By all accounts, Christopher Mittendorf and Kristina Branum were a happy young couple living in Hardin County, Tennessee. On July 27, 2006, twenty-one-year-old Mittendorf went shopping with Branum, his 17-year-old fiancee.
Although the couple was living together, they did not have a place of their own, and were staying with Mittendorf’s mother, Cheryl Flatt. When Flatt returned to her apartment later that day, she discovered the clothes the two had purchased on their shopping trip were laid out on a bed.
But Mittendorf and Branum had vanished.
Their vehicle – a dark green 1994 Geo Prism – was found unlocked and abandoned near a pond in Lawrence County, Tennessee, five days later. Lawrence County is about fifty or sixty miles from their home. Inside the car was a cell phone, along with some personal belongings.
A witness reported seeing Mittendorf and Branum climb into a white car, leaving the Prism behind. The couple hasn’t been spotted since.
The only lead in the case came from Mittendorf’s mother, who found a lockbox filled with items belonging to career criminal George Baugus in the couple’s room. She wondered if her son and his fiancee might have stolen the items, bringing the wrath of Baugus upon themselves. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a single mention of what was in the mysterious lockbox, but I’m guessing it wasn’t millions of dollars.
If the couple had issues with Baugus, they weren’t the only ones. The guy’s own wife murdered him in 2010, before he revealed what – if anything – he knew about the missing couple.
Since then, both families have suffered through numerous rumours about their missing loved ones, including tales that Mittendorf and Branum were caught up with a “drug mafia” – whatever that is. The parents don’t know what to believe; they just want the truth about what happened to their missing children.
The lockbox is a mystery, but why would a young couple steal from a career criminal? How would they have even gotten the opportunity? And why did they get into a car with someone that presumably meant to do them harm? Was it someone they knew? Was a gun involved? (And why are these vehicles always white? The only surprise here is that it wasn’t a van.)
It’s been nearly ten years since Mittendorf and Branum went missing. Someone out there knows what happened to them – maybe it’s you.
What do you think happened to the couple? Do you think Baugus had anything to do with it? Any guesses as to what was in the lockbox?
If you have any information about this case, please leave a comment or shoot me an email at jh at jhmoncrieff dot com.
PS…Can’t get enough unsolved mysteries? Check out these popular posts about The Springfield Three and the Dyatlov Pass Incident.
So young. They certainly don’t look like they were involved in drugs or with a criminal. Weird.
I agree, Alex. I find that theory a bit bizarre.
Hello this is chris Mittendorf dad I will talk to you
I would love to talk to you. Please email me at jh (at) jhmoncrieff (dot) com. I’ll do whatever I can to help.
They were very much so involved in drugs and with the criminal. I was friends with them and we were all involved in drugs at that time. It breaks my heart that they never got to experience sober life with me.
The new clothes they bought laid out on the bed freaks me out. They returned home then something happened – were they interrupted? If so, by whom? How – phone, someone at the door? So many questions. Those poor families.
Agreed, and they apparently drove their Prism to that remote location, so was the white car following them? Was someone threatening them? Were they directed to go there for some reason?
Truly creepy.
I pretty much know what happened
Methamphetamine leads to some very dark corners in this county. Meeting up with a dealer at 3:00 in the morning on a deserted back road is nothing new in these parts…At least that was my experience way back then.
I love it when you post mysteries like this. So dying to know more and know I never will.
Anna from Elements of Writing
Thanks, Anna! Glad you like them.
You never know – maybe this one will be resolved one day.
Eish! as we say here in South Africa … or ‘ish’ or yikes or blooming hell… It’s my bet that Baugus did them in and his wife found out and did him in … or maybe the wife did them all in …how closely has she been questioned … what does she know about the box …
Good question, Susan. I doubt she has anything to do with the couple’s disappearance, though – I suspect she was a victim herself.
But I’d love to know what was in that damn box!
The wife was actually on an episode of Snapped.
She was on Dr Phil too
Susan if you have internet TV look up the show snapped. Shannon baugus was his wife and they had her on this show. I used to work with her husband. Aka bad egg baugus.
