WORKING WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE FAMILIES OF THE MISSING

Michaela Joy Garecht

Kidnapped/AbductedClosed
Updated
Michaela Joy Garecht
Michaela Joy Garecht w/ David Misch convicted of her murder.

Missing Persons Details

Missing Children

Michaela Joy Garecht

Missing from
Hayward, California - USA
Nationality
  American
Case Entered
  July 04, 2021
Status
   Closed
Current Classification
  Kidnapped/Abducted
Source of Record
  NamUs
Last Updated
Verification Status
Yes

Physical Description

Gender
   Female
Age When Reported Missing
   9
Age As of Today
  45
Race
  Caucasian/White
Hair Color
  Blonde
Eye Color
  Blue
Height
  Undisclose
Weight
  Undisclose
  Last Seen Wearing
Michaela Garecht was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with the word "Metro" across the front and pictures of people on the midsection. She was also wearing denim pants rolled above her knees, black shoes, and three-inch pearl or white colored earrings resembling feathers.
  Distinct Features
  Medical Alert

Details of Disappearance

Michaela Joy Garecht was last seen by family or friends on November 19, 1988.

According to open source information, Michaela Joy Garecht (9 at the time), was abducted by an unknown male assailant in the parking lot of the Rainbow Market in Hayward, California, the morning of 11/19/1988. Garecht was attempting to retrieve a friend's scooter that the abductor had moved closer to his vehicle while the girls were inside the market. Reporting indicates she was then grabbed by the assailant and pulled into a car.

Garecht has not been seen or heard from since 11/19/1988. At the time of the abduction, the suspect was described as being between 18 and 24 years old, and having a slender build. The assailant was approximately 6'0", weighing 180lbs, and having dirty blond shoulder-length hair. The assailant was further described as having a pockmarked or pimpled face. He was driving an older model, full-sized four-door sedan, reportedly either gold or tan in color, and damage to the front bumper.

On 12/21/2020, David Misch was arrested for the kidnapping and murder of Garecht. Garechts's remains have not been located. FBI and the Hayward Police Department continue to seek information from the public that would assist in locating Garecht's remains. 

Who to contact!
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Michaela Joy Garecht, you are encouraged to contact the Hayward Police Department at (510) 293-7000, ask for Robert Purnell, Detective. Be sure to have the case number 88112127 available as you will need it.

Additional Case Numbers

NamUs
MP49
NCMEC
717172

FBI Information

FBI Field Office Division
San Francisco
(415) 553-7400

Be Advised

If you see Michaela Joy Garecht anywhere, please do not make contact. Call your local emergency number like (911) or the phone number indicated for law enforcement on this record and they will instruct you on what to do. You can also let them know Michaela Joy Garecht's name and that they are profiled on this site. This way they can visit the profile and get information faster for follow up. You can always leave us a tip on what you saw by clicking the "Tip" link in the menu at the top of this page.

NOTICE: If the information contained in this missing persons profile is inaccurate, needs to be updated, or the person has been located, please let our staff know as soon as possible. Thank you.

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