Cold and Missing: Amy Mihaljevic

100:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,780The views and opinions expressed in Cold and Missing are exclusively those of the hosts.200:00:13,780 --> 00:00:18,400All parties mentioned are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.300:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,160Cold and Missing also contains adult themes and languages.400:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,560Listener discretion is advised.500:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,280I'm your host, Ali McLaughlin-Sulkowski.600:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,680And I'm your co-host, Eli Sulkowski.700:00:29,680 --> 00:00:34,400And this is Cold and Missing, where we cover cold cases and missing person cases.800:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,000Hello everyone and welcome back to Cold and Missing.900:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,520I'm your host, Ali.1000:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,480And I'm your co-host, Eli.1100:00:40,480 --> 00:00:41,480Happy New Year, y'all!1200:00:41,480 --> 00:00:43,400Happy New Year, everyone.1300:00:43,400 --> 00:00:48,120If you're listening to this in real time, we just celebrated the new year just a few1400:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,080days ago, so I hope you're all having a good new year so far.1500:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,780And if you're not listening to this in real time, if you're going back and binging some1600:00:55,780 --> 00:01:00,080old episodes, I hope you're having a great year still, no matter where you are.1700:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,280All right, you have a new case for us this week, right?1800:01:03,280 --> 00:01:04,280I sure do.1900:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,120So this week we are on a cold case, and this one comes to us from Ohio.2000:01:09,120 --> 00:01:10,120Ohio.2100:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,080Okay, let's get started.2200:01:13,080 --> 00:01:18,800So just as a bit of a content warning at the top, this case does involve a young person.2300:01:18,800 --> 00:01:23,020So today we are covering the cold case of Amy Mihaljevic.2400:01:23,020 --> 00:01:27,280And this takes place in Bay Village, Ohio, in October of 1989.2500:01:27,280 --> 00:01:33,280Now, Amy's case is pretty well known, but this is one that I was not very familiar with.2600:01:33,280 --> 00:01:37,020I didn't know a lot of the details and had only heard her name in passing, so this is2700:01:37,020 --> 00:01:41,640something that I personally wanted to research just to find out more about.2800:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,800Amy Mihaljevic was 10 years old in 1989.2900:01:44,800 --> 00:01:50,080Amy was born December 11, 1978, and she would be 45 years old today.3000:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,360Amy was a fifth grader at Bay Village Middle School in Bay Village, Ohio.3100:01:54,360 --> 00:02:00,600Bay Village in 1989 was a wealthy suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and it was once named one3200:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,120of the safest places in America.3300:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,720Amy was a shy girl with strangers, but very open and funny with those she knew.3400:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,640She loved riding horses and was in the gifted program at school.3500:02:11,640 --> 00:02:16,920Amy is around 4'10", and weighed 90 pounds with shoulder-length blonde hair.3600:02:16,920 --> 00:02:19,740And now a timeline of events.3700:02:19,740 --> 00:02:26,320On Friday, October 27, 1989, Amy gets dressed that morning for school wearing green sweatpants,3800:02:26,320 --> 00:02:32,000a white jacket, black ankle boots that she would also wear to ride horses, and turquoise3900:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,920earrings shaped like a horse head.4000:02:34,920 --> 00:02:38,960Before leaving for school that day, Amy tells her mother that she's going to be home late4100:02:38,960 --> 00:02:44,360that day because she either had choir practice or was auditioning for the fifth grade choir.4200:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,360Both activities have been reported over the years.4300:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,560But either activity, whichever one it was, was to take place after school.4400:02:51,560 --> 00:02:56,040Amy's mother worked as a writer for the Trading Times magazine, and her father worked4500:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,480in the automotive industry and had business in Cleveland that day.4600:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,340Amy leaves for school on her bike around 7.20am.4700:03:04,340 --> 00:03:08,120Her older brother Jason had already left, so she was alone, but arrives to school with4800:03:08,120 --> 00:03:09,560no issues.4900:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,440During the school day, she tells classmates that after school she's going shopping with5000:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,240a family friend she hadn't met before to buy her mother a surprise gift, and he was5100:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,480going to buy her gifts as well.5200:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,240So once school is let out, Amy leaves her bike locked up at school and walks the 7 minutes5300:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,560over to Bay Square Shopping Center.5400:03:27,560 --> 00:03:32,160This was a popular place for middle schoolers to hang out after school since