Perhaps the couple found the lockbox to be empty when George Baugus asked them to return it from holding it for him for a modest sum. Baugus told them to meet him when they called him letting him know. He took revenge upon them. The nosey mother had taken the contents. An alternate explanation. Only the Father knows for sure. Sad and mysterious. Another excellent post. 🙂
Ooh…good theory, Roland. Very creepy!
Strange that they’d be involved with Baugus in the first place.
Thanks for commenting.
Bad egg baugus was a serial killer who murdered up to 12peoole
I think his dad knows what happened.
Someone said the guy bad egg fed them to his pigs 😳
Interesting mystery. Why do people who might know things always die too?!?!?!
That’s right up there with the white vehicle question. I’m guessing someone doesn’t want them to reveal what they know.
I live in Savannah (Hardin County) and remember when all this happened. Baugus was known as “Bad Egg” and everyone in town knew he was dangerous. I feel like there should have been a more thorough investigation.
He was a scary guy to be around. Even back then the rumor was that he killed them over stolen dope and hid them in those hills around his house out in Olive Hill. Sad,sad situation for those kids cause you never know. I was using back then and found myself in his house on a couple of occasions and I was always scared of him…He gave off a bad vibe and made me so nervous. I’m sure the drug use didn’t help that situation.
You know how much I love these! I’m going to guess that it had something to do with drugs. That would be something that would compel a couple to climb into a car with someone. I wonder if the man whose wife shot him drove a white car?
Good question, Stephanie. I’m guessing if the car had been similar to Baugus’s, a stronger connection would have been made than Christopher’s mom’s say-so. It’s odd that there was no sign of drug use before the couple went missing, but perhaps they hid it well.
Very sad, in any case.
He put them in barrels n put acid in there n buried the barrels on property,,
We live dwn the rd from them, and he done some ungodly things to Shannon, his’s kids, and others, who didn’t obey him, alot of abuse, of all kinds and he didn’t care who u were, he wanted u he got u, no matter ur age, or gender, mean doesn’t even begin to say what he was,,,, bodies go back so many years,,,,,,,, Hardin Co, is not a place to play in back then or today!! Small town, and so much shootings, drugs, etc.. And there is another story:: the girl in this one, her brother was shot and killed, in a pickup, the owners girlfriend stole copper, n sold it, and blamed Charlie so the owner shot n killed Charlie,,outside the furniture store on water st, in Savannah, which is right down the rd in eye sight of the Police Dept,, so this only leaves 1 son and he’s still alive,,
Kristina is my sister. Some of the people commenting seem to have forgotten that this “story” is about actual people and the family is going through tragedy and heartbreak. They just see entertainment value in a good story. Please be considerate in your comments because family members of victims see these too. Let me make her more real for you. Kris is the baby of the family. Her birthday is December 30th. She was only 17 when she disappeared. She wanted to go into the army when she graduated but she never got to do either. She was a warm, loving girl. 2 days before she disappeared we were sitting on my couch discussing baby names because I was pregnant with her nephew. Our father changed careers when she disappeared. He now trains search and rescue dogs so that maybe he can help a family who is searching for a loved one. Please be considerate.
I agree and I am so sorry for your loss..I hope this gets solved one way or another
Thanks for commenting, Deana. While I can’t control the people who comment on these posts, aside from deleting malicious comments, I hope you know I only share these stories to help and get more people talking about these cases.
I’m so sorry about the loss of your sister. I can’t even imagine what your family has gone through. Thanks for telling us more about her, and if you feel this post is disrespectful in any way, please let me know. The last thing I ever want to do is make it worse for the families.
I’m grateful that there are people like you out there who are trying to get their story out. In my opinion, the local police didn’t even try. I do appreciate the attention you’re bringing their case. And you don’t have to take anything down for me although I do appreciate the offer. I just wish people would be more conscientious in their comments because some of these did hurt. Thank you for your understanding and God bless you
I’m so glad to hear that, Deana. The thought that I might have worsened your pain was unbearable. For my part, I’m going to phrase my engagement questions at the end of these posts differently in the future, to emphasize again that these are real people with heartbroken families who love them and miss them terribly.
