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Revision as of 17:02, 26 June 2015 edit12.180.133.18 (talk) Deleted this BLP problem. The source is James Renner who has wild conspiracy theory blogs. The only sources are his blogspots. Not reliable. BLP. Deleted photo of James Renner.Tag: section blanking← Previous edit Revision as of 17:03, 26 June 2015 edit undo12.180.133.18 (talk) →Investigation: Deleted these parts because the only source is James Renner's self promotional blogspot.comNext edit →
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The Bay Village Police and the ] conducted an extensive investigation into her disappearance and murder. The case generated thousands of leads. Dozens of suspects were asked to take lie-detector tests, but no one has ever been charged with the crime. Law enforcement continues to pursue leads and monitor suspects to the present day. 20,000 interviews have taken place during the investigation.<ref name=unfinished/> This was described to be the biggest search in Ohio since the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Larkin|first1=Brent|title=Investigators still chasing Amy Mihaljevic's killer: Brent Larkin|url=http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/09/investigators_still_chasing_am.html|accessdate=25 September 2014|agency=Northeast Ohio Media Group|date=29 September 2012}}</ref> The Bay Village Police and the ] conducted an extensive investigation into her disappearance and murder. The case generated thousands of leads. Dozens of suspects were asked to take lie-detector tests, but no one has ever been charged with the crime. Law enforcement continues to pursue leads and monitor suspects to the present day. 20,000 interviews have taken place during the investigation.<ref name=unfinished/> This was described to be the biggest search in Ohio since the ].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Larkin|first1=Brent|title=Investigators still chasing Amy Mihaljevic's killer: Brent Larkin|url=http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/09/investigators_still_chasing_am.html|accessdate=25 September 2014|agency=Northeast Ohio Media Group|date=29 September 2012}}</ref>

In 2005, Cleveland journalist ] re-examined this ] with a series of articles in the weekly newspaper '']''. Renner's 2005 series provided new research that he had independently undertaken, as well as openly soliciting the public for new information and clues. In October 2006, publisher Gray & Co. released a book about Renner's investigation into the murder called '']''. The book provided information previously unreleased by the police and FBI. In 2007, Renner donated his files, consisting of the largest private collection of material on the Mihaljevic case, to the Department of Special Collections and Archives at ], ].<ref></ref>


In November 2006, it was revealed that several other young girls had received phone calls similar to that to which Mihaljevic responded, during the weeks prior to her abduction in 1989. These comprised requests from an unknown man, claiming to work with their mother, asking the girl to help him shop for a present to celebrate her mother's job promotion. The girls who received these calls lived in ], a suburb near Bay Village; some had unlisted phone numbers.<ref name=unfinished/> This new information was considered significant by new movement on the case.<ref>, by James Renner, November 8th, 2006, ''Cleveland Scene.'' Accessed November 29, 2008.</ref><ref name="interview" >{{cite web |url=http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/1577942?page=0 |title=Ashland County's murder mystery: Author James Renner explores killing of Amy Mihaljevic |first=Irv |last=Oslin |date=February 8, 2007 |publisher=Times-Gazette |location= Ashland, Ohio |accessdate= November 29, 2008}}</ref> Mihaljevic and the others who received such calls had all visited the local Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, which they had signed and added their personal information, such as their addresses.<ref name=unfinished/> In November 2006, it was revealed that several other young girls had received phone calls similar to that to which Mihaljevic responded, during the weeks prior to her abduction in 1989. These comprised requests from an unknown man, claiming to work with their mother, asking the girl to help him shop for a present to celebrate her mother's job promotion. The girls who received these calls lived in ], a suburb near Bay Village; some had unlisted phone numbers.<ref name=unfinished/> This new information was considered significant by new movement on the case.<ref>, by James Renner, November 8th, 2006, ''Cleveland Scene.'' Accessed November 29, 2008.</ref><ref name="interview" >{{cite web |url=http://www.times-gazette.com/news/article/1577942?page=0 |title=Ashland County's murder mystery: Author James Renner explores killing of Amy Mihaljevic |first=Irv |last=Oslin |date=February 8, 2007 |publisher=Times-Gazette |location= Ashland, Ohio |accessdate= November 29, 2008}}</ref> Mihaljevic and the others who received such calls had all visited the local Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, which they had signed and added their personal information, such as their addresses.<ref name=unfinished/>
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The FBI announced in March 2014 that a $25,000 reward is available to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killer of Mihaljevic.<ref>The Plain Dealer, March 2014</ref> The FBI announced in March 2014 that a $25,000 reward is available to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killer of Mihaljevic.<ref>The Plain Dealer, March 2014</ref>