it was so close.5500:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,240This area is like an L-shaped strip mall with a large parking lot.5600:03:36,240 --> 00:03:40,840At around 2.15am, Amy is seen at the shopping center by two classmates.5700:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,040Amy still has her red and denim backpack with her.5800:03:44,040 --> 00:03:48,320She is standing in front of an ice cream parlor, which is also across the street from the Bay5900:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,760Village Police Department at that time.6000:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,080According to witnesses, Amy looked like she was waiting for someone when a man approached6100:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,920her, put his hand on her shoulder, and led her through the parking lot where she was6200:03:58,920 --> 00:04:00,720seen getting into his car.6300:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,600At 3.10, Jason arrives home from school and calls his mother to let her know that6400:04:04,600 --> 00:04:05,600he was home.6500:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,440This was the kid's routine.6600:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,480They would call their mom once they got home from school just to let them know that they6700:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,000made it home safely.6800:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,800Jason told his mom that Amy was not home yet.6900:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,880Amy's mother, Margaret, was not immediately alarmed since Amy had told her that she would7000:04:18,880 --> 00:04:19,880be late.7100:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,520Jason calls his mother again at 3.30 to say that Amy was still not home.7200:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,440Margaret is starting to get worried about Amy as she should have been home by now.7300:04:28,440 --> 00:04:33,960However, at 3.40, just 10 minutes later, Amy calls her mother to check in after school7400:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,000and Margaret assumes that she's calling from the house.7500:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,520This is before caller ID is super common.7600:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,880This is the last time that Margaret talks to her daughter.7700:04:42,880 --> 00:04:48,160Margaret leaves work around 5pm that day and gets home to discover that Amy is not there7800:04:48,160 --> 00:04:49,800and hadn't been there.7900:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,560Immediately, Margaret drives to the school and finds Amy's bike is still there and locked8000:04:54,560 --> 00:04:55,600up.8100:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,460Margaret is able to find a school janitor and they look through every room at the school8200:04:59,460 --> 00:05:01,500but are unable to find Amy.8300:05:01,500 --> 00:05:05,540At 5.58, Margaret reports Amy missing to the police.8400:05:05,540 --> 00:05:09,880Just a few minutes later, Amy's father, Mark, returns from his work in Cleveland and finds8500:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,920out that Amy is missing.8600:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,560Almost immediately, a massive search is started.8700:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,880By the next day, the FBI have joined the case to help search for Amy.8800:05:18,880 --> 00:05:23,040Investigators begin canvassing the neighborhood and talking with neighbors, searching wooded8900:05:23,040 --> 00:05:27,040areas, and they even drag a few lakes near Amy's home.9000:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,880While searching a wooded area near where Amy liked to ride horses, they find a pair of9100:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,040sweatpants in Amy's size.9200:05:33,040 --> 00:05:37,680Her parents are unable to ID them as Amy's but they're sent for further testing.9300:05:37,680 --> 00:05:43,320By Sunday, October 29th, Bay Village Police Chief William Garou says that the man who9400:05:43,320 --> 00:05:49,120took Amy is, quote, believed to have a familiarity with the family, end quote.9500:05:49,120 --> 00:05:54,800On Monday, October 30th, it's revealed by a neighbor, Riley Bonham, whose 11-year-old9600:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,720daughter was best friends with Amy, that Amy had received two phone calls prior to her9700:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,500disappearance from a man who she did not know.9800:06:02,500 --> 00:06:06,720The first phone call was the man saying that he needed Amy's help buying her mother a9900:06:06,720 --> 00:06:07,760gift.10000:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,560The man told Amy that her mother, Margaret, had received a promotion at work and he wanted10100:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,920her help picking out a gift for the surprise party that the staff were going to throw.10200:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,880Margaret had not received a promotion at work.10300:06:19,880 --> 00:06:24,520The second phone call promises that in addition to buying her mother a gift, he'll also buy10400:06:24,520 --> 00:06:26,160Amy a gift as well.10500:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,880The man stresses to Amy that she has to keep it all a secret in order to preserve the surprise10600:06:30,880 --> 00:06:32,280for her mother.10700:06:32,280 --> 00:06:35,740Once this information comes to light, the family is dumbfounded.10800:06:35,740 --> 00:06:39,960Not only because Margaret was not promoted at work, but