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Post by Scumhunter on Aug 8, 2014 7:48:43 GMT -5
  (Above photo credits: Unsolved Mysteries Wikia) The case of the unknown Amy Mihaljevic killer has been aired on both America's Most Wanted and Unsoved Msteries. The following is the case description from the Unsolved Wiki website: In 1989, ten-year-old Amy Mihaljevic received a call from a man named Frank who claimed to be her mother's coworker and that he was getting a promotion and wanted to meet with her in order to pick out something for her mother for a surprise party for the promotion. On October 27, 1989, she went to the local mall to met him and vanished. She was last seen there by some of her schoolmates talking to the man believed to be her abductor. When her mother, Margaret, learned that she had not come home, she called the police. Authorities investigated the case and were almost certain that she had been abducted, but had no suspects in the case. The town of Bay Village was shocked by the abduction and hundreds of people began helping to find her. Then, on February 8, 1990, a jogger found the body of a young girl about 50 miles from Bay Village that was soon identified as hers. She had been stabbed to death and had been dead for a long amount of time. Her killer has never been caught. Earlier this year in a renewed effort to solve the case, the FBI offered a $25,000 reward for anyone with information leading to the capture of Amy's killer. Perhaps the reason being that despite the case being 25 years old, the Bay Village Police Chief says they still regularly receive tips. Above next to the picture of Amy is a composite sketch of the man witnesses saw accompanying her the day she disappeared. hey described him as caucasian, 5'8-5'10" tall, medium build, with black hair. Authorities believe that he had a sudden behavioral change after her abduction, may have had a drinking or gambling problem or a sudden interest in religion. (why I have no idea). Several people, including Richard Holbert, have confessed to killing her, but nobody has ever been charged in her death. Another man named Dean Runkle is considered a suspect in the case as he matches the description of the one seen with her, but he maintains his innocence. Thoughts? It should be mentioned a lot of people have compared Amy's murder to that of April Tinsley's. In my opinion with good reason. Even a 1990 local article I found from Google newspaper archives which I will post below compares the case and it's similarities. Both were young white girls, both had been sexually molested, both died from suffocation (although Amy Mihaljevic was said to be stabbed as well), and both bodies were tossed in ditches and creeks. A blog dedicated to finding Amy's killer also mentions a few more similarities. Like Amy, police believe April was killed at a different location before being moved to the ditch. Like Amy, she had been sexually assaulted but redressed by her killer. April was missing a shoe. Amy's boots were never found. Fort Wayne is a 3 1/2 hour drive from Bay Village. In my opinion there are enough eerie similarities that it is worth looking into. We could potentially solve not one but two tragic cases of beautiful little girls who did absolutely nothing to deserve the cruel fate that awaited them. Related or not, both cases need to be solved. Admin Note #1: According to the fbi.gov website & online articles, if you have information on this case you are asked to please call your local FBI field office or call 1-800-CALL-FBI. There is a $25,000 reward for the capture of Amy Mihaljevic's killerwww.cleveland.com/bay-village/index.ssf/2014/03/fbi_offers_reward_for_informat.htmlnews.google.com/newspapers?nid=1350&dat=19900616&id=c1NPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CwMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3852%2C4442317amymihaljevic.blogspot.com/2012/07/could-april-tinsleys-murder-be-connected.htmlunsolvedmysteries.wikia.com/wiki/Amy_Mihaljevicwww.fbi.gov/news/videos/seeking-information-in-amy-mihaljevic-murder/viewAdmin Note #2: If you have any news-related updates on this case, please contact us here: amwfans.com/thread/1662/website-contact-form |
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Post by HeadMarshal on Aug 8, 2014 8:21:36 GMT -5
Does anyone know when this case was aired on AMW? What I've read indicated that it was aired on the first season (which would be 1988) but that was before Amy was abducted and murdered, so that would be totally inaccurate.
I never did compare Amy's murder to the still unsolved murder of April Tinsley but there are several similarities that can't be ignored. Other than that, Scumhunter covered everything perfectly so I have nothing to add.
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Post by Scumhunter on Aug 8, 2014 8:26:36 GMT -5
This article (or rather forum that posted an article) says it happened sometime shortly after Amy's disappearance when her mother met a State Senator. So my assumption is it was probably not the first season but around 1991 or 1992. I don't think AMW even did unsolved cases for the first few years it was on the air. www.findmissingkids.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3613 |
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 4, 2015 0:08:48 GMT -5
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 4, 2015 0:10:17 GMT -5
A comparison of Amy's suspected killer and Joseph Furlong. Not an exact match, but not entirely different either. Eyebrows and eyes sort of the same:   |
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Post by Scumhunter on Feb 24, 2016 21:47:47 GMT -5
Does anyone know when this case was aired on AMW? What I've read indicated that it was aired on the first season (which would be 1988) but that was before Amy was abducted and murdered, so that would be totally inaccurate. I never did compare Amy's murder to the still unsolved murder of April Tinsley but there are several similarities that can't be ignored. Other than that, Scumhunter covered everything perfectly so I have nothing to add. I finally have an answer for you on the airing, watching YouTube and she was aired briefly as an alert when she was still considered a missing child on January 14th, 1990. You can watch the brief segment between 20:56 and 21:16 on the YouTube link below: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9BEvvKHWy-U |
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Post by Scumhunter on Jun 23, 2016 8:46:03 GMT -5
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Post by HeadMarshal on Jun 23, 2016 10:53:30 GMT -5
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Post by Scumhunter on Jun 23, 2016 20:46:00 GMT -5
This is rather huge news but you'd think there'd be some sort of DNA evidence to tie Dienes to Amy's murder not to mention he was already questioned about the case 16 years ago.
