OH OH - Amy Mihaljevic, 10, Bay Village, 27 Oct 1989

[sds71]

New DNA testing is underway in the Amy Mihaljevic murder case.

Hair, possibly from her killer, is being analyzed right now inside a lab in California.

“Every time we send something to a lab,” says Bay Village Det. Sgt. Jay Elish. ”We hope, we hope, we hope."


“The lab tests in two phases. The first phase is, can we get a profile? If the answer is yes, we go to phase two, where we get a profile,” explains Elish.

That DNA profile could be of Amy’s killer.

Elish says he expects answers from the California lab sometime this fall.

Is it hair from Amy Mihaljevic’s killer? New DNA testing underway

Major advancements in forensics and DNA testing have prompted scientists to reanalyze some evidence in the Amy Mihaljevic case.

www.cleveland19.com

 

[Jmoose]

New DNA testing is underway in the Amy Mihaljevic murder case.

Hair, possibly from her killer, is being analyzed right now inside a lab in California.

“Every time we send something to a lab,” says Bay Village Det. Sgt. Jay Elish. ”We hope, we hope, we hope."


“The lab tests in two phases. The first phase is, can we get a profile? If the answer is yes, we go to phase two, where we get a profile,” explains Elish.

That DNA profile could be of Amy’s killer.

Elish says he expects answers from the California lab sometime this fall.

Is it hair from Amy Mihaljevic’s killer? New DNA testing underway

Major advancements in forensics and DNA testing have prompted scientists to reanalyze some evidence in the Amy Mihaljevic case.

www.cleveland19.com

Nice to see you here-I used to live in Bay Village, but moved before this happened.

 

[Betty P]

Here's to hoping they finally get the answer! Thinking of Amy's family.

 

[ejtheintj]

Bringing this link forward again from the news story a few months ago

EXCLUSIVE: Court documents reveal startling new developments in Amy Mihaljevic murder investigation

Confidential sources reveal to local news media that documents have been filed in county court regarding a suspect in the case. A tip about this suspect was sent to LE on the most recent anniversary of Amy's abduction and murder. The suspect lived nearby, had a relative who was in Amy's class, worked in Bay Village, had made the acquaintance of Amy's mother at a local bar and was missing the night of Amy's abduction. He called his girlfriend that night asking about news reporting of Amy's abduction.

Hello, I am new to this particular thread but have been a true crime enthusiast for a while. I commented years ago on the Delphi case, offering my insights, which are strictly amateur of course. FWIW, I wanted to offer my thoughts and something you touched on here. I read the FBI profiles that have been published online, watched the Lake Eerie murder, and listened to a couple podcasts. I'm ~1 year younger than Amy and vaguely recall seeing this case on AMW as a kid. This is definitely a case I genuinely hope is solved in the coming years. My 2 cents:

I believe the "bar" reference is possibly accurate here. I know read or heard Amy's mother frequented a local bar and may have had a drinking problem already prior to the abduction. Not sure if that's true but it sounds like she may have been borderline already, and I pass no judgment as a recovering alcoholic. I also don't blame her for self-medicating heavily after losing her child. I probably would do the same thing. I spent a lot of time in bars in my day, and I can tell you that I was super chatty with anyone who would listen, over-shared, and could have easily put myself into comprising situations as a result.

My guess is this offender while the unsub is odd and off-putting to those who know him, he is not totally socially inept around adults either. He is capable of wearing a mask of normalcy and isn't someone you'd feel nervous around in any way. He may even be gregarious and charming and certainly not someone you'd view as a threat. My guess is he targets children, watches from afar, learns their movements, parents coming and goings and what they do. I suspect that his prior phone calls didn't work because he lacked enough specific details to lure them away. I would assume he did a degree of recon, likely on the mother as her father was a travelling salesman I believe. A great way to do that would be enter her orbit at the local watering hole, even if it's just eavesdropping. She may have met lots of people over the years there, many local of course, but this guy was probably just there and unremarkable. Probably someone that is easily forgettable that you would barely remember as he gave no reasons to do so. He may or may not have even spoke with the mother, but I would guess he would never in a million years ask direct questions about his child. I am guessing she inadvertently overshared details about her own life, maybe children, etc and she was oblivious that he had nefarious motives. I mean, who wouldn't be? She talked and maybe he listened or overheard. I have no idea. I could be dead wrong. Most people go out to celebrate a promotion. I mean, I guess it was better stated that she was being promoted from part-time to full-time which would essentially be a lot more money coming in each month. That's a cause to celebrate! Maybe she was there, and her boss and coworkers were too, which was enough to learn their names. I think this guy was there, one or more times, in her presence and was able to gather enough ammo to spin a yard that was detailed enough to lure this particular child away.