they have no idea who the caller10900:06:39,960 --> 00:06:40,960is.11000:06:40,960 --> 00:06:45,120The FBI calls in a sketch artist to sit down with the witnesses who saw Amy and the man11100:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,360at the shopping center to create a composite sketch.11200:06:48,360 --> 00:06:52,560On Tuesday, October 31st, police release the sketch of the suspect.11300:06:52,560 --> 00:06:57,980He is believed to be a white male, 35 to 45 years old in 1989.11400:06:57,980 --> 00:07:03,400In 58 and 59, medium build with darker hair but was balding at his crown.11500:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,560He wore round glasses and was wearing a tan jacket.11600:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,080There were faint traces of a beard on the man.11700:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,920With the release of the sketch, police are flooded with calls.11800:07:11,920 --> 00:07:16,020They're still hopeful that they can find Amy alive and bring her home.11900:07:16,020 --> 00:07:20,760On Thursday, November 2nd, as more stories about Amy hit the media, specifically the12000:07:20,760 --> 00:07:25,360information about her getting a phone call from a man, two other young girls in the area12100:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,260come forward to say that they also got similar phone calls.12200:07:29,260 --> 00:07:33,780Police Chief William Garou says, quote, in each case those girls hung up, but the calls12300:07:33,780 --> 00:07:34,780were very similar.12400:07:34,780 --> 00:07:38,160We are looking for a common thread, end quote.12500:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,740Police say that the man making the phone calls was very appealing.12600:07:41,740 --> 00:07:46,160Police are questioning several men who resemble the composite sketch, but all are let go.12700:07:46,160 --> 00:07:50,360Police also search the wooded area around the water filtration plant based off of a12800:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,600tip but nothing turns up there.12900:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,900On Sunday, November 5th, Amy has been missing for over a week now.13000:07:56,900 --> 00:08:02,200Police announced that there was a man seen on October 26th and 27th, so the day before13100:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,760and the day of Amy's kidnapping.13200:08:04,760 --> 00:08:10,440The man had a camcorder and was taking pictures of kids near Normandy School, City Hall, and13300:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,280the Bay Square Shopping Center.13400:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,760Police want to talk with this man and they also want to look at his footage to see if13500:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,180there are any clues.13600:08:17,180 --> 00:08:21,300To date, I do not believe that this man was ever identified and police were never able13700:08:21,300 --> 00:08:23,320to review that footage.13800:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,520Searches continue throughout the week of November 5th in rural areas nearby.13900:08:27,520 --> 00:08:31,560Police continue to look at people who are reported through the tip line, some as far14000:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,860away as Louisiana, but no real suspect has emerged.14100:08:35,860 --> 00:08:40,080Police are able to obtain footage from a local commercial that was shot the day before Amy14200:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,500was kidnapped at the Bay Square Shopping Center, but they're still looking for the man who14300:08:44,500 --> 00:08:48,380was there the day that she was kidnapped with his camcorder.14400:08:48,380 --> 00:08:52,440Police also send in the sweatpants that they found for DNA testing.14500:08:52,440 --> 00:08:58,300Ultimately, these pants will come back with a 95% probability that they were Amy's.14600:08:58,300 --> 00:09:02,200Police return to the area where they found the sweatpants to search that area again.14700:09:02,200 --> 00:09:06,220This time, police will use aircraft to help in their search and also send divers into14800:09:06,220 --> 00:09:08,400a pond nearby.14900:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,820Investigators remain hopeful that Amy will be found alive, but her family is growing15000:09:11,820 --> 00:09:14,440increasingly worried with each passing day.15100:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,980Mark Mihaljevic says, quote, the longer it goes, the scarier it gets for her safe return15200:09:18,980 --> 00:09:22,500to home, but we aren't giving up hope, end quote.15300:09:22,500 --> 00:09:27,100As Amy's disappearance enters its third week, local businesses donate materials to15400:09:27,100 --> 00:09:32,020print flyers with the goal of sending out 1 million flyers across the country about15500:09:32,020 --> 00:09:33,020Amy.15600:09:33,020 --> 00:09:36,900The flyers have Amy's picture and the composite sketch of the suspect on it.15700:09:36,900 --> 00:09:41,460The community ties white ribbons around trees, light posts, and telephone poles as a reminder15800:09:41,460 --> 00:09:44,100that they're hopeful Amy will come home.15900:09:44,100 --> 00:09:48,820Police start to search abandoned farmhouses all over northern Ohio for any clue about16000:09:48,820 --> 00:09:50,580what happened to Amy.16100:09:50,580 --> 00:09:54,420Thanksgiving rolls around that year and people are encouraged to pick up flyers and bring16200:09:54,420 --> 00:09:58,180them with them to post as they travel out of town.16300:09:58,180 --> 00:10:03,740Lots of people do this and flyers about Amy are put up all over the Midwest and beyond.16400:10:03,740 --> 