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Jan. 4, 2024

Cold and Missing: Amy Mihaljevic

Cold and Missing: Amy Mihaljevic
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Cold and Missing

Amy Mihaljevic was a 10-year-old girl who went missing in 1989 in Bay Village, Ohio. Amy was lured to a shopping center by a stranger who called her at home twice. The first tie the man insisted he needed her helping buying her mother a surprise gift for a recent work promotion and the second time promising to buy her a gift as well. She was last seen at the shopping center, where witnesses reported seeing her with a man who approached her and led her to his car. Despite extensive searches and investigations, Amy's body was found months later in a rural area, and her killer has never been caught. In recent years, advancements in DNA technology have led to new leads, including the discovery that Amy's hair was found on a curtain and blanket near her body. Police continue to investigate the case and are hopeful that finding the owner of the curtain will lead to the person responsible for Amy's murder.

If you know anything about the kidnapping and murder of Amy Mihaljevic in October 1989, please call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)

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Transcript
1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:13,780 The views and opinions expressed in Cold and Missing are exclusively those of the hosts. 2 00:00:13,780 --> 00:00:18,400 All parties mentioned are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. 3 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:22,160 Cold and Missing also contains adult themes and languages. 4 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:24,560 Listener discretion is advised. 5 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,280 I'm your host, Ali McLaughlin-Sulkowski. 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:29,680 And I'm your co-host, Eli Sulkowski. 7 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:34,400 And this is Cold and Missing, where we cover cold cases and missing person cases. 8 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:37,000 Hello everyone and welcome back to Cold and Missing. 9 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,520 I'm your host, Ali. 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:40,480 And I'm your co-host, Eli. 11 00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:41,480 Happy New Year, y'all! 12 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:43,400 Happy New Year, everyone. 13 00:00:43,400 --> 00:00:48,120 If you're listening to this in real time, we just celebrated the new year just a few 14 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:52,080 days ago, so I hope you're all having a good new year so far. 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,780 And if you're not listening to this in real time, if you're going back and binging some 16 00:00:55,780 --> 00:01:00,080 old episodes, I hope you're having a great year still, no matter where you are. 17 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,280 All right, you have a new case for us this week, right? 18 00:01:03,280 --> 00:01:04,280 I sure do. 19 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,120 So this week we are on a cold case, and this one comes to us from Ohio. 20 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:10,120 Ohio. 21 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:13,080 Okay, let's get started. 22 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:18,800 So just as a bit of a content warning at the top, this case does involve a young person. 23 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:23,020 So today we are covering the cold case of Amy Mihaljevic. 24 00:01:23,020 --> 00:01:27,280 And this takes place in Bay Village, Ohio, in October of 1989. 25 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:33,280 Now, Amy's case is pretty well known, but this is one that I was not very familiar with. 26 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:37,020 I didn't know a lot of the details and had only heard her name in passing, so this is 27 00:01:37,020 --> 00:01:41,640 something that I personally wanted to research just to find out more about. 28 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:44,800 Amy Mihaljevic was 10 years old in 1989. 29 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:50,080 Amy was born December 11, 1978, and she would be 45 years old today. 30 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:54,360 Amy was a fifth grader at Bay Village Middle School in Bay Village, Ohio. 31 00:01:54,360 --> 00:02:00,600 Bay Village in 1989 was a wealthy suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and it was once named one 32 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,120 of the safest places in America. 33 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:07,720 Amy was a shy girl with strangers, but very open and funny with those she knew. 34 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,640 She loved riding horses and was in the gifted program at school. 35 00:02:11,640 --> 00:02:16,920 Amy is around 4'10", and weighed 90 pounds with shoulder-length blonde hair. 36 00:02:16,920 --> 00:02:19,740 And now a timeline of events. 37 00:02:19,740 --> 00:02:26,320 On Friday, October 27, 1989, Amy gets dressed that morning for school wearing green sweatpants, 38 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:32,000 a white jacket, black ankle boots that she would also wear to ride horses, and turquoise 39 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:34,920 earrings shaped like a horse head. 40 00:02:34,920 --> 00:02:38,960 Before leaving for school that day, Amy tells her mother that she's going to be home late 41 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:44,360 that day because she either had choir practice or was auditioning for the fifth grade choir. 42 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,360 Both activities have been reported over the years. 43 00:02:47,360 --> 00:02:51,560 But either activity, whichever one it was, was to take place after school. 