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Post by Scumhunter on Jun 23, 2016 20:51:30 GMT -5
A side-by-side of Dienes and the sketch of the possible killer, don't really see the resemblance but sometimes sketches aren't of the best quality:  |
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Post by Scumhunter on Oct 11, 2016 8:51:04 GMT -5
Crime Watch Daily did a segment on Amy's case yesterday. They interview a journalist who believes a former school teacher who was inappropriate with several young girls is Amy's killer. (They can't name the man on tv since he has never officially been named as a suspect.) crimewatchdaily.com/2016/10/10/new-development-in-cold-case-kidnap-murder-of-amy-mihaljevic/Also, a homemade curtain which the FBI believes was used to conceal Amy's body is said to be the biggest new lead in this case:  |
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 14, 2017 1:48:49 GMT -5
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Post by Scumhunter on Aug 25, 2018 0:12:10 GMT -5
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 31, 2018 5:46:04 GMT -5
The ID channel did a 3-hour special on Amy's case last night called "The Lake Erie Murders." I apologize as I knew about this but forgot to mention it on the forum. Anyway I watched the show(s) tonight. A lot of interviews with friends, family journalists. The false leads and hopes with multiple promising suspects. Also, in the third episode, they mention John D. Miller had a solid alibi and was ruled out as a suspect. Much is discussed about how Amy's killer got her number to call her house (a teenage girl also received a phone call from possibly the same man about being a family friend of her mother's and wanting to take her shopping). It is possible the person either worked at, volunteered, or snuck a look at the sign-in pages at a local nature reserve Amy and other young girls in the Bay Village area visited. The reserve was located in North Olmstead, Ohio. The most intriguing possible suspect came in the third hour. James Renner, an investigative journalist from the area who has extensively covered the search for Amy's killer gets tips about a possible suspect, a teacher from a school not far from Bay Village. The teacher had a nature center of animals kept in cages inside his classroom. Apparently this teacher had been investigated twice for inappropriate behavior at the school. He suddenly moves to Key West, Florida after 2003. James Renner tracks him down and asks about whether he has ever been to the nature center which he denies. When Renner mentions multiple students/witnesses having seem him there, he simply says "I never told the FBI I was never at the nature center, just that I don't remember being there". When Renner asks him if he could have used the logbook at the nature center to gather phone numbers for girls in North Olmsted, he says he's done talking and begins to walk away. Turning the corner, he says, "I have nothing to confess to." For some reason the teacher is not mentioned by name on the ID channel but there is an article from James Renner with his name here: m.clevescene.com/cleveland/person-of-interest/Content?oid=1521269Also here is the ID channel link for episode 1, although you need a cable provider to sign-in and watch: www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/the-lake-erie-murders/full-episodes/part-1-missing |
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Post by Scumhunter on Dec 31, 2018 5:56:59 GMT -5
P.S. In my personal opinion, I feel this suspect, whoever he is, just my admittedly amateur sleuthing profile would be a well-educated man who did at least graduate college. April Tinsley's killer was just some dumb decrepit trailer trash guy. But this guy was unfortunately intelligent enough to trick Amy (who they said on the show was a smart girl who normally knew better).
I also think this is a man who felt girls didn't like him and rejected him and he had trouble getting dates or staying in a relationship should he have had any. If he has had a wife in his past, he is divorced by now. While perhaps he always had deviance in him, it was that rejection from those around his age group that had him seek young girls instead.
I also feel considering the one ruse he used and possible additional ruses he used involved using the girl he called's mother as the bait, that perhaps it is due to some anger towards his own mother, who may have been either physically or verbally abusive in some way. She may be the catalyst for his anger and hate.
This man probably lives by himself and is probably a quiet person that doesn't cause much suspicion.
I also feel considering the many leads that went nowhere and possible connections to other cases ruled out, it is even possible this suspect is by now deceased or have committed suicide.
Also, another important note is that the Chief of Police on the show said that Amy's case unfortunately was not as conducive as April's as far as familial DNA being able to solve it. However, April's case being solved after 30 years has given them hope that Amy's case may one day be solved as well.
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