If there’s anything else I can do, let me know. I really hope you get some answers. <3
I went to school with Kristina. She was really sweet. It was a shock to us all. I’m so sorry for all your family has gone through, even more for the horrible things you have had to endure due to being in the public eye. People who didn’t know her will never understand the loss and questions left.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope the family and friends will one day soon get answers about this sad case.
Hi J.H! It’s my first time on your blog. I’m going to guess that the couple stumbled onto the scene of something incriminating, and didn’t escape with their lives. Murder/unsolved cases like this always pique my curiosity!
Welcome to my blog, Anna! Very happy to have you here.
I’ve always found them fascinating as well. Fascinating, bewildering, and sad.
This one is a stumper to me. It must be so painful for their parents, wondering what happened to their kids, why, and not having any clues. Wouldn’t it be interesting to be behind the scenes, or the person who answers the tip line?
I’d love to know the answer to just one of these mysteries, Mary! I wish I had Quantum Leap-style powers and could intervene before these things happen. It’s scary to realize how many people vanish and are never heard from again. What happens to them?
We would all like to know what happened to the couple! This is my home town and I am close to some relatives of this couple. Very sad! Baugus was a well known person in our town as well. Everyone believes that he did murder them. But there is no evidence or anything to back this up. Praying that these families finally can get closure and get answers that they deserve!
I believe they are dead. They were interrupted since they left the clothes on the bed. They were looking at what they bought which we do. Someone was at the door and told them they better get in the car or else. They were young, stupid kids who got in over their heads. It probably has something to do with that box but the cops keep that part quiet due to the ongoing investigation. The sad thing is they were probably killed for something truly stupid and not worth a ton of money.
That is a pretty awesome theory, Birgit. I can’t poke holes in it. Sadly, I believe you may be right.
Chris was beaten to death with a baseball bat and Kristina was forced to watch she was supposedly took off later and raped and murdered by a second party by the name of Steven Murphy and Stacey cheek
Where are you getting your information from, Thomas? Please be aware that Kristina’s family and friends are reading these comments, and your claims could cause them unnecessary pain, especially if they aren’t verified.
If you know what happened to them, please contact the police.
Ooh. That’s a good mystery. I really wonder what was in the lockbox. I don’t know why but when I think about that lockbox I picture Davie Jones’ Locker from the Pirates of the Caribbean movie. As Captain Jack Sparrow would say, a thump-thump is in it. LOL
Maybe I know what happened? Me? *GULP* Looks around. Certainly not me.
I knew someone who read this blog was responsible! I knew it. 😉
Yeah, lockbox is a piratesque word, I agree.
Really?! I good mystery! Are you nuts! This is sad. This is real life. These are people some of went to school with these are someone’s family. Come on. Dave’s Jones locker?! This is what is wrong with the world. We go oh a mystery of another innocent murder and then when it gets closed and it’s something bad y’all are like…awww..poor family goh! Idiots
I understand where you’re coming from, Sara, but that’s harsh. Chrys is an extremely kind, big-hearted person. The post resonated with her enough that she remembered it and told others about it, and that’s what we want, right? I certainly don’t do this to be exploitive.
Hmm… Surely if they were forced into the other car, the witness would have noticed? Unless they got in willingly, but why would they do that? :-/
Maybe they had a gun, but I suspect they trusted whoever it was.
Big mistake.
My speculative writing mind instantly says, “Ooh, they became spies or went into witness protection.” I’m sure that’s not what happened, but it’s what I want to imagine.
That’s a much nicer scenario, Crystal. Let’s go with that.
The Tennessee drug mafia is an interesting and plausible angle. Believe it or not, they’re more powerful that the NY mafia now. Or they could have just yearned for a chance to leave and never look back. So many people disappear each year, it boggles the mind.
Wow, I had no idea. Thanks for filling me in, Hunter. I’m really not up on my drug mafias.
The stats are pretty scary. When I posted them earlier this year – something like a million people go missing in the US alone every year – some readers didn’t believe me. It’s that incredible.
Hi, JH — It’s nice to meet you!