In late 2013, investigator Phil Torsney returned from retirement to work on the case, which he had originally been assigned to after she was murdered.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dissell|first1=Rachel|title=Retired FBI agent Phil Torsney returns to tackle unsolved murder of Amy Mihaljevic|url=http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2013/11/post_1.html#incart_river_default|accessdate=25 September 2014|agency=The Plain Dealer|date=4 November 2013}}</ref> Torsney is well known for aiding in the capture of ], who was a long-time member of the ].<ref>{{cite news|title=We Will Catch Amy Mihaljevic's Murderer|url=http://www.amymihaljevic.blogspot.com/2014/05/torsney-well-solve-this.html|accessdate=2 September 2014|agency=WKYC News|publisher=]|date=12 May 2014}}</ref> Torsney stated that he believes that Mihaljevic was transported out of Bay Village after she was kidnapped, as the town is "too dense, too close-knit, to be a likely place to commit murder." However, he stated that the murder likely took place in Ashland County, which the murderer was probably familiar with.<ref name=unfinished/> In late 2013, investigator Phil Torsney returned from retirement to work on the case, which he had originally been assigned to after she was murdered.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dissell|first1=Rachel|title=Retired FBI agent Phil Torsney returns to tackle unsolved murder of Amy Mihaljevic|url=http://www.cleveland.com/court-justice/index.ssf/2013/11/post_1.html#incart_river_default|accessdate=25 September 2014|agency=The Plain Dealer|date=4 November 2013}}</ref> Torsney stated that he believes that Mihaljevic was transported out of Bay Village after she was kidnapped, as the town is "too dense, too close-knit, to be a likely place to commit murder." However, he stated that the murder likely took place in Ashland County, which the murderer was probably familiar with.<ref name=unfinished/>


==Aftermath== ==Aftermath==

Revision as of 17:03, 26 June 2015

Amy Mihaljevic
1989 school portrait of Amy Mihaljevic
BornAmy Renee Mihaljevic
(1978-12-11)December 11, 1978
Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Diedc. October 27, 1989 (1989-10-28) (aged 10)
Bay Village, Ohio, U.S.
Cause of deathHead trauma, stabbing
NationalityAmerican
CitizenshipUnited States
OccupationStudent
Known forMurder victim

Amy Renee Mihaljevic (December 11, 1978 – October 27, 1989) was a ten-year-old American elementary school student who was kidnapped and murdered in the U.S. state of Ohio in 1989. Her murder case raised national attention. The story of her unsolved kidnapping and murder was one of the first cases presented by John Walsh on the television show, America's Most Wanted during its first year. To date, her killer has not been found, yet the case remains active; new information in 2007 and 2013 has increased hopes of resolving the case.

Disappearance and murder

On October 27, 1989, Amy Mihaljevic was kidnapped from the Bay Square Shopping Center in Bay Village, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. The abductor had contacted Mihaljevic by telephone and arranged to meet her on the pretext of buying a gift for her mother because she had recently been promoted, as he told her. On February 8, 1990, the girl's body was found in a field, close to the road, off County Road 1181, Ruggles Township in rural Ashland County, Ohio.

Evidence found at the scene of the crime suggests that Mihaljevic's body was probably dumped there shortly after her abduction. Based on findings by the Cuyahoga County coroner, Mihaljevic's last meal was some sort of soy substance, possibly an artificial chicken product or Chinese food. Other evidence includes the presence of yellow/gold colored fibers on her body. It appears her killer also took several souvenirs including the girl's horse-riding boots, her denim backpack, a binder with "Buick, Best in Class" written on the front clasp, and turquoise earrings in the shape of horse heads. Blood believed to be that of Mihaljevic was found in her underwear, indicating she may have been raped or sexually abused. Mitochondrial DNA from the crime scene was sampled, which may be used in the future to compare to suspects.