44 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:56,040 Amy's mother worked as a writer for the Trading Times magazine, and her father worked 45 00:02:56,040 --> 00:03:00,480 in the automotive industry and had business in Cleveland that day. 46 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,340 Amy leaves for school on her bike around 7.20am. 47 00:03:04,340 --> 00:03:08,120 Her older brother Jason had already left, so she was alone, but arrives to school with 48 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:09,560 no issues. 49 00:03:09,560 --> 00:03:13,440 During the school day, she tells classmates that after school she's going shopping with 50 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,240 a family friend she hadn't met before to buy her mother a surprise gift, and he was 51 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,480 going to buy her gifts as well. 52 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,240 So once school is let out, Amy leaves her bike locked up at school and walks the 7 minutes 53 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,560 over to Bay Square Shopping Center. 54 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:32,160 This was a popular place for middle schoolers to hang out after school since it was so close. 55 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:36,240 This area is like an L-shaped strip mall with a large parking lot. 56 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:40,840 At around 2.15am, Amy is seen at the shopping center by two classmates. 57 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:44,040 Amy still has her red and denim backpack with her. 58 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:48,320 She is standing in front of an ice cream parlor, which is also across the street from the Bay 59 00:03:48,320 --> 00:03:50,760 Village Police Department at that time. 60 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:55,080 According to witnesses, Amy looked like she was waiting for someone when a man approached 61 00:03:55,080 --> 00:03:58,920 her, put his hand on her shoulder, and led her through the parking lot where she was 62 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:00,720 seen getting into his car. 63 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:04,600 At 3.10, Jason arrives home from school and calls his mother to let her know that 64 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:05,600 he was home. 65 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:07,440 This was the kid's routine. 66 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,480 They would call their mom once they got home from school just to let them know that they 67 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,000 made it home safely. 68 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,800 Jason told his mom that Amy was not home yet. 69 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,880 Amy's mother, Margaret, was not immediately alarmed since Amy had told her that she would 70 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:19,880 be late. 71 00:04:19,880 --> 00:04:24,520 Jason calls his mother again at 3.30 to say that Amy was still not home. 72 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,440 Margaret is starting to get worried about Amy as she should have been home by now. 73 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:33,960 However, at 3.40, just 10 minutes later, Amy calls her mother to check in after school 74 00:04:33,960 --> 00:04:37,000 and Margaret assumes that she's calling from the house. 75 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,520 This is before caller ID is super common. 76 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:42,880 This is the last time that Margaret talks to her daughter. 77 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:48,160 Margaret leaves work around 5pm that day and gets home to discover that Amy is not there 78 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:49,800 and hadn't been there. 79 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,560 Immediately, Margaret drives to the school and finds Amy's bike is still there and locked 80 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:55,600 up. 81 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:59,460 Margaret is able to find a school janitor and they look through every room at the school 82 00:04:59,460 --> 00:05:01,500 but are unable to find Amy. 83 00:05:01,500 --> 00:05:05,540 At 5.58, Margaret reports Amy missing to the police. 84 00:05:05,540 --> 00:05:09,880 Just a few minutes later, Amy's father, Mark, returns from his work in Cleveland and finds 85 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:11,920 out that Amy is missing. 86 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,560 Almost immediately, a massive search is started. 87 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,880 By the next day, the FBI have joined the case to help search for Amy. 88 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:23,040 Investigators begin canvassing the neighborhood and talking with neighbors, searching wooded 89 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:27,040 areas, and they even drag a few lakes near Amy's home. 90 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,880 While searching a wooded area near where Amy liked to ride horses, they find a pair of 91 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,040 sweatpants in Amy's size. 92 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:37,680 Her parents are unable to ID them as Amy's but they're sent for further testing. 93 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:43,320 By Sunday, October 29th, Bay Village Police Chief William Garou says that the man who 94 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:49,120 took Amy is, quote, believed to have a familiarity with the family, end quote. 