Two images on the top row, right: age-progressed to 29 and 33. The images on the second row are sketches of the abductor.
Two images on the top row, right: age-progressed to 29 and 33. The images on the second row are sketches of the abductor.
Name: Michaela Joy Garecht
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: November 19, 1988
Location Last Seen: Hayward, Alameda County, California
Date of Birth: January 24, 1979
Age: 9 years old
Race: White
Gender: Female
Height: 4'8"
Weight: 75 lbs.
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Nickname/Alias: Kayla
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Prominent ears and her eyes slant slightly downward. Her ears are possibly pierced.
Dentals: Available. Her teeth are slightly mottled.
Fingerprints: Unavailable
DNA: Available
Clothing: White t-shirt with "Metro" written across the front and images of people imprinted on the midsection; pant or shorts; flesh-colored nylons; black cloth shoes with brown plastic soles.
Jewelry: 3" Pearl-colored or white plastic earrings which resembled feathers.
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Michaela was abducted by an unidentified white male on the parking lot of the Rainbow Market on Mission Boulevard in Hayward, California, which is about 10 miles south of Oakland.
She had ridden her scooter with a friend, the two blocks from her home to the store, at about 10:20 to buy some snacks. After the two left the store and returned to their scooters, a man got out of a four-door gold or brown sedan and grabbed Michaela, a fourth-grader at Hillview Crest Elementary School, by the waist and forced her into the car.
The car the kidnapper was driving was described to police as a large, older model American-made Sedan, gold or tan in color, in ratty condition, and possibly with four-doors. The car may have had cement splattered on the sides, and lights set into the rear bumper. It was last seen speeding south on Mission Boulevard toward the nearby Union City border.
The abductor is described as having long, dirty blonde hair; a slender build; and a pockmarked or pimpled face. He was approximately 18-24 years old at the time of Michaela's abduction (see photo).
On December 21, 2020, the Hayward Police Department, Alameda County District Attorney, and FBI announced the arrest of David Emery Misch for the kidnapping and murder of Michaela Garecht. Misch is currently in prison since 1989 for murder and on trial for the murder of two women in 1986 by the Fremont Police Department. Michaela's remains have yet to be found.
Agency Name: Hayward Police Department
Agency Contact Person: Det. Robert Purnell
Agency Phone Number: 510-293-7000
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 88112127
NCIC Number: M-566376392
NamUs Case Number: MP49
NCMEC Case Number: 717172
NamUs
NCMEC
CA DOJ
Hayward PD
San Francisco Examiner - Nov. 20, 1995
KIRO 7-TV/CBS
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 1/31/22 - By: hb
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information is from the time of disappearance.
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