00:10:08,500About 25% of all the new tips that come in are from people outside of the Bay Village16500:10:08,500 --> 00:10:09,500area.16600:10:09,500 --> 00:10:14,780There are even reported sightings of Amy in Maine and Oklahoma, but police are unable16700:10:14,780 --> 00:10:19,500to confirm if it is Amy and they do not find her at these locations.16800:10:19,500 --> 00:10:24,260On December 1, 1989, it's been over a month since Amy was kidnapped.16900:10:24,260 --> 00:10:29,100Two girls, 10 and 11 years old, are waiting for a bus when a man pulls up and motions17000:10:29,100 --> 00:10:30,780for them to get into the car.17100:10:30,780 --> 00:10:35,200The girls take off running and say that the man attempted to follow them but stopped when17200:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,060they reached an apartment building.17300:10:37,060 --> 00:10:41,300According to the girls, the man resembled the composite sketch in Amy's case.17400:10:41,300 --> 00:10:47,220On December 11, which should have been Amy's 11th birthday and her golden birthday, police17500:10:47,220 --> 00:10:51,940are no closer to finding her than the day she went missing and they have no suspects.17600:10:51,940 --> 00:10:56,700They have run down 3,000 leads and still have not found any trace of Amy.17700:10:56,700 --> 00:11:03,140Amy's parents launched the Community Fund for Assisting Missing Youth, or A.M.Y. for short.17800:11:03,140 --> 00:11:07,620The organization will help raise money for the Reward Fund for Amy and put on safety17900:11:07,620 --> 00:11:10,100programs for Northern Ohio youth.18000:11:10,100 --> 00:11:14,660When reporters ask Margaret what she would say to Amy and her captors, she says, quote,18100:11:14,660 --> 00:11:15,980We love you, Amy.18200:11:15,980 --> 00:11:17,780We love you and support you.18300:11:17,780 --> 00:11:19,620Find some way to get a message to us.18400:11:19,620 --> 00:11:20,620End quote.18500:11:20,620 --> 00:11:24,060And to the captors, she says, quote, We love Amy more than you do.18600:11:24,060 --> 00:11:25,860Just let Amy come home.18700:11:25,860 --> 00:11:26,860End quote.18800:11:26,860 --> 00:11:33,100It's January 17, 1990, so we're in a new year now, and Amy has been missing for nearly18900:11:33,100 --> 00:11:35,060three months at this point.19000:11:35,060 --> 00:11:38,180The FBI released a profile of the suspect.19100:11:38,180 --> 00:11:42,420Special Agent William Branon says, quote, The abductor likely acted alone during the19200:11:42,420 --> 00:11:48,300actual abduction, but he may have taken someone into his confidence to create an alibi or19300:11:48,300 --> 00:11:53,900to obtain the assistance of a friend or associate to cover up his involvement in this crime.19400:11:53,900 --> 00:11:59,300The person responsible for this crime would likely become anxious, more rigid, reclusive,19500:11:59,300 --> 00:12:01,020and more uptight than usual.19600:12:01,020 --> 00:12:04,940He may have experienced trouble sleeping, may have lost weight, or would have increased19700:12:04,940 --> 00:12:09,140his consumption of drugs and alcohol, which would further affect his behavior.19800:12:09,140 --> 00:12:14,140The offender may have found a logical reason to depart on a previously unscheduled vacation19900:12:14,140 --> 00:12:16,900or visit relatives or change jobs.20000:12:16,900 --> 00:12:21,780In crimes of this nature, the offender frequently provides a reason to miss work on the days20100:12:21,780 --> 00:12:24,020immediately following the abduction.20200:12:24,020 --> 00:12:28,540The offender may have become more religious than normal or become more solicitous towards20300:12:28,540 --> 00:12:30,420family or associates.20400:12:30,420 --> 00:12:34,820Any or all of these changes in the offender's behavior after the crime occurred would be20500:12:34,820 --> 00:12:37,500recognized by those closest to him.20600:12:37,500 --> 00:12:38,700End quote.20700:12:38,700 --> 00:12:44,340On February 8, 1990, Janet Seabold gets up for her morning jog.20800:12:44,340 --> 00:12:49,700She lives in Ashland County, Ohio, and she's running along Ohio 1181.20900:12:49,700 --> 00:12:51,020It's a rural area.21000:12:51,020 --> 00:12:54,660Just about 45 miles from where Amy was kidnapped.21100:12:54,660 --> 00:13:00,740Janet's jog takes her near a 300-acre farm around 740 a.m. when she notices something21200:13:00,740 --> 00:13:03,820about 20 to 25 feet from the road.21300:13:03,820 --> 00:13:05,020It's a body.21400:13:05,020 --> 00:13:07,180She immediately runs to the farmhouse.21500:13:07,180 --> 00:13:11,780The farmer is Wilbur Salyer, but he doesn't get to the door fast enough.21600:13:11,780 --> 00:13:15,460Janet then bolts across the street to her friend's house, Patricia Kidd, and tells21700:13:15,460 --> 00:13:17,000her to call the police.21800:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,140Janet says, quote, I think I found a body.21900:13:19,140 --> 00:13:20,140Call the police.22000:13:20,140 --> 00:13:22,340Why did it have to be me that found it?22100:13:22,340 --> 00:13:23,340End quote.22200:13:23,340 --> 00:13:27,660Police arrive within four minutes of the call and begin to process the scene.22300:13:27,660 --> 00:13:32,460Almost immediately, the Ashland County police believe that the body is that of Amy Mahalovic.22400:13:32,460 --> 00:13:36,540The sheriff, Kenneth Etzweiler, says, quote, the physical appearance is almost similar22500:13:36,540 --> 00:13:37,620to Amy's.22600:13:37,620 --> 00:13:41,580This is just a guess, but it appears the body has been there since, say, the latter22700:13:41,580 --> 00:13:42,580part of November.22800:13:42,580 --> 00:13:45,620We're going to walk this entire area foot by foot.22900:13:45,620 --> 00:13:49,300The only thing we found near the body so far was part of one earring.23000:13:49,300 --> 00:13:50,300End quote.23100:13:50,300 --> 00:13:52,220Amy was found fully clothed.23200:13:52,220 --> 00:13:54,420She was wearing the clothes that she was last seen in.23300:13:54,420 --> 00:14:00,340However, her turquoise horse head earrings, her boots, and her backpack have never been23400:14:00,340 --> 00:14:01,340found.23500:14:01,340 --> 00:14:04,540She was face down and hidden by knee high weeds.23600:14:04,540 --> 00:14:10,100Amy had been hit on the back of the head with a blunt object and also had one or two stab23700:14:10,100 --> 00:14:12,620wounds on the left part of her neck.23800:14:12,620 --> 00:14:16,740Amy's autopsy is conducted that afternoon and evening, and they will confirm that it23900:14:16,740 --> 00:14:21,960is Amy via dental records and that what killed her was the stab wound in the neck that severed24000:14:21,960 --> 00:14:23,420her artery.24100:14:23,420 --> 00:14:27,680Police never confirm or deny if Amy was sexually assaulted.24200:14:27,680 --> 00:14:33,080At the scene, about 300 yards away from Amy's body, police find a curtain and a blanket.24300:14:33,080 --> 00:14:34,740The curtain is pretty unique.24400:14:34,740 --> 00:14:38,820It's an avocado green curtain that might have one time been a quilt.24500:14:38,820 --> 00:14:42,020There's wavy stitching throughout the entire length of the curtain.24600:14:42,020 --> 00:14:46,580At around noon that day, police contact Amy's family to let them know that they believe24700:14:46,580 --> 00:14:47,940they found her body.24800:14:47,940 --> 00:14:52,380The family is absolutely devastated that their hopes for Amy coming home to them are now24900:14:52,380 --> 00:14:53,780officially over.25000:14:53,780 --> 00:14:58,660The family retreats into privacy to grieve for Amy, but send the following message.25100:14:58,660 --> 00:15:03,460The family says, quote, We honestly believed that Amy was alive all this time.25200:15:03,460 --> 00:15:04,820Our hope was real.25300:15:04,820 --> 00:15:09,780As her family, we salute and thank everyone who has been so kind to us and has helped25400:15:09,780 --> 00:15:12,100us so much during our ordeal.25500:15:12,100 --> 00:15:14,500What do we say except thank you, Cleveland?25600:15:14,500 --> 00:15:19,540For all your efforts, for all your hope, for all your support, for all your caring.25700:15:19,540 --> 00:15:21,460We have been through hell and back.25800:15:21,460 --> 00:15:22,460End quote.25900:15:22,460 --> 00:15:27,500As news about the discovery of Amy's body spreads throughout the region, people begin26000:15:27,500 --> 00:15:30,420to debate how long the body could have been there.26100:15:30,420 --> 00:15:35,180As mentioned before, Amy's body was found 20 to 25 feet from the road.26200:15:35,180 --> 00:15:41,700Her body was 300 yards away from the farmhouse and 300 yards away from Amy was one large26300:15:41,700 --> 00:15:46,320blanket and one large curtain, both avocado green in color.26400:15:46,320 --> 00:15:50,300Members of Amy's family who live in Ashland County where her body was found say that they26500:15:50,300 --> 00:15:53,740had driven past that area several times and didn't see anything.26600:15:53,740 --> 00:15:58,460Another neighbor said his son often rode his bike past the area and didn't see her either.26700:15:58,460 --> 00:16:04,060A hunter calls police to say that he had been on the farm hunting a week before and in that26800:16:04,060 --> 00:16:06,140area and didn't see Amy.26900:16:06,140 --> 00:16:10,260Tips start to come in about a car scene in the area a few weeks before Amy's body was27000:16:10,260 --> 00:16:12,300found with the trunk popped open.27100:16:12,300 --> 00:16:17,380However, investigators maintain then as they do now that Amy's body was put there shortly27200:16:17,380 --> 00:16:19,900after her abduction in October.27300:16:19,900 --> 00:16:23,740Police are determined to find the killer and promise the community and Amy's family that27400:16:23,740 --> 00:16:26,300they'll stay on the case until it's solved.27500:16:26,300 --> 00:16:30,100Over the next few months, tips will begin to dwindle from the community.27600:16:30,100 --> 00:16:34,540By April, the reward fund had grown to $60,000.27700:16:34,540 --> 00:16:39,020Police will continue to question anyone who resembles the composite sketch or anyone who's27800:16:39,020 --> 00:16:41,500called in on the tip line.27900:16:41,500 --> 00:16:46,540By July of 1990, police will say that they've talked to 9,000 people and Amy's story will28000:16:46,540 --> 00:16:49,500appear on TV shows across the nation.28100:16:49,500 --> 00:16:54,660But ultimately, the killer is never caught and police are never able to pin down a suspect.28200:16:54,660 --> 00:17:00,900Amy's case remains in the news over the years, but no new information is really developed.28300:17:00,900 --> 00:17:08,580In 2016 though, through advances in DNA, police are able to determine that Amy's dog hair28400:17:08,580 --> 00:17:11,820was found on the curtain found near her body.28500:17:11,820 --> 00:17:19,380In 2019, just a few years later, a woman comes forward to tell police about her ex-boyfriend.28600:17:19,380 --> 00:17:24,300She said that the day Amy went missing, he never came home that night, but he did call28700:17:24,300 --> 00:17:27,860her to ask if there was news coverage about Amy.28800:17:27,860 --> 00:17:34,840Additionally, it's revealed by local news that on Amy's body were gold fibers and according28900:17:34,840 --> 00:17:39,160to the woman, the man drove a gold car with a tan interior.29000:17:39,160 --> 00:17:44,460The day Amy's body was found, an FBI agent sat at a nearby intersection and wrote down29100:17:44,460 --> 00:17:49,240the model, make, and license plate of every car that drove by.29200:17:49,240 --> 00:17:54,820According to police documentation, that