Father of missing 1-year-old, boyfriend of slain mother appears in court

The father of a missing toddler from Ansonia appeared in court Wednesday, one day after police named him a suspect in her disappearance and her mother's death.

News 12 Staff

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Dec 18, 2019, 12:36 PM

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Updated 1,590 days ago

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The father of a missing toddler from Ansonia appeared in court Wednesday, one day after police named him a suspect in her disappearance and her mother's death.

Jose Morales went before a judge on unrelated weapons charges.

Police have not released details about why Morales is a suspect in Christine Holloway's death and Vanessa Morales' disappearance. He has not been charged in either case.

Holloway's family was at the hearing Wednesday. Her sister, Anna, started crying when court marshals brought Morales into the courtroom.

The 43-year-old kept his head down as he waited to go before a Superior Court judge in New Haven. Once called, his hearing lasted about 30 seconds with the case to be continued on Jan. 22.

Morales has been in custody since Dec. 3, the day after police discovered his girlfriend dead and their young daughter missing.

Holloway, 43, had been beaten to death inside her home on Myrtle Avenue and 1-year-old Vanessa Morales was gone.

The cases kicked off a massive effort involving roughly 80 investigators with the FBI, state police and local police departments.

A search of Morales' home in New Haven early on turned up two stun guns, which are illegal for him to have as a convicted felon.

Initially police said Morales was cooperating, but Tuesday night they identified him as their suspect in the cases.

They are asking anyone who saw or had contact with Morales on Saturday, Nov. 30, Sunday, Dec. 1 or Monday, Dec. 2 to contact the FBI tip line or Ansonia police.

Police say their main priority is bringing Vanessa Morales home safely.

They told News 12 Tuesday night they are not looking to arrest whoever has her, they just want her returned to her family.