But they recently tested dog hairs found on the fabric and determined that they matched hairs taken from the dog Amy owned at the time. People will say that DR was odd in many ways (which he may have been), about how he abruptly left, gave excuses, and whatnot but leaving and not telling anyone why isnt a crime. Our theory is that they were used to wrap her in before she was dumped where she was found.. Several students say they were invited back to Runkle's apartment after school. Almost 30 years later, Amys killer is still at large. I will be there and will update this thread asap. Multiple witnesses say that he matches the man they saw with Amy the day she vanished. In early 1990 her body was found. "Statistical probabilities are always trumped by case specifics." Eventually, their method of killing starts to bore them, and the killer needs more drama, risk and excitement with each new victim. Amy may have resisted and fought back - indeed, her fingernails were chipped, according to the coroner's report - causing her abductor to become violent in order to regain control. There is a press conference scheduled for tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. EST. [emailprotected] Anyone with any information, call the FBI at 216.522.1400 or the Bay Village Police Department at 440.871.0773. Mark Spaetzel and a retired FBI agent had interviewed employees about a man who might have volunteered there in 1989. On Friday October 27th, Jason arrived home at about 3:15pm, but Amy was nowhere to be found. The FBI got involved in this case almost immediately to lend their resources to the Bay Village Police Department. The girl became frightened and immediately hung up the phone. At the time of Amy's . He often filmed his students in class, cutting together the film later at home. Real Name: Amy Renee Mihaljevic Nicknames: No known nicknames Location: Bay Village, Ohio Date: October 27, 1989 Amy Mihaljevic. I work with your mother, he told her. Most of these killers have what psychologists deem a thrill-seeking personality.. He wears a beige windbreaker with plaid lining, front-pressed khakis and a button-up shirt. It was only then, in 2005, that investigators first learned that each of them had gone to the nature center in the weeks leading up to the abduction. Very close. On October 27, 1989, Amy Mihaljevic was kidnapped from the Bay Square Shopping Center in Bay Village, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. See pictures of the handmade curtain and blanket here. Lanning helped create the Behavioral Science Unit in Quantico, Virginia, where FBI agents are trained. Runkle liked to tell boys sexual jokes, says Derek Chase. Margaret and Mark filed for divorce, and Mark moved out of the house. 5. Science teacher from the area, lived in Ashland County and grew up. INTERVIEW FOLLOW-UP The evidence is highly circumstantial toward Dean Runkle. As an FBI agent on the case said, we have the beginning and the end of what happened to Amy M, but what we dont have is the middle piece. The only thing that these girls had in common was the fact that they visited the Lake Erie Nature . Most of the 100 or so who replied remembered his fondness for Dr. Pepper and disdain for yawning in his class or saying "yeah" instead of "yes." and our I do not believe that so much evidence can point to one person and it be just a coincidence. At that time, they told me that on the week of St. Patrick's Day in 2005, a retired FBI agent who worked on Amy's case contacted each of the girls from North Olmsted. They had a safe place to take her to incapacitate her, sexually assault her and murder her, all without detection. At the height of the stranger-danger era, 10-year-old Amy Mihaljevic from Bay Village, OH, was abducted from the Bay Square Shopping Center on October 27, 1989. AMY MIHALJEVIC - 2021 UPDATE! For more info about Amy's case, you can read through the blog I've devoted to it since 2006. Ryan was terrified, said no thank you to the man and quickly ran away to school. But no one knows Runkle. No forensic evidence has tied Runkle to the crime. Amy told her friends about the call, and that she had agreed to wait for the man at the shopping center to pick her up. I wasn't going to chance it because I didn't trust him based on his unfounded and mean spirited hatchet job on his personally manufactured suspect, Dean Runkle, in the Amy Mihaljevic case. Further evidence that supports the fact that Amy was not this killers first victim is the phone call they allowed Amy to make to her mother at work around 3:30pm on the day she disappeared. I will admit that sketch of the man Amy met that day looks like DR (and like a dead-ringer too), but simply looking like a sketch doesnt make him our guy. During those delays, I