man, the ex-boyfriend, drove by that day.29300:17:54,820 --> 00:18:00,160Police talked with him in 2019 and took his DNA and searched a storage unit that belonged29400:18:00,160 --> 00:18:01,160to him.29500:18:01,160 --> 00:18:05,380They did seize evidence at the storage unit, but to date, no charges have been brought29600:18:05,380 --> 00:18:06,660against him.29700:18:06,660 --> 00:18:11,020Police have never said if they have a DNA profile for the suspect, but I would think29800:18:11,020 --> 00:18:16,300by taking the DNA of people they interviewed that they are looking to compare it to something.29900:18:16,300 --> 00:18:23,500In 2021, thanks to more advances in DNA technology, police are able to determine that Amy's30000:18:23,500 --> 00:18:28,700hair was found on both the blanket and curtain found near her body.30100:18:28,700 --> 00:18:33,100Police theorize that both items were used to wrap Amy's body in before dumping her30200:18:33,100 --> 00:18:34,520where she was found.30300:18:34,520 --> 00:18:38,660As mentioned before, the curtain is pretty unique and possibly homemade.30400:18:38,660 --> 00:18:43,380Police believe that if they can find who that curtain belonged to, it will lead to the person30500:18:43,380 --> 00:18:45,700responsible for Amy's murder.30600:18:45,700 --> 00:18:49,460But that is where the case stands today.30700:18:49,460 --> 00:18:54,780So if you know anything about the abduction and murder of Amy Mihaljevic in October of30800:18:54,780 --> 00:19:05,9401989, you are asked to call the FBI directly at 1-800-CALL-FBI or 1-800-225-5324.30900:19:05,940 --> 00:19:11,260The sources for the timeline today come from The Telegraph Forum, The Akron Beacon Journal,31000:19:11,260 --> 00:19:15,660Lancaster Eagle Gazette, The Marion Star, Centennial Tribune, News Journal, The New31100:19:15,660 --> 00:19:21,380Work Advocate, Troy Daily News, The Times, The Daily Advocate, Brian Times, St. Cloud31200:19:21,380 --> 00:19:26,100Times, Wilmington News Journal, The Evening Sun, Sun Journal, The Delaware Gazette, The31300:19:26,100 --> 00:19:32,700Tribune, Dayton Daily News, The Daily Oklahoman, Tulsa World, Telegraph Forum, 19 News, Cleveland31400:19:32,700 --> 00:19:34,980News 5, and the FBI.31500:19:34,980 --> 00:19:37,700So that is the case of Amy Mihaljevic.31600:19:37,700 --> 00:19:40,220Thank you for sharing this.31700:19:40,220 --> 00:19:47,580It's a case that I've heard once before and I remembered it just because of the oddness31800:19:47,580 --> 00:19:49,620surrounding her kidnapping.31900:19:49,620 --> 00:19:55,420But yeah, it's one that kind of surprises me that we haven't heard more of.32000:19:55,420 --> 00:19:56,660Yeah.32100:19:56,660 --> 00:19:59,020This is a case that I was very unfamiliar with.32200:19:59,020 --> 00:20:01,260I had kind of heard the name before.32300:20:01,260 --> 00:20:04,060Mihaljevic is kind of a unique last name.32400:20:04,060 --> 00:20:07,380This is the only time that I've heard it personally.32500:20:07,380 --> 00:20:13,220So that's kind of how it rang a bell with me, but I truly didn't know much about her32600:20:13,220 --> 00:20:18,160case, but this has been covered pretty well over the years.32700:20:18,160 --> 00:20:22,860My sources, I listed out a ton, so this was covered really heavily at the time.32800:20:22,860 --> 00:20:29,140And each year at the anniversary of her abduction or of her body being found, there's usually32900:20:29,140 --> 00:20:33,740some news coverage out of Ohio covering the case.33000:20:33,740 --> 00:20:35,580I have a question.33100:20:35,580 --> 00:20:43,140My mind always just goes back to who was that guy?33200:20:43,140 --> 00:20:53,220Who was that guy who had their contact and knew where she went to school?33300:20:53,220 --> 00:20:55,620That part of it is just so...33400:20:55,620 --> 00:20:59,180That's the really odd and scary part to me.33500:20:59,180 --> 00:21:03,740So yeah, I haven't had the chance to talk about this case with anyone.33600:21:03,740 --> 00:21:06,820So that's my question for you.33700:21:06,820 --> 00:21:10,140Over the years, police have looked at people who knew the family.33800:21:10,140 --> 00:21:17,100So coworkers of both mom and dad, family, friends, because whoever called Amy did seem33900:21:17,100 --> 00:21:22,160to know her family, did seem to know her, knew her schedule, like you said, knew where34000:21:22,160 --> 00:21:30,300she went to school, knew what was nearby, and kind of knew how to get Amy to come with34100:21:30,300 --> 00:21:31,300him.34200:21:31,300 --> 00:21:38,900You know, he really exploited her love for her mother by wanting to do this nice thing34300:21:38,900 --> 00:21:42,820for her mom, buying this gift, her mom got promoted, there was going to be a surprise34400:21:42,820 --> 00:21:46,340party, she wanted to be in on it.34500:21:46,340 --> 00:21:51,860He was able to exploit that, but there does appear to be similar phone calls that had34600:21:51,860 --> 00:21:56,260happened before Amy's abduction to two other girls in that area.34700:21:56,260 --> 00:21:58,420They received similar phone calls.34800:21:58,420 --> 00:22:02,900In one case, she hung up, in another case, she handed the phone to her brother.34900:22:02,900 --> 00:22:08,200So they believe it was the same man, since it appears to be kind of the same ruse he35000:22:08,200 --> 00:22:09,200was using.35100:22:09,200 --> 00:22:15,340But it makes you think that he was possibly watching the middle school and kind of picking35200:22:15,340 --> 00:22:20,140out girls in the area that he wanted to target.35300:22:20,140 --> 00:22:26,940Yeah, stalking the area, getting the lay of the land, and you know, that makes sense to35400:22:26,940 --> 00:22:28,120me.35500:22:28,120 --> 00:22:34,020A question that I have, and this might be not an important