This is just my 2 cents and I'm not blaming her mother in any way. This guy is smart, calculating, and probably even comes across as extremely friendly and non-threatening. Maybe he is sick enough though that he thought he was "saving" her from her troubled mother or something. Maybe his own mother or father had similar afflictions, and, maybe they recently passed so he felt it was okay to act on his sick fantasies, now that there nobody alive in his alive he would be afraid of disappointing.

 

[Betty P]

Hello, I am new to this particular thread but have been a true crime enthusiast for a while. I commented years ago on the Delphi case, offering my insights, which are strictly amateur of course. FWIW, I wanted to offer my thoughts and something you touched on here. I read the FBI profiles that have been published online, watched the Lake Eerie murder, and listened to a couple podcasts. I'm ~1 year younger than Amy and vaguely recall seeing this case on AMW as a kid. This is definitely a case I genuinely hope is solved in the coming years. My 2 cents:

I believe the "bar" reference is possibly accurate here. I know read or heard Amy's mother frequented a local bar and may have had a drinking problem already prior to the abduction. Not sure if that's true but it sounds like she may have been borderline already, and I pass no judgment as a recovering alcoholic. I also don't blame her for self-medicating heavily after losing her child. I probably would do the same thing. I spent a lot of time in bars in my day, and I can tell you that I was super chatty with anyone who would listen, over-shared, and could have easily put myself into comprising situations as a result.

My guess is this offender while the unsub is odd and off-putting to those who know him, he is not totally socially inept around adults either. He is capable of wearing a mask of normalcy and isn't someone you'd feel nervous around in any way. He may even be gregarious and charming and certainly not someone you'd view as a threat. My guess is he targets children, watches from afar, learns their movements, parents coming and goings and what they do. I suspect that his prior phone calls didn't work because he lacked enough specific details to lure them away. I would assume he did a degree of recon, likely on the mother as her father was a travelling salesman I believe. A great way to do that would be enter her orbit at the local watering hole, even if it's just eavesdropping. She may have met lots of people over the years there, many local of course, but this guy was probably just there and unremarkable. Probably someone that is easily forgettable that you would barely remember as he gave no reasons to do so. He may or may not have even spoke with the mother, but I would guess he would never in a million years ask direct questions about his child. I am guessing she inadvertently overshared details about her own life, maybe children, etc and she was oblivious that he had nefarious motives. I mean, who wouldn't be? She talked and maybe he listened or overheard. I have no idea. I could be dead wrong. Most people go out to celebrate a promotion. I mean, I guess it was better stated that she was being promoted from part-time to full-time which would essentially be a lot more money coming in each month. That's a cause to celebrate! Maybe she was there, and her boss and coworkers were too, which was enough to learn their names. I think this guy was there, one or more times, in her presence and was able to gather enough ammo to spin a yard that was detailed enough to lure this particular child away.

This is just my 2 cents and I'm not blaming her mother in any way. This guy is smart, calculating, and probably even comes across as extremely friendly and non-threatening. Maybe he is sick enough though that he thought he was "saving" her from her troubled mother or something. Maybe his own mother or father had similar afflictions, and, maybe they recently passed so he felt it was okay to act on his sick fantasies, now that there nobody alive in his alive he would be afraid of disappointing.

Yes, you make some very good observations. I agree, the consideration of a local tavern or bar being the place where the killer gained information about Amy is no criticism of her mom. I've always felt the utmost sympathy for her. She lived a nightmare loss that was so difficult, it took her life at an early age. If that's how it happened, the killer is the one to blame, not the mother. If it happened that way, there are no dive bars anywhere near that area. This person would have gained the mom's trust at one of the very friendly, safe neighborhood establishments.