95 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:54,800 On Monday, October 30th, it's revealed by a neighbor, Riley Bonham, whose 11-year-old 96 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,720 daughter was best friends with Amy, that Amy had received two phone calls prior to her 97 00:05:59,720 --> 00:06:02,500 disappearance from a man who she did not know. 98 00:06:02,500 --> 00:06:06,720 The first phone call was the man saying that he needed Amy's help buying her mother a 99 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:07,760 gift. 100 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:12,560 The man told Amy that her mother, Margaret, had received a promotion at work and he wanted 101 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,920 her help picking out a gift for the surprise party that the staff were going to throw. 102 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:19,880 Margaret had not received a promotion at work. 103 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:24,520 The second phone call promises that in addition to buying her mother a gift, he'll also buy 104 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:26,160 Amy a gift as well. 105 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:30,880 The man stresses to Amy that she has to keep it all a secret in order to preserve the surprise 106 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:32,280 for her mother. 107 00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:35,740 Once this information comes to light, the family is dumbfounded. 108 00:06:35,740 --> 00:06:39,960 Not only because Margaret was not promoted at work, but they have no idea who the caller 109 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:40,960 is. 110 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:45,120 The FBI calls in a sketch artist to sit down with the witnesses who saw Amy and the man 111 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:48,360 at the shopping center to create a composite sketch. 112 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:52,560 On Tuesday, October 31st, police release the sketch of the suspect. 113 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:57,980 He is believed to be a white male, 35 to 45 years old in 1989. 114 00:06:57,980 --> 00:07:03,400 In 58 and 59, medium build with darker hair but was balding at his crown. 115 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,560 He wore round glasses and was wearing a tan jacket. 116 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:09,080 There were faint traces of a beard on the man. 117 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,920 With the release of the sketch, police are flooded with calls. 118 00:07:11,920 --> 00:07:16,020 They're still hopeful that they can find Amy alive and bring her home. 119 00:07:16,020 --> 00:07:20,760 On Thursday, November 2nd, as more stories about Amy hit the media, specifically the 120 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:25,360 information about her getting a phone call from a man, two other young girls in the area 121 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:29,260 come forward to say that they also got similar phone calls. 122 00:07:29,260 --> 00:07:33,780 Police Chief William Garou says, quote, in each case those girls hung up, but the calls 123 00:07:33,780 --> 00:07:34,780 were very similar. 124 00:07:34,780 --> 00:07:38,160 We are looking for a common thread, end quote. 125 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,740 Police say that the man making the phone calls was very appealing. 126 00:07:41,740 --> 00:07:46,160 Police are questioning several men who resemble the composite sketch, but all are let go. 127 00:07:46,160 --> 00:07:50,360 Police also search the wooded area around the water filtration plant based off of a 128 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,600 tip but nothing turns up there. 129 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:56,900 On Sunday, November 5th, Amy has been missing for over a week now. 130 00:07:56,900 --> 00:08:02,200 Police announced that there was a man seen on October 26th and 27th, so the day before 131 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:04,760 and the day of Amy's kidnapping. 132 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:10,440 The man had a camcorder and was taking pictures of kids near Normandy School, City Hall, and 133 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:12,280 the Bay Square Shopping Center. 134 00:08:12,280 --> 00:08:15,760 Police want to talk with this man and they also want to look at his footage to see if 135 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:17,180 there are any clues. 136 00:08:17,180 --> 00:08:21,300 To date, I do not believe that this man was ever identified and police were never able 137 00:08:21,300 --> 00:08:23,320 to review that footage. 138 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,520 Searches continue throughout the week of November 5th in rural areas nearby. 139 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:31,560 Police continue to look at people who are reported through the tip line, some as far 140 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:35,860 away as Louisiana, but no real suspect has emerged. 141 00:08:35,860 --> 00:08:40,080 Police are able to obtain footage from a local commercial that was shot the day before Amy 142 00:08:40,080 --> 00:08:44,500 was kidnapped at the Bay Square Shopping Center, but they're still looking for the man who 143 00:08:44,500 --> 00:08:48,380 was there the day that she was kidnapped with his camcorder. 144 00:08:48,380 --> 00:08:52,440 Police also send in the sweatpants that they found for DNA testing. 145 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:58,300 Ultimately, these pants will come back with a 95% probability that they were Amy's. 146 00:08:58,300 --> 00:09:02,200 Police return to the area where they found the sweatpants to search that area again. 147 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:06,220 This time, police will use aircraft to help in their search and also send divers into 148 00:09:06,220 --> 00:09:08,400 a pond nearby. 149 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,820 Investigators remain hopeful that Amy will be found alive, but her family is growing 150 00:09:11,820 --> 00:09:14,440 increasingly worried with each passing day. 151 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:18,980 Mark Mihaljevic says, quote, the longer it goes, the scarier it gets for her safe return 152 00:09:18,980 --> 00:09:22,500 to home, but we aren't giving up hope, end quote. 