learned that Runkle was that suspect. The dog hair traveled on Amy's body and deposited onto them because the curtain and blanket were likely used to wrap her body during travel. Dean Runkle is still the prime suspect in the case, according to one FBI agent, but the case against him is still circumstantial. In 1971, he quit teaching for two years to play ragtime at Disneyland. According to friends and neighbors, Amy was a beautiful, intelligent girl with a bright future ahead of her. The school doors open, and here comes Amy Mihaljevic, dressed in green pants and a pale green shirt with lavender trim. Two of Amys friends immediately told police they had met Amy at the Bay Village Shopping Center shortly after school ended. See pictures of the handmade curtain and blanket here. I begin focusing on the people I can tell are locals - the tanned man weaving palm-frond baskets, the musician strumming a guitar on a corner. In an attempt to connect the girls with Amy, it was discovered that all, three girls had visited the nearby Lake Erie Nature and Science Center. on a farm near the road where Amys body was found (Renner, 2008). Visitors had to enter their name, address and phone numbers in the book. Her last meal was reported to be a soy substance . Interestingly, Marks new step son, Ryan Ruiz, was walking to school one day when he was approached slowly by a car. The FBI Finally Has A Top Suspect In The Amy Mihaljevic Murder. And it seems that there's finally some break in the case. ", I ask him about the sexual nature of the letters and he looks away. Why do you think Amys body was recovered where it was? Dean Runkle is still the prime suspect in the case, according to one FBI agent, but the case against him is still circumstantial. Edit: Press conference just ended. 2.1 Dean Runkle; 3 References; 4 Further reading; This interaction was seen by two separate witnesses, both fellow middle school students. What a stupid idea - thinking I would walk into a random fast-food joint and find him. But the only student they know who went inside was a boy named Dan, who attended Sailorway Middle School. We knew in 2016, her dogs hair was on the curtain, but now knowing her hair is on them tells us more and is a lot stronger, explained Bay Village Det. Did you see this curtain hanging in someone's house? Three and a half months later, Amy's body was found near New London, Ohio. Blood was also found inside of her underwear. Turning the corner, he says, "I have nothing to confess to.". In lab, he would stand behind me and push his chest against me. I asked him if he thought it was possible that a student of his could have showed me a picture of him volunteering at the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center. Amy's case remains open to this day, and the Bay Village police have never let her case go cold in almost 30 years. Today, in his late 70s, he remains free and resides in Key West, Florida, where he works as a restaurant shift manager. Margaret ran home, called her husband Mark, and began calling all of Amys friends and neighbors asking if theyd seen her. Mixed opinions from former students (Renner, 2008). That way I really get to know the kids and they get to know me, and we understand each other that way.". After high school, he went to Bowling Green, where he majored in education with a focus in biology. It also gave him PTSD. When reached at home, he admits to being Runkle's "favorite" for a while. "To me, that event is very significant," he says. Multiple witnesses say that he matches the man they saw . "This is where I'm at," says Amy, and walks alone across the nearly empty parking lot toward Baskin-Robbins. Richard Holbert. Amy Mihaljevic has been died on Oct 27, 1989 ( age 10). He then corroborated what each witness said with what they told police back in 1989 immediately after the disappearance. Ken Lanning dislikes the word "profiler" and seldom uses it, but that's what most people would call him. Oct 15. Who Killed Amy Renee Mihaljevic. Marshals searching for Ohio man wanted in multiple crimes, Chief issues 6-alarm fire in Camp Washington, 1 dead, 4 hospitalized after being hit by semi-truck following crash on Ohio Turnpike, 2-year-old Ohio boy found safe, Amber Alert canceled, police say, Duo of suspected porch pirates wanted on Clevelands West Side, police say, RELATED: 32 years later, Mark Mihaljevic still hopeful his daughters killer will be found, Closed Captioning/Audio Description Problems. But something happened in 1987. But be careful not to try to fit a square peg in a round hole, he warns. In 2002, during a Sunday Mass at St. Angela Merici Catholic Church on Lorain Road in Fairview Park, he announced that he was the one responsible for what happened to Amy. Many of these