By Kolby LaMarche

This weekend marked one year since 37-year-old Christopher Harper was last known to be in contact with his family. The Burlington Police Department continues to classify Harper as a missing person and is actively investigating his disappearance, which was first reported on November 25, 2024, police say. 

Harper, described as 5’8” tall with brown/gray hair and blue eyes, has strong ties to Vermont. He moved to the state in September 2005 to attend Johnson State College (now part of Vermont State University), where he earned a degree in Alternative Medicine. 

After graduation, he lived in the Jeffersonville area for approximately five years before spending the last year and a half connected to Burlington. Family and friends note that daily contact with loved ones was typical for Harper, making the prolonged silence highly uncharacteristic.

In a statement provided through the police department, Harper’s family wrote: “Our son, Chris, came to Vermont in September 2005…from the moment he arrived, Chris fell in love with Vermont – its mountains, trails, and the beauty of the outdoors… Chris is a doer, a thinker, an artist, a writer, and one of the hardest-working people we know. He is kind and compassionate, deeply devoted to his family and friends, and always ready to lend a helping hand.”

Detectives have conducted numerous interviews and obtained court-approved access to Harper’s phone, financial, and social media records. 

As of the most recent update on April 9, 2025, those efforts have not produced any confirmed leads regarding his whereabouts.

Harper’s family have posted flyers in Burlington and Jeffersonville and have established a $5,000 reward for information that directly leads Burlington police to Harper’s current location and results in him being found. 

Out of respect for the family’s privacy, the department asks that anyone with information contact police investigators rather than the family directly.

The Burlington Police Department continues to seek public assistance. Anyone with information about Christopher Harper’s whereabouts since November 2024 is urged to call 802-658-2700. The case remains assigned to Detective Corporal Krystal Wrinn.