153 00:09:22,500 --> 00:09:27,100 As Amy's disappearance enters its third week, local businesses donate materials to 154 00:09:27,100 --> 00:09:32,020 print flyers with the goal of sending out 1 million flyers across the country about 155 00:09:32,020 --> 00:09:33,020 Amy. 156 00:09:33,020 --> 00:09:36,900 The flyers have Amy's picture and the composite sketch of the suspect on it. 157 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:41,460 The community ties white ribbons around trees, light posts, and telephone poles as a reminder 158 00:09:41,460 --> 00:09:44,100 that they're hopeful Amy will come home. 159 00:09:44,100 --> 00:09:48,820 Police start to search abandoned farmhouses all over northern Ohio for any clue about 160 00:09:48,820 --> 00:09:50,580 what happened to Amy. 161 00:09:50,580 --> 00:09:54,420 Thanksgiving rolls around that year and people are encouraged to pick up flyers and bring 162 00:09:54,420 --> 00:09:58,180 them with them to post as they travel out of town. 163 00:09:58,180 --> 00:10:03,740 Lots of people do this and flyers about Amy are put up all over the Midwest and beyond. 164 00:10:03,740 --> 00:10:08,500 About 25% of all the new tips that come in are from people outside of the Bay Village 165 00:10:08,500 --> 00:10:09,500 area. 166 00:10:09,500 --> 00:10:14,780 There are even reported sightings of Amy in Maine and Oklahoma, but police are unable 167 00:10:14,780 --> 00:10:19,500 to confirm if it is Amy and they do not find her at these locations. 168 00:10:19,500 --> 00:10:24,260 On December 1, 1989, it's been over a month since Amy was kidnapped. 169 00:10:24,260 --> 00:10:29,100 Two girls, 10 and 11 years old, are waiting for a bus when a man pulls up and motions 170 00:10:29,100 --> 00:10:30,780 for them to get into the car. 171 00:10:30,780 --> 00:10:35,200 The girls take off running and say that the man attempted to follow them but stopped when 172 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:37,060 they reached an apartment building. 173 00:10:37,060 --> 00:10:41,300 According to the girls, the man resembled the composite sketch in Amy's case. 174 00:10:41,300 --> 00:10:47,220 On December 11, which should have been Amy's 11th birthday and her golden birthday, police 175 00:10:47,220 --> 00:10:51,940 are no closer to finding her than the day she went missing and they have no suspects. 176 00:10:51,940 --> 00:10:56,700 They have run down 3,000 leads and still have not found any trace of Amy. 177 00:10:56,700 --> 00:11:03,140 Amy's parents launched the Community Fund for Assisting Missing Youth, or A.M.Y. for short. 178 00:11:03,140 --> 00:11:07,620 The organization will help raise money for the Reward Fund for Amy and put on safety 179 00:11:07,620 --> 00:11:10,100 programs for Northern Ohio youth. 180 00:11:10,100 --> 00:11:14,660 When reporters ask Margaret what she would say to Amy and her captors, she says, quote, 181 00:11:14,660 --> 00:11:15,980 We love you, Amy. 182 00:11:15,980 --> 00:11:17,780 We love you and support you. 183 00:11:17,780 --> 00:11:19,620 Find some way to get a message to us. 184 00:11:19,620 --> 00:11:20,620 End quote. 185 00:11:20,620 --> 00:11:24,060 And to the captors, she says, quote, We love Amy more than you do. 186 00:11:24,060 --> 00:11:25,860 Just let Amy come home. 187 00:11:25,860 --> 00:11:26,860 End quote. 188 00:11:26,860 --> 00:11:33,100 It's January 17, 1990, so we're in a new year now, and Amy has been missing for nearly 189 00:11:33,100 --> 00:11:35,060 three months at this point. 190 00:11:35,060 --> 00:11:38,180 The FBI released a profile of the suspect. 191 00:11:38,180 --> 00:11:42,420 Special Agent William Branon says, quote, The abductor likely acted alone during the 192 00:11:42,420 --> 00:11:48,300 actual abduction, but he may have taken someone into his confidence to create an alibi or 193 00:11:48,300 --> 00:11:53,900 to obtain the assistance of a friend or associate to cover up his involvement in this crime. 194 00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:59,300 The person responsible for this crime would likely become anxious, more rigid, reclusive, 195 00:11:59,300 --> 00:12:01,020 and more uptight than usual. 196 00:12:01,020 --> 00:12:04,940 He may have experienced trouble sleeping, may have lost weight, or would have increased 197 00:12:04,940 --> 00:12:09,140 his consumption of drugs and alcohol, which would further affect his behavior. 198 00:12:09,140 --> 00:12:14,140 The offender may have found a logical reason to depart on a previously unscheduled vacation 199 00:12:14,140 --> 00:12:16,900 or visit relatives or change jobs. 200 00:12:16,900 --> 00:12:21,780 In crimes of this nature, the offender frequently provides a reason to miss work on the days 201 00:12:21,780 --> 00:12:24,020 immediately following the abduction. 202 00:12:24,020 --> 00:12:28,540 The offender may have become more religious than normal or become more solicitous towards 203 00:12:28,540 --> 00:12:30,420 family or associates. 204 00:12:30,420 --> 00:12:34,820 Any or all of these changes in the offender's behavior after the crime occurred would be 205 00:12:34,820 --> 00:12:37,500 recognized by those closest to him. 206 00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:38,700 End quote. 207 00:12:38,700 --> 00:12:44,340 On February 8, 1990, Janet Seabold gets up for her morning jog. 208 00:12:44,340 --> 00:12:49,700 She lives in Ashland County, Ohio, and she's running along Ohio 1181. 209 00:12:49,700 --> 00:12:51,020 It's a rural area. 210 00:12:51,020 --> 00:12:54,660 Just about 45 miles from where Amy was kidnapped. 211 00:12:54,660 --> 00:13:00,740 Janet's jog takes her near a 300-acre farm around 740 a.m. when she notices something 212 00:13:00,740 --> 00:13:03,820 about 20 to 25 feet from the road. 213 00:13:03,820 --> 00:13:05,020 It's a body. 214 00:13:05,020 --> 00:13:07,180 She immediately runs to the farmhouse. 215 00:13:07,180 --> 00:13:11,780 The farmer is Wilbur Salyer, but he doesn't get to the door fast enough. 216 00:13:11,780 --> 00:13:15,460 Janet then bolts across the street to her friend's house, Patricia Kidd, and tells 217 00:13:15,460 --> 00:13:17,000 her to call the police. 218 00:13:17,000 --> 00:13:19,140 Janet says, quote, I think I found a body. 219 00:13:19,140 --> 00:13:20,140 Call the police. 