CHRISTIE HAS BEEN FOUND – READ THE UPDATE HERE!
A website has been created to help locate missing woman Christie Caggiano. Her husband, Anthony Caggiano, contacted us in late August to help spread the word.
HelpFindChristie.com includes additional photos, a printable flyer and a message board which people can use if they believe they have relevant information.
It also includes additional information about Christie, who also goes by Cecile Hoyt:
Physical Description
Height: 5’4”; Weight: 110-115lb; Build: Petite; Eyes: Brown; Hair: Brown, Shoulder Length and Thin (Thinning on Right Side), May Now Have Grey Roots; Skin: Olive Complexion (Will Be Tanned Now From Sun Exposure), Some Sun Spots
Summary of Medical History
Christie suffers from severe mental illness (Persecutory Delusional Disorder and Chronic Schizophrenia). She has been hospitalized 4 times since 2020. Christie ceased all medication and is psychotic. She needs intervention and requires immediate medical attention.
Behavioral Description
Christie will present initially as passive and talkative. Christie is sweet, engaging and articulate when not in crisis or when calm. She will pace excessively and will appear anxious if stressed. Christie can become spontaneously argumentative, inflammatory, or intentionally evasive. She will provide one-word responses that are oddly related. Christie will be purposefully uncooperative if asked if she needs medical care.
Additional Notes
Christie is completely without identification. She intentionally left her phone, driver’s license, credit cards, bank card, and insurance cards. She does not wish to be identified for fear that she will be hospitalized. Christie may be self-medicating with cocaine and/or alcohol. Should be checked for both when found.
The New York State Department of Criminal Justice website states that “Christie is believed to be living on the streets in Central Park or in the vicinity of West 86th and West 88 streets,” though Anthony says she’s been spotted between 59th and 100th Streets. “Christie was seen panhandling at W 80th and Amsterdam and again at Riverside Drive at 100th street in front of the Firefighters Monument,” he states on the website.
“Our family is completely devastated. We desperately need the community to help bring Christie back to us.”
First to Mike – Thank you so much for continuing to keep this article active for your readers. My family is indebted to you.
To the Readers of ILoveTheUpperWestSide – Should you see someone matching Christie’s description, we ask that you:
1. TEXT PHOTO TO CONFIRM HER IDENTITY to 484-947-4001
2. THEN, PLEASE STAY WITH OR FOLLOW CHRISTIE, CALL 911 STAY ON THE LINE UNTIL NYPD ARRIVES.
She was allegedly last seen on Sunday September 5th outside of the Starbucks and Black Press coffee shops at 73rd and Columbus. She was wearing grey pants/tights and a tank top. She had her hair in a pony tail and was carrying a white back pack. Time was approximately 10:30am. A person matching similar description has been seen at the back of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament during the 5:30pm Mass then sleeping on the steps of the church in the evening.
Please visit http://helpfindchristie to see more pictures, to attain & circulate flyers, and to comment any new information that you have on our message board.
Thank You and God Bless You All.
UPDATE: I am pleased to share that Christie has been found! She was located at Inwood on Monday, September 6th by a Good Samaritan – God Bless You Nicole P! Christie is severely malnourished; however, she is alive and safe.
In what has been one of the most traumatic events of my and my sons’ lives, I kept reminding myself of Proverbs 3:5-6. We would trust that God would make straight our paths and that something good would come from this experience. YOU ALL are the something good!
I cannot begin to express my sincere gratitude to all the members of this community. The outpouring of love, support and care has made an everlasting impact on our family. You gave us guidance when we were unsure where to turn. You gave us hope when we were hopeless. You gave us strength when we were weak. You gave us a greater appreciation for the human spirit when our spirits were broken.
In a city of 8.8 million people, the probability of finding one missing person seemed an impossible cause. Your love, your prayers and your direct involvement made the impossible possible.
There were so many other wonderful members of the Upper West Side community who made dedicated efforts to help. Some provided names while others did not. Regardless, you all contributed meaningfully, whether by sending pictures in attempt to identify Christie, or to simply share that you were praying for us. Thank you all so much! Thank you to the ILoveTheUpperWestSide.com for sharing our family’s story.
I would especially like to thank Erin F, Sabrina B, Lori G, James A and Bernard S. Erin and Sabrina spent countless hours searching the streets, circulating flyers, and engaging local businesses for information. Lori took to social media channels and engaged homeless outreach programs to expand our reach. James was instrumental, not only in structuring plans, but also in mobilizing the entire team with clear direction. And Bernard created a phenomenal website, http://helpfindchristie.com, to increase awareness and share information of our continuous efforts.
We will share updates on the website of Christie’s progress and recovery. Please continue to keep her and our family in your prayers.
All of Our Best,
Anthony, Nick, and Mike Caggiano
Stay safe Anthony and sons. Praying for you all and Christie??Love,
Kathy in Hoboken
I was praying for you and your family. I trusted in God that Christie would be found. I also kept her picture on my phone just in case I spotted her. I’m so happy for you. Please make sure Christie gets the right help and stays compliant with all her medications every day. Without her meds, she and your family will not survive mental illness. God bless Christie, you and your family.
Dear Caggiano Family-
So happy to learn that your loved one is safe and sound!
I too have a brother who suffers from schizophrenia. He has been ill for over 45 years…. such a difficult illness. When my brother’s closest friend- our father- passed away in 2017, he walked away from his Group Home and disappeared for over two weeks- it was a terrifying time for our family.
The sentiments that you shared upon finding Christie are a testament to the UWS Community and one of the many reasons I am proud to call it my home for over 35 years.
Wishing you great good luck with Christie’s recovery and thank you for publicly sharing your story. The more exposure people have to the challenges experienced by people with serious mental health issues, the better they will understand those who suffer from them.
Be Well!
Wonderful news! Blessings on the Good Samaritan as well as your entire family. I wish we would hear more Good News like this.
I am so happy to hear that Christie is safe.
What wonderful news!
The night of the big concert in CP, I briefly saw a woman kind of matching her dx and phoned it in (both in NYC and PA), also told a local police-officer to please question her. I still do not know if this was Christie, or if the officer followed through.
In any case, it is so great that she has been found!
Great news and so proud to be a member of this community on the UWS. God bless your family and all who helped bring Christie home. Prayers for us all
This is wonderful news. I’m sure that in the future lessons from this frightening incident will be used to prevent any repeat.
So relieved to hear this good news. I cannot imagine the heartache you all suffered for so long.
Thank you all so very much for your messages, support. Christie has been transferred to NY Presbyterian’s Behavioral Healtb facility in White Plains, NY. I am hopeful that this our best chance to get her sustainable treatment. I love her so much, and I want nothing more than to have our family back together. Please keep us in your prayers.