men have no alibis for the afternoon of October 27, 1989. The first place I stopped was a chain restaurant that Runkle reportedly frequented in Ohio. This is a huge reason why I dont like DR as a suspect. . He says that after he left for high school, Runkle used to write him letters. I tracked it to a junkyard in rural West Virginia, but when I got there in September, I was told it had been scrapped long ago. But it was never inappropriate.". When I ask 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. Runkle also seemed to have volunteered in the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center in Bay Village at the time of the murder. Person Of Interest. But what motivation could this man possibly have to lie to police during their investigation in 1989? Material that was collected at the scene may contain the killers DNA. We know where she was found. In the years since Amy's abduction, Maddie (not her real name) has been shown hundreds of photos of suspects. Someone missed this curtain when it was gone - or at least noticed it was missing. James Renner is an investigative journalist from the Bay Village area, and he was around the same age as Amy when she was killed. DR was a teacher at a middle school, which let out later than Amys school did. Neighbors had seen the man talking to Amy briefly days before her disappearance, and he also resembled the composite sketch. But only a handful crossed paths with each of the girls the abductor attempted to seduce over the phone before successfully luring Amy to the shopping center that day - the clue upon which the entire case hinges, the one way in which the killer was careless. Investigators from Bay Village and the FBI know of this man. From conversations with the nature center's staff (I had donated some of the book's profits to the organization, in memory of Amy, and so had reason to talk to them occasionally), I learned that Bay Village Det. BAY VILLAGE, Ohio (WOIO) - Nearly 32 years after her murder, theres a new clue in the Amy Mihaljevic case. There are no samples, according to Elish, currently being tested in a lab. He called some students his assistants, and they were allowed to stay with Runkle after school and on weekends to help clean the cages and feed the animals. All the interviews checked out except one. Search for a Topic. Renner pressed him for any information about Amys murder, but Runkle walked away. Police considered it another dead end. Runkle stops and answers them for a while. Friends said she never recovered from Amys death and the lack of solid leads in solving the case. Runkle was a twin, but his sister died in 1950, when they were 6. It's the big unsolved mystery of the area. We may never find answers to these questions, but Amys family deserves to know what happened to her. He asked them if they remembered writing their names and home numbers in a logbook by the front doors. Another key person of interest in Amy Mihaljevic's disappearance and murder case is Richard Holbert, who, like a few others, has confessed to slaying Amy. Amy was the subject of my first crime article - and my first book. Cleveland newspaper reporter James Renner investigated Mihaljevic's murder case and concluded that a teacher named Dean Runkle should be viewed as a prime suspect. We know this perpetrator is both patient opportunistic, the play it safe type who allowed Amy to call her mom as to not raise suspicion, so why would he rush from his job to the abduction scene? It was a crowded plaza filled with adults as well as middle and high school students who would frequent the Baskin Robbins after school. News of the other suspicious phone calls in the area spread around, and suddenly, no children went anywhere alone. That night and much of the next day I show Runkle's photo around town. In August, after hearing from Perchinsky, I sent more than 500 e-mails to former students of Runkle's through MySpace and Facebook. But when Renner questioned other teachers and students, they all confirmed that this teacher, Dean Runkle, did in fact frequent the nature center. Both witness accounts corroborated each other. Several students have recently stated that they rode in Mr. Runkles car with him to donate the mice at the nature center. Bay Village, . Im not sure how he explained to Amy that he knew that her mother had gotten a promotion on October 27th on that fateful phone call. After he returned, Runkle began building his own nature center inside his classroom. The story I've spent the most time on is the unsolved abduction and murder of Amy Mihaljevic. By James Renner on Wed, Nov 12, 2008 at 4:00 am. Ninguna evidencia forense ha vinculado a Runkle con el crimen. He asked each of them if they remembered visiting the Lake Erie Nature and Science