220 00:13:20,140 --> 00:13:22,340 Why did it have to be me that found it? 221 00:13:22,340 --> 00:13:23,340 End quote. 222 00:13:23,340 --> 00:13:27,660 Police arrive within four minutes of the call and begin to process the scene. 223 00:13:27,660 --> 00:13:32,460 Almost immediately, the Ashland County police believe that the body is that of Amy Mahalovic. 224 00:13:32,460 --> 00:13:36,540 The sheriff, Kenneth Etzweiler, says, quote, the physical appearance is almost similar 225 00:13:36,540 --> 00:13:37,620 to Amy's. 226 00:13:37,620 --> 00:13:41,580 This is just a guess, but it appears the body has been there since, say, the latter 227 00:13:41,580 --> 00:13:42,580 part of November. 228 00:13:42,580 --> 00:13:45,620 We're going to walk this entire area foot by foot. 229 00:13:45,620 --> 00:13:49,300 The only thing we found near the body so far was part of one earring. 230 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:50,300 End quote. 231 00:13:50,300 --> 00:13:52,220 Amy was found fully clothed. 232 00:13:52,220 --> 00:13:54,420 She was wearing the clothes that she was last seen in. 233 00:13:54,420 --> 00:14:00,340 However, her turquoise horse head earrings, her boots, and her backpack have never been 234 00:14:00,340 --> 00:14:01,340 found. 235 00:14:01,340 --> 00:14:04,540 She was face down and hidden by knee high weeds. 236 00:14:04,540 --> 00:14:10,100 Amy had been hit on the back of the head with a blunt object and also had one or two stab 237 00:14:10,100 --> 00:14:12,620 wounds on the left part of her neck. 238 00:14:12,620 --> 00:14:16,740 Amy's autopsy is conducted that afternoon and evening, and they will confirm that it 239 00:14:16,740 --> 00:14:21,960 is Amy via dental records and that what killed her was the stab wound in the neck that severed 240 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:23,420 her artery. 241 00:14:23,420 --> 00:14:27,680 Police never confirm or deny if Amy was sexually assaulted. 242 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:33,080 At the scene, about 300 yards away from Amy's body, police find a curtain and a blanket. 243 00:14:33,080 --> 00:14:34,740 The curtain is pretty unique. 244 00:14:34,740 --> 00:14:38,820 It's an avocado green curtain that might have one time been a quilt. 245 00:14:38,820 --> 00:14:42,020 There's wavy stitching throughout the entire length of the curtain. 246 00:14:42,020 --> 00:14:46,580 At around noon that day, police contact Amy's family to let them know that they believe 247 00:14:46,580 --> 00:14:47,940 they found her body. 248 00:14:47,940 --> 00:14:52,380 The family is absolutely devastated that their hopes for Amy coming home to them are now 249 00:14:52,380 --> 00:14:53,780 officially over. 250 00:14:53,780 --> 00:14:58,660 The family retreats into privacy to grieve for Amy, but send the following message. 251 00:14:58,660 --> 00:15:03,460 The family says, quote, We honestly believed that Amy was alive all this time. 252 00:15:03,460 --> 00:15:04,820 Our hope was real. 253 00:15:04,820 --> 00:15:09,780 As her family, we salute and thank everyone who has been so kind to us and has helped 254 00:15:09,780 --> 00:15:12,100 us so much during our ordeal. 255 00:15:12,100 --> 00:15:14,500 What do we say except thank you, Cleveland? 256 00:15:14,500 --> 00:15:19,540 For all your efforts, for all your hope, for all your support, for all your caring. 257 00:15:19,540 --> 00:15:21,460 We have been through hell and back. 258 00:15:21,460 --> 00:15:22,460 End quote. 259 00:15:22,460 --> 00:15:27,500 As news about the discovery of Amy's body spreads throughout the region, people begin 260 00:15:27,500 --> 00:15:30,420 to debate how long the body could have been there. 261 00:15:30,420 --> 00:15:35,180 As mentioned before, Amy's body was found 20 to 25 feet from the road. 262 00:15:35,180 --> 00:15:41,700 Her body was 300 yards away from the farmhouse and 300 yards away from Amy was one large 263 00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:46,320 blanket and one large curtain, both avocado green in color. 264 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:50,300 Members of Amy's family who live in Ashland County where her body was found say that they 265 00:15:50,300 --> 00:15:53,740 had driven past that area several times and didn't see anything. 266 00:15:53,740 --> 00:15:58,460 Another neighbor said his son often rode his bike past the area and didn't see her either. 267 00:15:58,460 --> 00:16:04,060 A hunter calls police to say that he had been on the farm hunting a week before and in that 268 00:16:04,060 --> 00:16:06,140 area and didn't see Amy. 269 00:16:06,140 --> 00:16:10,260 Tips start to come in about a car scene in the area a few weeks before Amy's body was 270 00:16:10,260 --> 00:16:12,300 found with the trunk popped open. 271 00:16:12,300 --> 00:16:17,380 However, investigators maintain then as they do now that Amy's body was put there shortly 272 00:16:17,380 --> 00:16:19,900 after her abduction in October. 273 00:16:19,900 --> 00:16:23,740 Police are determined to find the killer and promise the community and Amy's family that 274 00:16:23,740 --> 00:16:26,300 they'll stay on the case until it's solved. 275 00:16:26,300 --> 00:16:30,100 Over the next few months, tips will begin to dwindle from the community. 276 00:16:30,100 --> 00:16:34,540 By April, the reward fund had grown to $60,000. 277 00:16:34,540 --> 00:16:39,020 Police will continue to question anyone who resembles the composite sketch or anyone who's 278 00:16:39,020 --> 00:16:41,500 called in on the tip line. 279 00:16:41,500 --> 00:16:46,540 By July of 1990, police will say that they've talked to 9,000 people and Amy's story will 280 00:16:46,540 --> 00:16:49,500 appear on TV shows across the nation. 281 00:16:49,500 --> 00:16:54,660 But ultimately, the killer is never caught and police are never able to pin down a suspect. 282 00:16:54,660 --> 00:17:00,900 Amy's case remains in the news over the years, but no new information is really developed. 283 00:17:00,900 --> 00:17:08,580 In 2016 though, through advances in DNA, police are able to determine that Amy's dog hair 284 00:17:08,580 --> 00:17:11,820 was found on the curtain found near her body. 285 00:17:11,820 --> 00:17:19,380 In 2019, just a few years later, a woman comes forward to tell police about her ex-boyfriend. 