point, but a question that35600:22:34,020 --> 00:22:39,100I have is they found sweatpants that they send in for DNA testing.35700:22:39,100 --> 00:22:44,020And it comes back with a 95% probability that they were Amy's.35800:22:44,020 --> 00:22:46,780But it's nowhere near where her body was found.35900:22:46,780 --> 00:22:51,500And she was found wearing, I believe, the clothes that she was last seen in.36000:22:51,500 --> 00:22:57,140The only thing missing are her turquoise horse head earrings, her boots, and her backpack.36100:22:57,140 --> 00:23:01,500According to all the reports, she was wearing everything else she was last seen in.36200:23:01,500 --> 00:23:08,700So I just wonder, you know, DNA testing was still kind of in its infancy as of 1989.36300:23:08,700 --> 00:23:12,340So I wonder if it just was kind of a misfiring.36400:23:12,340 --> 00:23:17,42095% in DNA is kind of on the low end, I would say.36500:23:17,420 --> 00:23:21,020Usually when you hear about DNA results, it's like 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999.36600:23:21,020 --> 00:23:25,120You know, like it's, it's always up there in that area.36700:23:25,120 --> 00:23:29,760So I wonder if that's just the limitations of DNA at that time.36800:23:29,760 --> 00:23:31,620Were they actually Amy's pants?36900:23:31,620 --> 00:23:36,540Her parents were never able to ID them as hers.37000:23:36,540 --> 00:23:39,340They weren't sure if they were, but they didn't think they were.37100:23:39,340 --> 00:23:42,060So that's something that I kept coming back to.37200:23:42,060 --> 00:23:44,180I was really curious about that.37300:23:44,180 --> 00:23:45,380Yeah.37400:23:45,380 --> 00:23:53,080In my own speculative brain, you know, I, I kind of have issues with what's been given37500:23:53,080 --> 00:23:59,020to the public so far information wise about like the fact that where she was murdered37600:23:59,020 --> 00:24:04,740was like where she stayed to me, right?37700:24:04,740 --> 00:24:05,740That's it.37800:24:05,740 --> 00:24:08,860Or that she didn't move much.37900:24:08,860 --> 00:24:12,220So she was actually not murdered where she was found.38000:24:12,220 --> 00:24:17,020She was not found or she was not murdered in that field where she was found.38100:24:17,020 --> 00:24:24,480Police do believe that there is a second site where the actual murder took place and probably38200:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,180where that curtain and blanket came from.38300:24:27,180 --> 00:24:29,260So she was moved to the field.38400:24:29,260 --> 00:24:30,340Okay, great.38500:24:30,340 --> 00:24:33,140Thank you for clarifying that for me.38600:24:33,140 --> 00:24:35,020It's all just odd.38700:24:35,020 --> 00:24:43,860You know, a lot of questions about specificities in like, I guess, a kidnapping for that area38800:24:43,860 --> 00:24:46,940that you don't, you don't see very often.38900:24:46,940 --> 00:24:50,540I'm glad to see that there is movement as far as 2021 goes.39000:24:50,540 --> 00:24:55,420You mentioned that, I didn't know if you were able to elaborate more on that.39100:24:55,420 --> 00:24:57,820I couldn't remember what it was.39200:24:57,820 --> 00:25:04,260Yeah, so police are actively always going back to that curtain and the blanket kind39300:25:04,260 --> 00:25:08,140of specifically to test for more DNA.39400:25:08,140 --> 00:25:13,580And as things advance in technology, as of 2021, they were able to determine that her39500:25:13,580 --> 00:25:18,060hair was found on the blanket and curtain.39600:25:18,060 --> 00:25:23,660So in 1990, when her body was found, they just kind of assumed that these things had39700:25:23,660 --> 00:25:27,180to do with Amy.39800:25:27,180 --> 00:25:32,460So they collected everything that was found near her body, cigarette butts, bottle cans,39900:25:32,460 --> 00:25:35,300this curtain, this blanket, everything.40000:25:35,300 --> 00:25:41,300And in 2016, they were able to determine that her dog's hair was found on the curtain.40100:25:41,300 --> 00:25:46,220And then a few years later, they were able to determine that her hair was found on the40200:25:46,220 --> 00:25:47,540curtain and the blanket.40300:25:47,540 --> 00:25:53,480So they do believe, or they theorize that her body was wrapped in those items before40400:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,140being dumped there.40500:25:55,140 --> 00:26:00,220But it's also like, if she was wrapped in those items, this is kind of another question40600:26:00,220 --> 00:26:01,220I have.40700:26:01,220 --> 00:26:06,540The person who dumped her, presumably the killer, had to kind of take the time to unroll40800:26:06,540 --> 00:26:10,020her from those items and then leave everything there.40900:26:10,020 --> 00:26:15,340He could have just dumped the material in her body and just left it wrapped and dumped41000:26:15,340 --> 00:26:16,340it and left.41100:26:16,340 --> 00:26:20,580It takes a little bit more time to do that unfurling to get her out.41200:26:20,580 --> 00:26:26,660And then, kind of similarly with the community, how they were shocked that her body was there41300:26:26,660 --> 00:26:28,980because nobody had seen it.41400:26:28,980 --> 00:26:36,260That's something that's very odd to me too, that for 100 days, give or take, Amy's body41500:26:36,260 --> 00:26:39,740was there 300 yards from someone's house.41600:26:39,740 --> 00:26:45,020The farmer, he was interviewed on local TV news and he's like, I've been hearing about41700:26:45,020 --> 00:26:49,740this for three months and there she is 300 yards from my house, from my front door.41800:26:49,740 --> 00:26:52,500And it's just like, how did you not notice?41900:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,700How did nobody see her?42000:26:54,700 --> 00:26:59,500That's what I was talking