Four months after she was first reported missing, Christina Lynn Downer has been confirmed dead. Her brother, Saturday Night Live writer Jimmy Fowlie, announced on Wednesday, April 29, that the Los Angeles Police Department has officially transitioned the case into a homicide investigation.
Downer, 38, disappeared in December, prompting a months-long search by her family and authorities. Fowlie, 40, shared the tragic update in a detailed statement on Instagram, marking a shift from the hope of a safe return to a pursuit of justice.
“The LAPD has informed our family that Christina is no longer alive, and the case has officially transitioned from a missing person to a homicide investigation,” Fowlie wrote. “Our prayers for her to be found safely have transformed into prayers for the truth to be revealed and for those responsible to be held accountable.”
While the LAPD has been contacted for further comment, the investigation remains active as detectives work to determine the circumstances surrounding her death.
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Fowlie further revealed that investigators believe Downer’s phone and social media accounts were compromised in the weeks leading up to her disappearance. According to his statement, the person or persons in possession of her devices used them to solicit money and fabricate a narrative that she was intentionally going “off the grid” to mask her absence. Fowlie noted that he shared these details because he believes those responsible are attempting to “erase her in every way possible.”
The post, which featured a collection of photos of Downer from childhood through adulthood, concluded with an emotional plea for public assistance:
“I want to amplify her story in the only way I know how. And to express that she was a beautiful person who matters in this world, especially to me. I also believe there is a chance that someone who knows something might find the courage to step forward. My sister can no longer advocate for herself, but I can and I hope you will too. The best way you could support me in this moment is to share this post and to talk about her story. Thank you.”
Fowlie, known for co-writing the viral SNL “Domingo” sketch, first went public about his sister’s disappearance on December 22. At that time, he shared an official missing persons poster on Instagram, urging his followers to help locate her.
In the original caption, Fowlie expressed his family’s deep concern for her safety:
“My sister has been missing and we are worried that she isn’t safe. Her married name is Downer but she may go by Christina Fowlie. Please share this so that if anyone has seen her, they can give any information to the police. The phone number is 213 996 1800 and her case number is 25237639. she was last seen in LA. thank you.”
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The following day, Fowlie shared a second Instagram post containing additional photographs and specific details regarding his sister’s last known location. He noted that Downer was likely accompanied by her Miniature Pinscher, Rex, and was last seen in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles.
According to Fowlie, his last direct contact with her was on November 26, though she remained active on social media until December 15. At that stage of the investigation, he mentioned that detectives had advised the family to withhold certain specifics to avoid compromising the search.
Throughout the following months, Fowlie provided periodic updates, clarifying that his sister had no history of mental illness or of abruptly cutting off communication with her family. In a poignant message shared on January 19, he expressed the ongoing toll of her absence, writing that he was “thinking about her everyday.”