286 00:17:19,380 --> 00:17:24,300 She said that the day Amy went missing, he never came home that night, but he did call 287 00:17:24,300 --> 00:17:27,860 her to ask if there was news coverage about Amy. 288 00:17:27,860 --> 00:17:34,840 Additionally, it's revealed by local news that on Amy's body were gold fibers and according 289 00:17:34,840 --> 00:17:39,160 to the woman, the man drove a gold car with a tan interior. 290 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:44,460 The day Amy's body was found, an FBI agent sat at a nearby intersection and wrote down 291 00:17:44,460 --> 00:17:49,240 the model, make, and license plate of every car that drove by. 292 00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:54,820 According to police documentation, that man, the ex-boyfriend, drove by that day. 293 00:17:54,820 --> 00:18:00,160 Police talked with him in 2019 and took his DNA and searched a storage unit that belonged 294 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:01,160 to him. 295 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:05,380 They did seize evidence at the storage unit, but to date, no charges have been brought 296 00:18:05,380 --> 00:18:06,660 against him. 297 00:18:06,660 --> 00:18:11,020 Police have never said if they have a DNA profile for the suspect, but I would think 298 00:18:11,020 --> 00:18:16,300 by taking the DNA of people they interviewed that they are looking to compare it to something. 299 00:18:16,300 --> 00:18:23,500 In 2021, thanks to more advances in DNA technology, police are able to determine that Amy's 300 00:18:23,500 --> 00:18:28,700 hair was found on both the blanket and curtain found near her body. 301 00:18:28,700 --> 00:18:33,100 Police theorize that both items were used to wrap Amy's body in before dumping her 302 00:18:33,100 --> 00:18:34,520 where she was found. 303 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:38,660 As mentioned before, the curtain is pretty unique and possibly homemade. 304 00:18:38,660 --> 00:18:43,380 Police believe that if they can find who that curtain belonged to, it will lead to the person 305 00:18:43,380 --> 00:18:45,700 responsible for Amy's murder. 306 00:18:45,700 --> 00:18:49,460 But that is where the case stands today. 307 00:18:49,460 --> 00:18:54,780 So if you know anything about the abduction and murder of Amy Mihaljevic in October of 308 00:18:54,780 --> 00:19:05,940 1989, you are asked to call the FBI directly at 1-800-CALL-FBI or 1-800-225-5324. 309 00:19:05,940 --> 00:19:11,260 The sources for the timeline today come from The Telegraph Forum, The Akron Beacon Journal, 310 00:19:11,260 --> 00:19:15,660 Lancaster Eagle Gazette, The Marion Star, Centennial Tribune, News Journal, The New 311 00:19:15,660 --> 00:19:21,380 Work Advocate, Troy Daily News, The Times, The Daily Advocate, Brian Times, St. Cloud 312 00:19:21,380 --> 00:19:26,100 Times, Wilmington News Journal, The Evening Sun, Sun Journal, The Delaware Gazette, The 313 00:19:26,100 --> 00:19:32,700 Tribune, Dayton Daily News, The Daily Oklahoman, Tulsa World, Telegraph Forum, 19 News, Cleveland 314 00:19:32,700 --> 00:19:34,980 News 5, and the FBI. 315 00:19:34,980 --> 00:19:37,700 So that is the case of Amy Mihaljevic. 316 00:19:37,700 --> 00:19:40,220 Thank you for sharing this. 317 00:19:40,220 --> 00:19:47,580 It's a case that I've heard once before and I remembered it just because of the oddness 318 00:19:47,580 --> 00:19:49,620 surrounding her kidnapping. 319 00:19:49,620 --> 00:19:55,420 But yeah, it's one that kind of surprises me that we haven't heard more of. 320 00:19:55,420 --> 00:19:56,660 Yeah. 321 00:19:56,660 --> 00:19:59,020 This is a case that I was very unfamiliar with. 322 00:19:59,020 --> 00:20:01,260 I had kind of heard the name before. 323 00:20:01,260 --> 00:20:04,060 Mihaljevic is kind of a unique last name. 324 00:20:04,060 --> 00:20:07,380 This is the only time that I've heard it personally. 325 00:20:07,380 --> 00:20:13,220 So that's kind of how it rang a bell with me, but I truly didn't know much about her 326 00:20:13,220 --> 00:20:18,160 case, but this has been covered pretty well over the years. 327 00:20:18,160 --> 00:20:22,860 My sources, I listed out a ton, so this was covered really heavily at the time. 328 00:20:22,860 --> 00:20:29,140 And each year at the anniversary of her abduction or of her body being found, there's usually 329 00:20:29,140 --> 00:20:33,740 some news coverage out of Ohio covering the case. 330 00:20:33,740 --> 00:20:35,580 I have a question. 331 00:20:35,580 --> 00:20:43,140 My mind always just goes back to who was that guy? 332 00:20:43,140 --> 00:20:53,220 Who was that guy who had their contact and knew where she went to school? 333 00:20:53,220 --> 00:20:55,620 That part of it is just so... 334 00:20:55,620 --> 00:20:59,180 That's the really odd and scary part to me. 335 00:20:59,180 --> 00:21:03,740 So yeah, I haven't had the chance to talk about this case with anyone. 336 00:21:03,740 --> 00:21:06,820 So that's my question for you. 337 00:21:06,820 --> 00:21:10,140 Over the years, police have looked at people who knew the family. 338 00:21:10,140 --> 00:21:17,100 So coworkers of both mom and dad, family, friends, because whoever called Amy did seem 339 00:21:17,100 --> 00:21:22,160 to know her family, did seem to know her, knew her schedule, like you said, knew where 340 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:30,300 she went to school, knew what was nearby, and kind of knew how to get Amy to come with 341 00:21:30,300 --> 00:21:31,300 him. 342 00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:38,900 You know, he really exploited her love for her mother by wanting to do this nice thing 343 00:21:38,900 --> 00:21:42,820 for her mom, buying this gift, her mom got promoted, there was going to be a surprise 344 00:21:42,820 --> 00:21:46,340 party, she wanted to be in on it. 345 00:21:46,340 --> 00:21:51,860 He was able to exploit that, but there does appear to be similar phone calls that had 346 00:21:51,860 --> 00:21:56,260 happened before Amy's abduction to two other girls in that area. 347 00:21:56,260 --> 00:21:58,420 They received similar phone calls. 348 00:21:58,420 --> 00:22:02,900 In one case, she hung up, in another case, she handed the phone to her brother. 349 00:22:02,900 --> 00:22:08,200 So they believe it was the same man, since it appears to be kind of the same ruse he 350 00:22:08,200 --> 00:22:09,200 was using. 