As LE and other experts have said previously, this killer was likely very familiar with Bay Village and comfortable with carrying out the abduction there. The location is in the center of the town's business district, directly across the street from the police department. Whomever it is, he either lived in or was very familiar with Bay Village. You're right, he probably comes across as friendly, possibly familiar to many people in town, possibly even known to parents of the kids at Amy's school.

Hopefully, the new DNA testing will bring some answers.

 

[ejtheintj]

Yes, you make some very good observations. I agree, the consideration of a local tavern or bar being the place where the killer gained information about Amy is no criticism of her mom. I've always felt the utmost sympathy for her. She lived a nightmare loss that was so difficult, it took her life at an early age. If that's how it happened, the killer is the one to blame, not the mother. If it happened that way, there are no dive bars anywhere near that area. This person would have gained the mom's trust at one of the very friendly, safe neighborhood establishments.

As LE and other experts have said previously, this killer was likely very familiar with Bay Village and comfortable with carrying out the abduction there. The location is in the center of the town's business district, directly across the street from the police department. Whomever it is, he either lived in or was very familiar with Bay Village. You're right, he probably comes across as friendly, possibly familiar to many people in town, possibly even known to parents of the kids at Amy's school.

Hopefully, the new DNA testing will bring some answers.

I am quite sure I read / heard that the mother was a regular at some bar. I mean, there's much misinformation out there that I could be wrong. I don't recall where I heard it though, and I've only been actively deep diving this case for 1 week now. It's my working theory by reading the tea leaves, as a former barfly. I've also never been to the area at all so I will have to defer to those who are. I don't think I'm that far off as to how one might gather just enough intel to concoct some yarn that would fool a 10-year-old. Personally, I think given the time that's elapsed without resolution LE should just put all their chips on the table, less any morbid detail about the murder itself. If they're holding back other details, like the blanket/curtain, I'd say just throw it out there. The reward outweighs the risk, and any DNA profile will be the trump card anyways.

 

[Betty P]

I am quite sure I read / heard that the mother was a regular at some bar. I mean, there's much misinformation out there that I could be wrong. I don't recall where I heard it though, and I've only been actively deep diving this case for 1 week now. It's my working theory by reading the tea leaves, as a former barfly. I've also never been to the area at all so I will have to defer to those who are. I don't think I'm that far off as to how one might gather just enough intel to concoct some yarn that would fool a 10-year-old. Personally, I think given the time that's elapsed without resolution LE should just put all their chips on the table, less any morbid detail about the murder itself. If they're holding back other details, like the blanket/curtain, I'd say just throw it out there. The reward outweighs the risk, and any DNA profile will be the trump card anyways.

I was just noticing they've sent evidence to at least 3 different companies now with inconclusive results or too small a sample, etc. Supposedly, this "new" evidence, a human hair, could be the one and is going to California. I'm not sure, but hope its the same company that did the DNA extraction of hairs found on the bodies of the Long Island Serial Killer, Rex Heuermann. Hopefully, this provides some answers. Perhaps they could try Othram in the future.

As for bars around Bay Village in the early 90's, there weren't many. There weren't even many sit down restaurants, either. There would have been a bar in the bowling alley. I think its still there, it was in the corner of the shopping plaza where Amy was kidnapped. It was a basic bar, with basic food service. The kinds of food and drink you'd get at a BA. There were a lot of leagues and on weekends, some children's birthday parties. It was a family-type place.

Across the railroad tracks on Dover Center Rd., there was a small bar/restaurant. At least that's what it is now. Back then, it might have been just a tavern. I don't recall. I only went there once, after it was a restaurant.

Here's a photo of two bar-restaurants there now. They weren't there in 89 or 90, but I think there was a bar in one of those buildings.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Across the tracks on Cahoon Rd, there was a very nice, older restaurant with a bar. It used to be a speakeasy and Elliot Ness (who lived in the area after prohibition used to drink there. It would have been a rather expensive place for a housewife to have drinks on the regular, but who knows?

