ANSONIA – More than five years after Christine Holloway was found dead in her Myrtle Avenue home, the man accused of her murder is scheduled to go on trial on April 7.
Jose Morales, the father of missing child Vanessa Morales, stands accused of murdering Holloway, the girl’s mother, in 2019. He has pled not guilty to charges of murder and tampering with evidence.
The jury trial was scheduled after Morales and his lawyer, Bridgeport attorney Edward Gavin, rejected a plea deal from prosecutors last year. The terms of that plea deal were not made public.
The trial will be held at Superior Court in Milford before Judge Shari A. Murphy.
Ansonia police said in December that the investigation into Vanessa’s disappearance is ongoing. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Vanessa, who is now six years old, should call the Ansonia Police Department at 203 – 735‑1885 or the F.B.I. tip line at 203 – 503‑5555.
A $10,000 reward has been offered for information that leads to finding Vanessa.
Morales has not been charged in connection to Vanessa’s disappearance.
The Connecticut Post reported that Morales’ attorney sought to suppress evidence relating to Vanessa’s disappearance at the trial. Judge Murphy ruled that the evidence could be included, noting that police investigated the murder and disappearance at the same time.
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Both Christine and Vanessa were last seen by family members on Nov. 29, 2019. Holloway was found in her home, dead from blunt force trauma, on Dec. 2.
Morales’ vehicle was recorded leaving the residence shortly after the murder. His DNA was identified on several pieces of evidence, according to a warrant.
During interviews with police, Morales’ story shifted several times. He made claims that he had been smoking PCP with a friend and that he and Holloway had been victims of a break-in that led to her murder, the warrant states.
An arrest warrant repeatedly describes Morales as being unemotional during the investigation. When Detective Richard Esposito told Morales’ family about the murder, the warrant describes Morales as “sitting there unemotional as if nothing was going on.”
Morales was arrested and charged with the murder on Feb. 7, 2020. In July 2024, prosecutors said they had been unable to reach a deal with Morales.
Family members at the time said they were looking forward to having their day in court.
“Myself and my family are content that it’s going to trial, because now we can prove that Jose committed this crime, and there will be justice for my sister-in-law,” Jodi Jacobellis, Vanessa’s aunt, said in July.
The trial is scheduled to run until May 7, according to the CT Post.