351 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:15,340 But it makes you think that he was possibly watching the middle school and kind of picking 352 00:22:15,340 --> 00:22:20,140 out girls in the area that he wanted to target. 353 00:22:20,140 --> 00:22:26,940 Yeah, stalking the area, getting the lay of the land, and you know, that makes sense to 354 00:22:26,940 --> 00:22:28,120 me. 355 00:22:28,120 --> 00:22:34,020 A question that I have, and this might be not an important point, but a question that 356 00:22:34,020 --> 00:22:39,100 I have is they found sweatpants that they send in for DNA testing. 357 00:22:39,100 --> 00:22:44,020 And it comes back with a 95% probability that they were Amy's. 358 00:22:44,020 --> 00:22:46,780 But it's nowhere near where her body was found. 359 00:22:46,780 --> 00:22:51,500 And she was found wearing, I believe, the clothes that she was last seen in. 360 00:22:51,500 --> 00:22:57,140 The only thing missing are her turquoise horse head earrings, her boots, and her backpack. 361 00:22:57,140 --> 00:23:01,500 According to all the reports, she was wearing everything else she was last seen in. 362 00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:08,700 So I just wonder, you know, DNA testing was still kind of in its infancy as of 1989. 363 00:23:08,700 --> 00:23:12,340 So I wonder if it just was kind of a misfiring. 364 00:23:12,340 --> 00:23:17,420 95% in DNA is kind of on the low end, I would say. 365 00:23:17,420 --> 00:23:21,020 Usually when you hear about DNA results, it's like 99.9999999999999999999999999999999999999. 366 00:23:21,020 --> 00:23:25,120 You know, like it's, it's always up there in that area. 367 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:29,760 So I wonder if that's just the limitations of DNA at that time. 368 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:31,620 Were they actually Amy's pants? 369 00:23:31,620 --> 00:23:36,540 Her parents were never able to ID them as hers. 370 00:23:36,540 --> 00:23:39,340 They weren't sure if they were, but they didn't think they were. 371 00:23:39,340 --> 00:23:42,060 So that's something that I kept coming back to. 372 00:23:42,060 --> 00:23:44,180 I was really curious about that. 373 00:23:44,180 --> 00:23:45,380 Yeah. 374 00:23:45,380 --> 00:23:53,080 In my own speculative brain, you know, I, I kind of have issues with what's been given 375 00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:59,020 to the public so far information wise about like the fact that where she was murdered 376 00:23:59,020 --> 00:24:04,740 was like where she stayed to me, right? 377 00:24:04,740 --> 00:24:05,740 That's it. 378 00:24:05,740 --> 00:24:08,860 Or that she didn't move much. 379 00:24:08,860 --> 00:24:12,220 So she was actually not murdered where she was found. 380 00:24:12,220 --> 00:24:17,020 She was not found or she was not murdered in that field where she was found. 381 00:24:17,020 --> 00:24:24,480 Police do believe that there is a second site where the actual murder took place and probably 382 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,180 where that curtain and blanket came from. 383 00:24:27,180 --> 00:24:29,260 So she was moved to the field. 384 00:24:29,260 --> 00:24:30,340 Okay, great. 385 00:24:30,340 --> 00:24:33,140 Thank you for clarifying that for me. 386 00:24:33,140 --> 00:24:35,020 It's all just odd. 387 00:24:35,020 --> 00:24:43,860 You know, a lot of questions about specificities in like, I guess, a kidnapping for that area 388 00:24:43,860 --> 00:24:46,940 that you don't, you don't see very often. 389 00:24:46,940 --> 00:24:50,540 I'm glad to see that there is movement as far as 2021 goes. 390 00:24:50,540 --> 00:24:55,420 You mentioned that, I didn't know if you were able to elaborate more on that. 391 00:24:55,420 --> 00:24:57,820 I couldn't remember what it was. 392 00:24:57,820 --> 00:25:04,260 Yeah, so police are actively always going back to that curtain and the blanket kind 393 00:25:04,260 --> 00:25:08,140 of specifically to test for more DNA. 394 00:25:08,140 --> 00:25:13,580 And as things advance in technology, as of 2021, they were able to determine that her 395 00:25:13,580 --> 00:25:18,060 hair was found on the blanket and curtain. 396 00:25:18,060 --> 00:25:23,660 So in 1990, when her body was found, they just kind of assumed that these things had 397 00:25:23,660 --> 00:25:27,180 to do with Amy. 398 00:25:27,180 --> 00:25:32,460 So they collected everything that was found near her body, cigarette butts, bottle cans, 399 00:25:32,460 --> 00:25:35,300 this curtain, this blanket, everything. 400 00:25:35,300 --> 00:25:41,300 And in 2016, they were able to determine that her dog's hair was found on the curtain. 401 00:25:41,300 --> 00:25:46,220 And then a few years later, they were able to determine that her hair was found on the 402 00:25:46,220 --> 00:25:47,540 curtain and the blanket. 403 00:25:47,540 --> 00:25:53,480 So they do believe, or they theorize that her body was wrapped in those items before 404 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:55,140 being dumped there. 405 00:25:55,140 --> 00:26:00,220 But it's also like, if she was wrapped in those items, this is kind of another question 406 00:26:00,220 --> 00:26:01,220 I have. 407 00:26:01,220 --> 00:26:06,540 The person who dumped her, presumably the killer, had to kind of take the time to unroll 408 00:26:06,540 --> 00:26:10,020 her from those items and then leave everything there. 409 00:26:10,020 --> 00:26:15,340 He could have just dumped the material in her body and just left it wrapped and dumped 410 00:26:15,340 --> 00:26:16,340 it and left. 411 00:26:16,340 --> 00:26:20,580 It takes a little bit more time to do that unfurling to get her out. 412 00:26:20,580 --> 00:26:26,660 And then, kind of similarly with the community, how they were shocked that her body was there 413 00:26:26,660 --> 00:26:28,980 because nobody had seen it. 414 00:26:28,980 --> 00:26:36,260 That's something that's very odd to me too, that for 100 days, give or take, Amy's body 415 00:26:36,260 --> 00:26:39,740 was there 300 yards from someone's house. 