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

There were places in neighboring suburbs, but IIRC, not really close to BV. BV really was like a little village back then.


Across the tracks on

 

[steeltowngirl]

Found an article from 2021 that mentioned a bar.

For years, police have said that prior to her abduction, Amy received a phone call from a man who wanted to arrange a meeting with the girl to help pick out a gift for Amy’s mother.

The detective said during an interview with the man in the fall of 2019 that the man said he may have met Amy's mother in a bar and that “maybe he didn’t know who he was talking to.”

Police said that when they asked the man whether he ever called Amy prior to her abduction the man said, “I could have” and “it could have been a wrong number.”

Possible suspect may have called Amy Mihaljevic prior to her disappearance in 1989

Police say that a man identified by his ex-girlfriend as a possible suspect in the death of Amy Mihaljevic told investigators he may have called the 10-year-old girl prior to her abduction, according to recently filed court documents.

www.news5cleveland.com

 

[arielilane]

Timestamp 0:00
I've learned that police are re-interviewing
people who knew the family or who lived
in the neighborhood.
We've covered leads throughout the
country, but none have led to the coldblooded killer.

Whoever did this was preying on, you know, this little girl and the love of her mother.

10-year-old Amy Mihaljevic got a call at her home from a man police believe she
might have known. He persuaded her to meet him at Bay Square Shopping Center
so they could buy a gift for her mom who had recently been promoted at work.
That was October 27th, 1989.

Her body was found in Ashland County 4 months later.

That's emotional. Bay Village Police Chief Mark Spaetzel was just a rookie patrolman at the time.

It's been 28 plus years and um we're trying to get this thing solved and really like to do that before I retire.

That's why retired FBI agent Phil Torsney is here. He's working with Bay Village Police now solely on this case.

I've learned that the tips are still coming in and that people are being interviewed and reinterviewed in connection
with this mystery that has haunted this town for nearly three decades.


I was doing some interviews and work yesterday, which are based on some new information and review of old information. Torsney was among a team of FBI agents who arrived within hours of Amy's disappearance with hopes of finding her. Now, he is committed to finding her killer.

We're trying to use some of those new tools that we have now, uh, forensic tools, laboratory tools, uh, reviewing

parts of the old case and trying to match up different things that may have not meant something 28 years ago.

Timestamp 1:49 (photo of items)
Police believe these items could lead to Amy's killer. turquoise horse head earrings, black studded boots, and a

black Buick binder with the words best-in-class on it. They have never been found. Both men told me they

believe that this case will be solved.

I think he's lucky, and I'm hoping his luck runs out.

Sept. 3, 2025

 

[arielilane]

Sept. 3, 2025
A year after Amy was found, a witness came forward saying that around 13 hours before her body was discovered, they spotted a man near the area she would be located in. The witness told police a man in his mid-20s to 30s was standing outside a dark blue hatchback car with the hatchback open.

 

[arielilane]

The crime scene appeared to indicate that Amy's body was most likely dumped shortly after her abduction. Amy's cause of death was determined to be a combination of stab wounds to the neck and a blow to her head. The boots Amy was wearing, a denim backpack she was carrying, a binder with "Buick, Best in Class" written on same in her backpack, and turquoise earrings in the shape of horse heads were all missing and have never been located.

The Amy Mihaljevic Case | Bay Village, OH

Please use the following link to submit a tip in the Amy Mihaljevic murder case.

cityofbayvillage.com

 

[Betty P]

Sept. 3, 2025
A year after Amy was found, a witness came forward saying that around 13 hours before her body was discovered, they spotted a man near the area she would be located in. The witness told police a man in his mid-20s to 30s was standing outside a dark blue hatchback car with the hatchback open.

I wonder what this means? They've sent their latest recently discovered hair evidence for DNA testing. I wonder if the testing is complete and they're looking for other evidence to add before announcing an arrest?

It's so hard to know with these cases that have been cold for so long. Can't hurt to bring up this guy and his car again. I don't recall them saying in the past, though, that the hatchback of his vehicle was open.

ETA: Ok, this is old video. Nothing new yet, but hope we hear something soon.