I am astounded by how people can just disappear completely in today’s world. It sounds as if this young couple stumbled into something they couldn’t handle. They probably thought they were safe since they were together, but they weren’t. There’s been a lot of news stories lately about couples being killed together when going to meet someone from Craig’s List, let alone a career criminal!
Nice to meet you too, Dianne! Thanks for visiting my blog.
It’s a scary world out there, that’s for sure.
I hadn’t heard about them. Just depressing the way they disappeared like that. It doesn’t make sense, so I guess that’s why people might blame drug connections or something else the couple may have been secretly into. (And surely if it was Baugus and they’d stolen from him, he’d have gotten his stuff back before he killed them. Wouldn’t have just left it for the police to find.)
Yes, good point, Lexa. “Wondering who’s responsible? Here I am – it is I, the career criminal. Just check out my lockbox.”
I really hope that if I suddenly disappeared, people wouldn’t speculate that I was selling the crack. It’s tough enough on these poor families without this ridiculous speculation.
I really want to post the Giorgio A. Tsoukalos meme, the guy with the crazy hair from the History Channel, that just says ‘Aliens’ on it.
Great post.
Heather
Thanks, Heather.
Yes, failing everything else, the answer is always aliens. 🙂
Hmmm- I am thinking that something did happen with the career criminal. It seems so odd that the new clothes were on the bed- creepy. So hard for families when cases are not solved.
I agree, Jess. I can’t imagine what it’s like to lose a family member or loved one that way. It must be devastating.
Thanks for commenting, and welcome to my blog!
Considering the comments above, this is wide open. No brilliant theories from me, but it would make for a great story.
Yes, it would. Still concerned about how easy it is for two or more people to vanish without a trace, even in the days of smartphones and social media.
Bad Egg most certainly did them in. Too bad Shannon didn’t take him out sooner.
Everyone heard it was bad egg who had these two kids killed everyone knows that I heard they robbed mr.bogus and took money and jewelry ppl who knew u couldn’t just go up to his house without his dogs knowing who u was I heard they was in his well on that land then I heard he feed them to the hogs back there so many things have been told of what happened but I’m sure they where taken by force we will never know what really happened but I’m guessing his wife knows something just saying these are just some of the things I’ve heard when this happened
It was told that they tore down Mr. Baugus house last year while looking for Holly Bobo and found remains under the floor. His son then sued the county to have his house rebuilt. Sharon the wife who killed him supposedly help get rid of these kids! It needs to be investigated farther. His son or daughter may know something. One of his long time criminal buddies was arrested last year Bar – T is what they call him.. they should press on him for information. Hardin county is a joke.. If you are friends with the sheriff who has been sheriff hear for 30 years you can make things go away.
Missinformed. Holy Bobo was not from Hardin County. Her case has nothing to do with these missing persons.
I’m actually from the town this incident happened in. If I’m not mistaken the body’s were found and it most definitely had to do with drugs. Baugus’s wife killed him out of self defense. The story I heard on that was she had been tied to a tree and beat. When she finally got loose she shot him. The man involved in these incidents I had heard about my whole life and was told by many to stay away from him. He was a very dangerous man.
Chris and his fiancée has not been found. Your badly misinformed.
Their bodies haven’t been found.
I was good friends with both of them and yes they were on drugs but not hard drugs just pills and weed … I’m pretty sure bad egg killed them .. no questions about that .. my dad use to sell dope to bad egg !!
I’m really sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine losing two friends this way.
Do any of you actually know chris or Kristina? I mean y’all are on here like “Oh a mystery!” It’s not just a mystery this is real. I knew Kristina at one point. We weren’t super close but is tragic. No one ever knows. It’s sad that todays society lives off of other peoples tragedy. I mean I’m glad the story is out there for people to see and if they have any information to send but really? Just for a good story? Pitiful
It’s not just for a good story, Sara. I don’t get paid to do this, and these posts take a ton of time. Way more time than if I wrote fiction, or some mindless post about what I did today. If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t do it.
I’m sorry for your loss, but telling a “good story” attracts more people, and the more people who read it, the better when it comes to a missing persons case. My greatest hope is that someone who knows something will see it. It’s a long shot, but it’s always worth a try.