Center in Bay Village. Amy was 10 and had not yet reached puberty. All four girls, who received . One of them spots the girl spinning around the pole, seemingly without a care in the world. Nous l'avons rencontr en premier". I suspect they are getting real damn close to getting the person/s. Call the Bay Village Police Department at 440-871-1234. Send a News Tip. The lengths that Joseph went to hide his real name and the longevity of his identity theft led them to speculate that he was a dangerous fugitive. Multiple witnesses say that he matches the man they saw . The Handmade Curtain. They become confident with their methods, so they start getting sloppy and leaving evidence behind. In 2018, officials announced that they were following a potential link between Joseph Newton Chandler III and the murder of Amy Mihaljevic. Under interrogation, the suspect began softly muttering random words in no particular order. This would be a very risky move to pull off, so thats another no for DR. Hes also a person of authority whom Amy wouldve known and trusted. "The younger the age of the victim, the more likely the perpetrator would not have a gender preference," he says. The FBI believes the murder was actually committed in the remote rural area surrounding Bay Village to avoid being seen. It's . I ask him about Dan and he quickly became emotional. As of 2014, her homicide remained unsolved. ALSO, Dean Runkle has NOT been named as a suspect. Meanwhile, Mark and Jason moved on with their lives as best they could. We want it to be a surprise. Police responded to the Mihaljevic house almost immediately, and began interviewing Amys family and friends over the next few days. Mike DeWine suffered injury while in East Palestine, U.S. Jen Crouch says Runkle liked to tell her about pranks he played on friends. "His eyes popped out of his head. Right now, there is a theory going around about the possibility of Amys case having multiple assailants, with a connection to a pedophile ring in Michigan. If you meet me at the plaza after school, I'll take you shopping to pick out a present for her. On Oct. 27, 1989, Amy was lured to Bay Square shopping plaza by a man who had previously called Amy at her home. The story of her unsolved kidnapping and murder was one of the first cases presented by John Walsh on the television show, America's Most Wanted during . A couple hours later after no response, the Mihaljevics filed a missing persons report with the Bay Village Police Department. "He used to tell us about the science center he volunteered at. I'd watch him put his left hand on her back and bend down to whisper in her ear. Amy Mihaljevic was born on the 11th of December, 1978. Margaret still left work immediately and returned to her house, but Amy wasnt there. "If you do become a violent guy, you better be victimizing strangers," explains Lanning. New DNA evidence could help solve the decades old mystery. He was very touchy." In February 1990, when Amys body was found in an Ashland County field, a curtain and a blanket were discovered 300 yards away. Initial evidence found at the scene suggested that she had been dumped there shortly after her abduction, maybe on the day itself. Course Hero is not sponsored or endorsed by any college or university. Whatever the reason, Runkle moved back in with his parents in New London and got a job working at a pet store. The curtain is incredibly unique and likely homemade. According to reporter James Renner, Dean Runkle is a possible prime suspect in the FBI investigation.Multiple witnesses say that he matches the man they saw with Amy the day she vanished. on Also not in his personnel file were the occasions when Runkle was caught alone with students in his gold-colored Grand Prix, by both the principal and a policeman, who let him go with a warning. "That was a difficult time in my life," he says. He's doing OK. She had been stabbed twice in the neck and hit in the head with a . They also start taking trophies. On the 31st anniversary of finding Amy's body, a woman (who remains unnamed), called the police to tell them that her ex-boyfriend, Dean Runkle, was a potential and most likely suspect of Amy . Her killer has never been apprehended. Two witnesses said they saw Amy that day with a man who would now be in his mid-50s or early '60s. Kids no longer answered phone calls. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. Margaret became severely depressed and was unable to move on with her life. "But I'm telling the truth when I say I don't remember being there.". Child murder victim who was kidnapped from an Ohio shopping center and whose body was found four months later in an Ashland County field. Whoever this predator was, he had robbed Bay Village of its peace and sense of safety. Some recognize him as a piano player in local bars, but these tips don't get me any closer. He got a job teaching seventh-grade science at Sailorway Middle School in Vermilion in 1967. Not only is it not a list, but there is NO ATTRIBUTION for it. The curtain is homemade, and was originally Avocado green. Amy told her mother she was ok and that she was at home now, and then quickly hung up. They walk together until they reach the shopping plaza a quarter mile down the road. For 19 years, the FBI and the Bay Village Police Department kept the identity of these other girls a secret. Another close timeframe, so its another no from me. On that Top 25 list, he would be the man at the top. someone shouts. using the same gift shopping ruse (Renner, 2008). Then, in August 2008, a man named Tony Perchinsky called to tell me that he'd heard from a local cop that the man who'd been Perchinsky's eighth-grade science teacher in 1991, Dean Runkle, was a suspect in Amy's case. And I realized the nature center was in Bay Village.". We dont know what happened in between there, he said. "That's Dean!" Renner, your stuff is interesting, but ad hominem attacks . Copyright 2021 WOIO. But I answered the FBI's questions, I took their lie detector test and they haven't done anything to me. Searchers discovered Amy's body on February 9, 1990. Renner never got in touch with him again. In terms of a suspect, I agree that Dean Runkle appears incredibly suspicious. That obsession leads James to a successful career as an investigative journalist. It wouldnt have been unusual for Amy to go there alone or with friends. This three-decade-old mystery and the nationwide hunt for the perpetrator, involving hundreds of suspects, is still ongoing. "My sister told me about you," he says. Read More: Where Is Amy Mihaljevics Father Now? This "list os suspects" is so completely bogus. Some of them have been suspects for years and decades.. . "He would stare at me in class," says Kim Raeburn. And, only a few times has she said that the man in the photo could be the one she saw. In 1990 when the body was found, forensic testing for DNA as we know it now and other trace evidence was not yet available. At 2:10 p.m., on October . Last weekend, I paid him a visit. Mr. Runkle taught classes at the nature center and frequently volunteered there. As is the case in many child abductions, I believe the motive in Amys case was sexual assault, but then Amy couldve identified the perpetrator, so she had to be killed. without collection a pension that was owed to him (Renner, 2008). Renner parked his car and confronted Runkle. After years and years of almost-suspects, Bay Village police had yet another lead go cold. And that's when the old man with a Frisbee shows up. So, take a look. Disappearance and Murder. Cleveland newspaper reporter James Renner investigated Mihaljevic's murder case and concluded that a teacher named Dean Runkle should be viewed as a prime suspect. No forensic evidence has tied Runkle to the crime. Amy Renee Mihaljevic (December 11, 1978 - October 27, 1989) was a ten-year-old American elementary school student who was kidnapped and murdered in the U.S. state of Ohio in 1989. James Renner 10-year-old Amy grew up in Bay Village, OH, an altogether peaceful town on the shores of Lake Erie. DR seems eccentric from what Ive read, but being eccentric isnt a crime either. One hundred days later, Amys body was found 50 miles away. Unfortunately, neither witness got a good look at the mans face, nor did they see him or Amy get into a vehicle, or go into a store. Another girl, Maddie, sees this and thinks the boy might be picking on Amy, so she keeps an eye on both of them to make sure nothing happens. Cleveland Taco Week returns on Monday, April 10th. At the nature center in 1989 was a log book that all visitors were required to sign when they entered. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. "Man, me and Dean are friends. [2 . If we can find out where that curtain came from or who owned that, we believe strongly that will take us to the person responsible for this, he said. "He's one of those men who makes you feel uncomfortable when you're alone with them," she says. Adkins says she and other young girls were questioned about Runkle's behavior by the superintendent in 1995. We know where Amy was abducted. The movie Mean Girls made a joke about this, but its something that sticks out to the kids theyve taught. The store bred pet mice, but when the mice population exploded, Runkle began giving the mice away to local nature centers, says the store's former owner, Oneta McCarthy. The mother of one of Amys friends drove down to the local news station to have them display a photo of Amy with a notice that she was reported missing.