‘Scorpion Tattoo’ Cold Case Murder Tied Back To Morris County

MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — Investigators are reviving a cold case that occurred more than 30 years ago on Staten Island and have recently linked it to Morris County.

Investigators in the Staten Island District Attorney's Office revealed in a press conference on Tuesday that they have identified the woman who was found beaten and lit on fire on Staten Island in 1991.

Investigators said they recently identified Christine Belusko, of Morris County, thanks to advances in forensic genealogy and the use of familial DNA and public genealogy databases.

On Sept. 20, 1992, Belusko was found brutally beaten, strangled, handcuffed and burned in a wooded area on Seaview Avenue, on the East Shore of Staten Island.

Investigators had been unable to determine her identity for many years, but they now want to find her daughter, Christa Nicole Belusko, who was two years old at the time of Belusko's death.

"Since uncovering these facts, my team has worked diligently and across state lines in an attempt to identify Christine's killer. We have already notified her family of her death and continue to make all efforts to also locate Christa Nicole," District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said.

For many years, the only clue to Belusko's identity was a scorpion tattoo on her right buttock, prompting locals to refer to the case as "the woman with the scorpion tattoo."

The identity of Belusko was revealed to police in April 2021, according to Dave Nilsen, chief of the district attorney's Detective Investigators Squad. Her last known address was in Clifton, where she lived until July 1991.

Investigators also know Belusko was staying at a Mount Airy Lodge near Mount Pocono, Pa., in the weeks leading up to her death.

In June 2021, Belusko's brother was notified by police of his sister’s death. During that interview, investigators learned she had a daughter, who was identified as Christa who is currently 33 years old.

"We are seeking the public's assistance to solve the homicide of Christine Belusko and determine the whereabouts of Christa Nicole," Nilsen said.

Christa's whereabouts are still unknown, according to the police, who claim to have exhausted all leads.

Anyone with information about Belusko, her daughter, or her killer is urged to contact the Richmond County District Attorney's Office at 718-556-7085, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives James Essig.

This article has been updated to include photos provided by the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office.