about.42100:26:59,500 --> 00:27:05,260My mind was like, I don't know.42200:27:05,260 --> 00:27:07,300There's something odd there.42300:27:07,300 --> 00:27:10,540Like I need more, I need more clear, I need more access.42400:27:10,540 --> 00:27:11,540You know what I'm saying?42500:27:11,540 --> 00:27:12,780But yeah, that's it for me.42600:27:12,780 --> 00:27:17,540Thank you for bringing this case to our podcast.42700:27:17,540 --> 00:27:18,540Yeah.42800:27:18,540 --> 00:27:25,380The FBI and police investigating this case are very hopeful that it will be solved.42900:27:25,380 --> 00:27:30,220And they do believe that it will be solved through DNA advances.43000:27:30,220 --> 00:27:32,900And you know, as of 2021, they were working on this case.43100:27:32,900 --> 00:27:36,580So it is something that remains pretty active for them.43200:27:36,580 --> 00:27:38,660It's really important to this community.43300:27:38,660 --> 00:27:45,620I think it's really a beautiful testament to the community that they're not forgetting43400:27:45,620 --> 00:27:47,020about Amy.43500:27:47,020 --> 00:27:53,860And I think that's beautiful that Amy is still an active member in their community through43600:27:53,860 --> 00:27:56,820a lot of different ways.43700:27:56,820 --> 00:27:59,080And that, you know, that keeps her alive.43800:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,660And I'm really hopeful that this case will be solved.43900:28:02,660 --> 00:28:04,560It feels like they have everything they need.44000:28:04,560 --> 00:28:05,820They just need the person.44100:28:05,820 --> 00:28:11,380Yeah, this is one of the few times where I feel a little bit of optimism towards there44200:28:11,380 --> 00:28:19,140being an answer that is as close to justice as it can be in this case.44300:28:19,140 --> 00:28:25,820And yet to comment on the community, the resilience of the community as a whole, and also that44400:28:25,820 --> 00:28:32,500community knowing that, like them still like going and like keeping her name and image44500:28:32,500 --> 00:28:34,920out there and her story.44600:28:34,920 --> 00:28:42,100If that person is in the community, like together, they've like also, I don't know if this is44700:28:42,100 --> 00:28:43,100true for them.44800:28:43,100 --> 00:28:48,500But like, if that person is in the community, that's got to be pretty scary to see it like44900:28:48,500 --> 00:28:52,260every day that these people are like, we will never let this go.45000:28:52,260 --> 00:28:53,260I love that.45100:28:53,260 --> 00:28:56,980I love that for the community and the people who live there.45200:28:56,980 --> 00:29:02,900It's clear that they love this family and like love this girl and care about each other.45300:29:02,900 --> 00:29:05,260Yeah, I totally agree.45400:29:05,260 --> 00:29:10,300And if that person is still in the area, like the FBI thought that he would be, you know,45500:29:10,300 --> 00:29:12,740after the abduction that he would still be in the area.45600:29:12,740 --> 00:29:16,620I hope he's scared and I hope he's uncomfortable.45700:29:16,620 --> 00:29:20,380And I hope he doesn't really feel like a part of the community.45800:29:20,380 --> 00:29:25,220But again, if you know anything about the abduction or murder of Amy Mihaljevic in October45900:29:25,220 --> 00:29:36,820of 1989, you are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or 1-800-225-5324.46000:29:36,820 --> 00:29:41,120While we have you just for a few more minutes before you move on to your next podcast or46100:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,340whatever you want to listen to after this, if you could just leave us a quick rate and46200:29:45,340 --> 00:29:50,440review if you're in Apple podcasts, it's so helpful for others to find our podcast and46300:29:50,440 --> 00:29:55,700to get these cold cases and missing people cases out to more and more people.46400:29:55,700 --> 00:29:57,620If you've already done it, thank you so much.46500:29:57,620 --> 00:29:58,700I appreciate you.46600:29:58,700 --> 00:30:00,780I think of you often, truly I do.46700:30:00,780 --> 00:30:05,060Every person that's commented or written as a review, I think about you and hope you're46800:30:05,060 --> 00:30:06,380having a great day all the time.46900:30:06,380 --> 00:30:11,700So if you want that energy coming towards you on a frequent basis, just go ahead and47000:30:11,700 --> 00:30:12,920write a review.47100:30:12,920 --> 00:30:18,340If you don't have Apple podcasts, you can go to our website www.coldandmissing.47200:30:18,340 --> 00:30:22,240You can review us there and we also have transcripts on our website.47300:30:22,240 --> 00:30:27,000So if you or someone you love is hard of hearing, they can follow along with the cases there.47400:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,740If you're not already, please follow us on Instagram.47500:30:29,740 --> 00:30:36,020We post updates about the podcast in our stories and on our timeline.47600:30:36,020 --> 00:30:41,740And we also this week will be posting pictures of Amy, the composite sketch of the suspect47700:30:41,740 --> 00:30:46,100created by the FBI, and also that curtain and blanket that were found near her body47800:30:46,100 --> 00:30:49,340since those seem to be important pieces in this case.47900:30:49,340 --> 00:30:52,900We will be posting pictures of all of that throughout the week, so please check us out48000:30:52,900 --> 00:30:54,220there.48100:30:54,220 --> 00:30:56,740And that's all I have.48200:30:56,740 --> 00:30:59,500Thank you again so much for listening to Cold and Missing.48300:30:59,500 --> 00:31:00,900I'm your host Allie.48400:31:00,900 --> 00:31:02,620And I'm your co-host Eli.48500:31:02,620 --> 00:31:04,500Have a great week and stay safe, y'all.48600:31:04,500 --> 00:31:18,020Stay safe, y'all.