s Inn, a restaurant on Sheard Road in Dover, Wisconsin. Winkler had previously performed maintenance work at the restaurant. More than $3,500 worth of property was reportedly stolen.

Over the years, rumors circulated that the restaurant was associated with drug activity involving motorcycle gangs and that drugs may have been taken during the burglary. Those allegations have never been publicly substantiated, and they should not be treated as established facts.

The other men eventually pleaded guilty to their roles in the burglary and received relatively minor sentences. The charges against Winkler were later dropped after the statute of limitations expired. Whether the burglary had anything to do with his disappearance has never been established.

The Black Truck and Other Unanswered Questions

One of the most frequently repeated details in Winkler’s case concerns a black truck.

According to published case summaries, two of the men connected to the earlier burglary owned a black truck resembling the vehicle reportedly seen following Winkler on the night he vanished. That truck was reportedly no longer around sometime afterward.

Winkler’s belongings were also reportedly gone from the residence where he had been staying. Published accounts state that his roommates would not provide his family with an explanation of what had happened or where he had gone.

These circumstances have generated numerous theories over the years, but no publicly identified person has been established as responsible for Winkler’s disappearance.

Family Believes Christopher Was Killed

Winkler’s family has long believed that he did not voluntarily disappear.

His mother eventually reported him missing approximately a month and a half after he was last seen. Family members maintained that abruptly abandoning his life would have been inconsistent with his behavior and his close relationship with his family.

Years later, his family held funeral services for him even though his remains had never been recovered.

Law-enforcement investigators have also publicly expressed the belief that Winkler may have been killed. However, investigators have historically emphasized an important distinction: suspicion of foul play is not the same as evidence establishing a homicide. Published law-enforcement comments stated that investigators believed he had been killed but lacked evidence proving that a crime had occurred.

For that reason, Winkler should still be described as a missing person whose disappearance is considered suspicious, rather than as a confirmed homicide victim.

Christopher Winkler’s Description

Winkler was 19 when he disappeared. He had brown hair and blue eyes and stood approximately 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 2 inches tall. He weighed approximately 190 to 220 pounds.

A distinguishing feature was an approximately two-inch scar above one knee. Clothing descriptions include blue jeans, brown work boots or shoes and a gray jacket that may have been leather. Another reported possibility is that he wore a flannel shirt over a thermal shirt.

Latest Publicly Available Investigation Information

As of September 2026, Christopher Winkler’s disappearance remains publicly listed as unresolved.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Clearinghouse for Missing & Exploited Children & Adults continues to maintain his case as an active missing-adult case. Its current listing identifies Burlington, Wisconsin, as his last known location and states that he disappeared under suspicious circumstances. The state directs anyone with information to the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.

The current Wisconsin missing-person poster also states that foul play is suspected and identifies the case as NamUs MP20595.

A review of publicly accessible sources did not locate a later law-enforcement announcement identifying a suspect, reporting an arrest, recovering Winkler’s remains or announcing that the case had been solved. Public case databases therefore continue to describe his disappearance as unresolved.

One more recent public case compilation, updated in October 2024, likewise continued to list Winkler as missing and referenced NamUs MP20595.

Anyone with information—even information that may have seemed insignificant decades ago—should provide it directly to law enforcement rather than attempting to investigate or confront anyone independently.

Very Brief Case Summary

Last Seen: February 16, 1987
Location: Burlington, Racine County, Wisconsin
Age: 19
Status: Missing under suspicious circumstances; foul play suspected
NamUs: MP20595

Main circumstances: Winkler was reportedly frightened or upset shortly before disappearing and was said to have been followed by a black truck. He had been implicated in a restaurant burglary approximately two months earlier. A similar black truck was reportedly associated with two other people connected with that burglary. Winkler subsequently vanished, and no remains have been recovered. Authorities and family members have expressed the belief that he may have been killed, but no homicide has been publicly established and the disappearance remains unsolved.