Thank you for all you do. I’m from Hardin County myself and rumors abound about these poor kids. It is widely thought,here, that Bad Egg Bauguss killed those kids but there is no way to prove it I’m afraid. Any secrets he had went to the grave with him. Again,thank you,maybe someday someone will tell the truth about those babies.
Thanks for the kind words, Jill. I really hope we get some answers on this case. It’s so sad.
I’m from Savannah, Tn. I went to elementary and middle school with Kristina. We lived in the same apartment complex. My brother was friends with Chris. My mom was friends with Kristina’s mom, Janet. This is the most tragic thing that can happen to a parent. My brothers have told me stories of that evil man. And from what I hear, he had bragged, while under the influence, that they had stole drugs and money from him, so he got rid of them. Pure evil! Thank the wife, she rid this world of a monster!
Completely agree! The wife did the Feds a favor! I heard the cops was even scared of that man! I heard they wouldn’t even go in the house until they knew he was dead when she shot him! The stories I have heard is pure evil! And the bragging I hear he had bragged as well and his some “Little Egg” as they call him knew but I’m not sure! I heard that after she shot him they found the bodies of the young couple in the well on his property! It’s truly sad that a grown man felt big and bad because of what he supposedly done to them and was bragging about it! To me that’s a coward why would you brag that you “offed” a young couple that had so much life to live?
I had not seen them in years when this happened! I went to school with her and never deemed a he would be involved with Baugus but the way it sounds she, he, or both was! However I have heard so many rumors about this that there could have been anything in that lockbox! I’ve heard it was drugs and a few other personal belongings, heard it was guns and amo, etc. I heard they accidentally took the lockbox but I also heard he ripped them off and they stole it to get back at him! That man scared the pee out of me so Idk, what I do know is they was so young and didn’t deserve whatever may have happened to them!!
Kristina was/is apart of our family(Her brother is married to our daughter, yes they were killed by Bad Egg, but no evidence tied him to it, and yes he bragged about killing them, her brother was searching for theem and we were warned that if we didn’t leave it alone that two more kids in our family would go missing never to be found, we kept on looking, and then her brother was murdered here in town. but we have all been searching for answers, the shirif at that time and still now was a cousin to Bad Egg’s wife, and everyone thinks that’s why he never investigated, these two young kids might have done something illegal, but that didn’t give him or anyone else the right to take their lives. We would love to know the truth, and have profound evidence that that is what happened, not just go on these cops words, they had her brother who wasn’t a cop going out to bad eggs place investigating and telling them what he had found, dirty cops, that did not wont trouble for them.I pray that the parents get their closer soon. Praying for all that is involved.
So sorry for your loss, Norman. They definitely didn’t deserve what happened to them…they were just kids. I really hope everyone in this situation gets answers soon.
I was a substitute teacher back when Kristina was in middle school. I knew her as a sweet girl with a lot going on that made things hard for her. She would talk with me during class, and I grew very fond of her. It still breaks my heart that no one will actually come forth and tell what happened to these children, to the authorities. Bad Egg is dead, and can do nothing now to stop anyone from telling the truth.
First: if they were on dope that bad, they would not be buying new clothes! It’s just not how dope heads work..
Second: did family verify where the MONEY came from to buy the clothes?? Did they have money/working? Or did they get a box & money was in it & then little gossip town Savannah said “hey I seen so & so just on a shopping spree” guy/woman gets mad
Third: someone still alive knows what & where these precious people are,do the right thing & help bring closure to the family! You won’t believe what a weight it will be lifted off your shoulders ..??
I didn’t see that show. I hope this family gets relief they so desperately need!
He hid people in the hills?…….how far out and around is the area? Can you imagine people can starting digging everywhere? Are there any buildings on property? It could be a building on top of them…..are there any wells around? People can throw stuff in wells and never use them. So it don’t sink in or something…..just a thought…I remember the story
If you know what happen then come forward with it so each family can have some closer. How would you feel if it was your child?
The reason his wife did him in is bc he beat the living hell out of her all the time and he got tired of it and his own son don’t hold it against his step mom and still has something to do with her so that should tell u what kind of person he was !
Charlie was also Kristina’s older brother.