Investigation

File:Amysuspect.gif
Wanted poster and FBI sketch of the man last seen with Mihaljevic before she vanished

The Bay Village Police and the FBI conducted an extensive investigation into her disappearance and murder. The case generated thousands of leads. Dozens of suspects were asked to take lie-detector tests, but no one has ever been charged with the crime. Law enforcement continues to pursue leads and monitor suspects to the present day. 20,000 interviews have taken place during the investigation. This was described to be the biggest search in Ohio since the disappearance of Beverly Potts.

In November 2006, it was revealed that several other young girls had received phone calls similar to that to which Mihaljevic responded, during the weeks prior to her abduction in 1989. These comprised requests from an unknown man, claiming to work with their mother, asking the girl to help him shop for a present to celebrate her mother's job promotion. The girls who received these calls lived in North Olmsted, a suburb near Bay Village; some had unlisted phone numbers. This new information was considered significant by new movement on the case. Mihaljevic and the others who received such calls had all visited the local Lake Erie Nature and Science Center, which they had signed and added their personal information, such as their addresses.

Bay Village police collected DNA samples from several potential suspects in the case in December 2006. As of early 2007, it was reported that a longtime suspect in the case had retained legal counsel.

The FBI announced in March 2014 that a $25,000 reward is available to anyone who can provide information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the killer of Mihaljevic.

In late 2013, investigator Phil Torsney returned from retirement to work on the case, which he had originally been assigned to after she was murdered. Torsney stated that he believes that Mihaljevic was transported out of Bay Village after she was kidnapped, as the town is "too dense, too close-knit, to be a likely place to commit murder." However, he stated that the murder likely took place in Ashland County, which the murderer was probably familiar with.

Aftermath

In response to her daughter's death, Mihaljevic's mother, Margaret McNulty, co-founded a foundation to protect children from such situations that happened to Amy. However, McNulty had suffered from lupus after the death of Amy, resulting in her death at age 54 in 2001.

Mihaljevic's case was also discussed on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

References

  1. ^ "Mom of slain girl found dead in Vegas". Post-Tribune. 2 October 2001. Retrieved 15 May 2014.(subscription required)
  2. Renner, James (2008-11-12). "Still on the hunt for Amy's killer". Cleveland Scene. Retrieved 2009-11-18. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. Larkin, Brent (2007-06-24). "Still on the hunt for Amy's killer". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 2008-07-02. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ Renner, James (9 May 2007). "The Autopsy". Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  5. Reprint of Cleveland Scene July 20, 2005, a reprint of a story originally at http://www.clevescene.com/Issues/2005-07-20/news/feature.html. Accessed November 29, 2008.
  6. ^ Trickey, Erick (September 2014). "Justice Unfinished". Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  7. Larkin, Brent (29 September 2012). "Investigators still chasing Amy Mihaljevic's killer: Brent Larkin". Northeast Ohio Media Group. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  8. Cold Case Gets Hot, by James Renner, November 8th, 2006, Cleveland Scene. Accessed November 29, 2008.
  9. ^ Oslin, Irv (February 8, 2007). "Ashland County's murder mystery: Author James Renner explores killing of Amy Mihaljevic". Ashland, Ohio: Times-Gazette. Retrieved November 29, 2008.
  10. The Plain Dealer, March 2014
  11. Dissell, Rachel (4 November 2013). "Retired FBI agent Phil Torsney returns to tackle unsolved murder of Amy Mihaljevic". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved 25 September 2014.

Further reading

  • Renner, James (2008). The Serial Killer's Apprentice: And 12 Other True Stories of Cleveland's Most Intriguing Unsolved Crimes. Cleveland, OH: Gray & Company, Publishers. ISBN 978-1-59851-046-1
  • Renner, James (2006). Amy: My Search for Her Killer: Secrets & Suspects in the Unsolved Murder of Amy Mihaljevic. Cleveland, Ohio: Gray & Co. ISBN 978-1-59851-019-5.
  • 1989 Abduction and Murder of Amy Mihaljevic, extensive collection of news articles reproduced full-text online. Accessed November 29, 2008.

External links

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