Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz is turning up the pressure on a long-cold case, renewing a public appeal for information about the killing of 14-year-old Christine Diefenbach in Richmond Hill. Katz’s latest push, posted on social media, puts the decades-old homicide back in the public eye and urges anyone with even a sliver of information to reach out to law enforcement.
If you have any information about the homicide of 14-year-old Christine Diefenbach, who was killed 38 years ago in Richmond Hill, please contact @NYPDTips via DM, or by calling 800-577-TIPS. It is never too late for justice. #ColdCaseUnit pic.twitter.com/3dbzzQUnIg
— Melinda Katz (@queensdakatz) February 28, 2026
DA Renews Plea On Social Media
In a message on X, Queens DA Melinda Katz urged the public to come forward and wrote, "It is never too late for justice." Her post directs tips to the NYPD Crime Stoppers tip line and the department's direct message channel, making it as easy as possible for someone to speak up.
What Happened In 1988
According to the Queens District Attorney's Office, 14-year-old Christine Diefenbach was found bludgeoned to death on February 7, 1988, near 89th Avenue and 121st Street in Richmond Hill. The office's cold-case listing confirms the file is still open and repeats the confidential tip options for anyone who may know something but has never come forward.
Investigators Have Revisited The File
Detectives have periodically gone back over the case, and reporting compiled by cold-case researchers says evidence from the file has been re-tested or reviewed in recent years. Defrosting Cold Cases documents the investigation and notes that detectives hope modern forensic methods could help move the case forward.
How To Pass Along Tips
The DA's office and police are asking anyone with information to contact the NYPD Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS, use the CS-NYC app, or send a direct message to @NYPDTips. The Queens DA also links to the Crime Stoppers web form for confidential submissions, underscoring that tips can stay anonymous while still helping the investigation.
