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WILLINGBORO, N.J. (BFMG) – On Dec. 16, 1996, 12-year-old Celina Mays disappeared from her family’s home in Willingboro, N.J., leaving behind only a neatly arranged bed of pillows. Celina, nine months pregnant at the time, was last seen at 11 p.m. that night. Her father, “C.J.” Mays, reported her missing, launching a search that has yet to yield any answers. Now, 27 years later, her younger stepsister, Nori Mays, is committed to reigniting interest in the case.
Nori Mays, who was just four years old when Celina vanished, recalls the impact her sister’s disappearance had on their family. Shielded from the chaos as a toddler, Nori is now 32 and driven to uncover the truth about her sister’s fate. With Celina’s 40th birthday on May 21, Nori hopes to draw renewed attention to the case.
“I know crime shows and crime junkies want to know everything about my sister’s case, but you have to realize there is a broken family behind those stories,” Nori said. “It’s not just that Celina Mays went missing in 1996. There’s a family that’s been forever changed. I’m asking for a bit of grace here.”
On the morning of her sister’s disappearance, Nori recalls being sent to wake up Celina, only to find an empty bed. “I pulled the covers back and all I saw were pillows,” Nori said. “Little did I know from that moment on my family’s life journey would be altered forever.”
Celina, who was nine months pregnant, was last seen following a family church service. The Mays family was heavily involved in the Gospel of Christ Ministries, a church run by Celina’s aunt, Cerita Smith. The church’s teachings, and the strict influence of Smith, led some to speculate about the role it may have played in Celina’s disappearance. According to Nori, Smith held sway over many aspects of her family’s life, even influencing marriages and parenting decisions.
Nori believes her father, who has since died, wasn’t treated fairly by investigators and media at the time. She urges the public to consider the personal toll the case has had on her family. “These are things that not everyone knows. I wish more people would ask questions rather than just post speculative comments on Facebook,” she said.
Today, Detective Monica Pogorzelski of the Willingboro Police Department oversees the case. “We remain hopeful that Celina and her child may be alive,” Pogorzelski said. “After 27 years, the case is still an open investigation. We will not give up in our search, and we hope to one day give Celina’s family the answers they deserve.”
As new information and leads come to light, Nori continues to seek closure and justice for her sister. The church where Celina’s family worshipped is now an abandoned building, yet investigators still want to hear from anyone who attended or worked there and may have additional details.
Timeline of the Disappearance
- Dec. 15, 1996: Celina attended church with her family and went to bed around 11 p.m.
- Dec. 16, 1996: Nori discovered Celina missing, with only a neatly arranged bed of pillows left behind.
- Late 1990s: The Gospel of Christ Ministries in Mount Holly, NJ, became a focus in the investigation. Former members suggested a cult-like atmosphere.
- Today: Authorities continue to investigate the case and hope for new leads. Celina would be 40 years old today, and her child would be 27.
Seeking Information
Police have yet to identify the father of Celina’s child, though family members have suggested the father could have been a 16-year-old boy. Over the years, various theories have circulated, including a story that Celina’s biological mother may have arranged for her escape.
Celina’s family has ties to New Jersey, Michigan, and Florida, and police are interested in speaking with anyone who knew her family during her time in the church. Pastor Cerita Smith has since passed away, but the investigation remains active, with police and family members still searching for answers.
Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to contact the Willingboro Police Department or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