416 00:26:39,740 --> 00:26:45,020 The farmer, he was interviewed on local TV news and he's like, I've been hearing about 417 00:26:45,020 --> 00:26:49,740 this for three months and there she is 300 yards from my house, from my front door. 418 00:26:49,740 --> 00:26:52,500 And it's just like, how did you not notice? 419 00:26:52,500 --> 00:26:54,700 How did nobody see her? 420 00:26:54,700 --> 00:26:59,500 That's what I was talking about. 421 00:26:59,500 --> 00:27:05,260 My mind was like, I don't know. 422 00:27:05,260 --> 00:27:07,300 There's something odd there. 423 00:27:07,300 --> 00:27:10,540 Like I need more, I need more clear, I need more access. 424 00:27:10,540 --> 00:27:11,540 You know what I'm saying? 425 00:27:11,540 --> 00:27:12,780 But yeah, that's it for me. 426 00:27:12,780 --> 00:27:17,540 Thank you for bringing this case to our podcast. 427 00:27:17,540 --> 00:27:18,540 Yeah. 428 00:27:18,540 --> 00:27:25,380 The FBI and police investigating this case are very hopeful that it will be solved. 429 00:27:25,380 --> 00:27:30,220 And they do believe that it will be solved through DNA advances. 430 00:27:30,220 --> 00:27:32,900 And you know, as of 2021, they were working on this case. 431 00:27:32,900 --> 00:27:36,580 So it is something that remains pretty active for them. 432 00:27:36,580 --> 00:27:38,660 It's really important to this community. 433 00:27:38,660 --> 00:27:45,620 I think it's really a beautiful testament to the community that they're not forgetting 434 00:27:45,620 --> 00:27:47,020 about Amy. 435 00:27:47,020 --> 00:27:53,860 And I think that's beautiful that Amy is still an active member in their community through 436 00:27:53,860 --> 00:27:56,820 a lot of different ways. 437 00:27:56,820 --> 00:27:59,080 And that, you know, that keeps her alive. 438 00:27:59,080 --> 00:28:02,660 And I'm really hopeful that this case will be solved. 439 00:28:02,660 --> 00:28:04,560 It feels like they have everything they need. 440 00:28:04,560 --> 00:28:05,820 They just need the person. 441 00:28:05,820 --> 00:28:11,380 Yeah, this is one of the few times where I feel a little bit of optimism towards there 442 00:28:11,380 --> 00:28:19,140 being an answer that is as close to justice as it can be in this case. 443 00:28:19,140 --> 00:28:25,820 And yet to comment on the community, the resilience of the community as a whole, and also that 444 00:28:25,820 --> 00:28:32,500 community knowing that, like them still like going and like keeping her name and image 445 00:28:32,500 --> 00:28:34,920 out there and her story. 446 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:42,100 If that person is in the community, like together, they've like also, I don't know if this is 447 00:28:42,100 --> 00:28:43,100 true for them. 448 00:28:43,100 --> 00:28:48,500 But like, if that person is in the community, that's got to be pretty scary to see it like 449 00:28:48,500 --> 00:28:52,260 every day that these people are like, we will never let this go. 450 00:28:52,260 --> 00:28:53,260 I love that. 451 00:28:53,260 --> 00:28:56,980 I love that for the community and the people who live there. 452 00:28:56,980 --> 00:29:02,900 It's clear that they love this family and like love this girl and care about each other. 453 00:29:02,900 --> 00:29:05,260 Yeah, I totally agree. 454 00:29:05,260 --> 00:29:10,300 And if that person is still in the area, like the FBI thought that he would be, you know, 455 00:29:10,300 --> 00:29:12,740 after the abduction that he would still be in the area. 456 00:29:12,740 --> 00:29:16,620 I hope he's scared and I hope he's uncomfortable. 457 00:29:16,620 --> 00:29:20,380 And I hope he doesn't really feel like a part of the community. 458 00:29:20,380 --> 00:29:25,220 But again, if you know anything about the abduction or murder of Amy Mihaljevic in October 459 00:29:25,220 --> 00:29:36,820 of 1989, you are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or 1-800-225-5324. 460 00:29:36,820 --> 00:29:41,120 While we have you just for a few more minutes before you move on to your next podcast or 461 00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:45,340 whatever you want to listen to after this, if you could just leave us a quick rate and 462 00:29:45,340 --> 00:29:50,440 review if you're in Apple podcasts, it's so helpful for others to find our podcast and 463 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:55,700 to get these cold cases and missing people cases out to more and more people. 464 00:29:55,700 --> 00:29:57,620 If you've already done it, thank you so much. 465 00:29:57,620 --> 00:29:58,700 I appreciate you. 466 00:29:58,700 --> 00:30:00,780 I think of you often, truly I do. 467 00:30:00,780 --> 00:30:05,060 Every person that's commented or written as a review, I think about you and hope you're 468 00:30:05,060 --> 00:30:06,380 having a great day all the time. 469 00:30:06,380 --> 00:30:11,700 So if you want that energy coming towards you on a frequent basis, just go ahead and 470 00:30:11,700 --> 00:30:12,920 write a review. 471 00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:18,340 If you don't have Apple podcasts, you can go to our website www.coldandmissing. 472 00:30:18,340 --> 00:30:22,240 You can review us there and we also have transcripts on our website. 473 00:30:22,240 --> 00:30:27,000 So if you or someone you love is hard of hearing, they can follow along with the cases there. 474 00:30:27,000 --> 00:30:29,740 If you're not already, please follow us on Instagram. 475 00:30:29,740 --> 00:30:36,020 We post updates about the podcast in our stories and on our timeline. 476 00:30:36,020 --> 00:30:41,740 And we also this week will be posting pictures of Amy, the composite sketch of the suspect 477 00:30:41,740 --> 00:30:46,100 created by the FBI, and also that curtain and blanket that were found near her body 478 00:30:46,100 --> 00:30:49,340 since those seem to be important pieces in this case. 479 00:30:49,340 --> 00:30:52,900 We will be posting pictures of all of that throughout the week, so please check us out 480 00:30:52,900 --> 00:30:54,220 there. 481 00:30:54,220 --> 00:30:56,740 And that's all I have. 482 00:30:56,740 --> 00:30:59,500 Thank you again so much for listening to Cold and Missing. 483 00:30:59,500 --> 00:31:00,900 I'm your host Allie. 484 00:31:00,900 --> 00:31:02,620 And I'm your co-host Eli. 485 00:31:02,620 --> 00:31:04,500 Have a great week and stay safe, y'all. 486 00:31:04,500 --> 00:31:18,020 Stay safe, y'all.