I believe the Police was afraid of him.
Distasteful. Your storys about a mysterious lockbox, a heartless thriller. That was my brother. If this story gets wrote it’s by family. By the person he would want to tell his story…. his sister. She’s a writer, sweetly poetic he call her. Violet
Sorry to hear you find it distasteful, Tim. My intention in telling these stories is to try and find some answers for the families. So far, this post has been shared over 1000 times–you never know who might see it and come forward with new information. Trust me, I’m far from heartless. I only do this because I care. My blog isn’t monetized, and I don’t write non-fiction–there’s no profit in it for me to cover these stories at all. I’m volunteering my time and my 20+ years of journalism experience.
This blog post should in no way hinder Violet from telling her version. If Chris truly was your brother, I’m deeply sorry for your loss.
Thomas you need to kno what up before u throw ppls name in there I’m from olive hill Steven Murphy is my dad and let me tell u something sound like u kno everything I feel like u did it. Knowing that all the evidenced was found in bad eggs home nobody’s know cause savannah cops don’t care there as crooked as the criminals in this county this blog needs fact before some stupid loser tries to mess someone’s life up
Casey Shelby in Savannah,Tn Knows what happened to these kids. He was there! He said he would tell but nobody has ever ask.
Boys real name is Jeff Shelby. He knows everyrhing about the murders. Bad Eggs son and wife helped in it!
Truth is Tim Chris’s brother stoled the box from Egg, Chris over heard Egg say he was gonna kill who ever got the box and Chris got scared. He ask Chris and Christina to take it back that they were kids and Egg wouldn’t hurt them. Well, Egg and his wife killed them. During the killing of Chris, Egg yelled at his son and said” Boy, you gonna let these mother fuckers steal from your daddy, get your ass over hear and defend me boy” Eggs son heald Chris’s boy down until he stopped flipping around as it was told to me. Eggs wife helped kill Christina, she was sitting in the car waiting and after chris didnt return after a shirt while she went to the door an knocked, Eggs bitch opened the door and drug her in the house and began beating Christina in the face and then Egg k locked her brains out with the same rock he killed Chris with! The rock Egg used to prop his door open with! There was 6 people there in that house that didnt lift a finger to help these kids. One of them was Tim, Chris’s brother, that’s right people. Tim let Chris die over something he did to Egg not Chris and watched Egg kill him, how freaking sorry is that! Jeff Shelby knows everything, he was there too!!! Egg made everyone there take part in burning the bodies and getting rid of evidence so they would be accessory to murder and snitch on his ass. A man and a woman there drove the car to the location it was found.
It took 2 days to burn the bodies and they even set the woods on fire behind Eggs house. Fire trucks tried to get through the gate but Egg threatened them and would let them in and guess what? The County cops called on scene by the fire department wouldn’t make Egg open the gate, fishy as hell!! What was left of the bodies, Egg instructed one of the 6 to get rid of this shit ( Kids teeth and bones that didnt burn).. He told the guy to dump the remains in the creek at gator rock but guess what, the guy buried the remains across and down the road from Eggs.
Someone need to question Jeff Shelby from Savannah
Interesting…thanks for sharing, but how do you know this? Have you shared this information with the police?
JW heard the same story I was told by Eggs Wife personally.
But truth is that Shannon killed Egg because she thought she would inherit all the property of his, not knowing it was in trust to his son, that she was having an affair with.
She did the TV shows to actually buy back the property later & sell at a profit after she went back to the woods to dig up valuable things long hidden.
She planned Eggs murder for 3 yrs. And she was involved in the cover up of the kids murder…if indeed it happened as told BY HER.
But Egg is dead. And she got away with everything. Why is that?
I am the guy who took the lockbox back to egg and wasn’t nothing but some paper work and family airlooms and a small amount of marijuana and nothing else he asked Chris to come talk to him man to man and he pulled a gun on egg and ran off and robbed other dope dealers and I was at eggs house everyday for the next couple of weeks he never did anything or even leave his house on the day they came up missing hell i been accused of helping him kill em but we didn’t have anything to do with it
Thanks for telling your side of the story. Much appreciated!