Bay Village, FBI Renew Mihaljevic Homicide Investigation Efforts

The Bay Village Police Department, in conjunction with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office and the FBI,  conducted a press conference on Wednesday, November 13, to update investigation details on the 24-year old Amy Mihaljevic homicide investigation.

Retired FBI  Special Agent Phil Torsney was recently hired to work on the investigation and was introduced at the press conference. Bay Village Police Chief Mark Spaetzel provided a case update and answered  media questions. Special Agent Tim Kolonick of the FBI was also available to answer questions.

Chief Spaetzel told reporters that leads have never stopped coming in since the disappearance of Amy in 1989 from the vicinity of the Bay Village Square Shopping Center. Her remains were discovered in an Ashland County field months later.

Agent Torsney said he has recently interviewed childhood friends of Amy and possible witnesses who are now in their 30’s. Amy was a 10-year old fifth grader at the time of her disappearance.

 

 

Complete Press Conference Audio, Media Q & A begins at 6:45

Statement by Bay Village Chief of Police Mark Spaetzel

Just over 24 years ago, on October 27, 1989, 10 year old Amy Mihaljevic was abducted from the Bay Square shopping center on Wolf Rd in Bay Village.  An immediate and concerted effort by law enforcement was begun to locate Amy.  Unfortunately, on February 8, 1990, Amy’s body was located in a field in Ruggles Township in Ashland Ohio, some 50 miles from her home.

The facts of the case are well known.   Amy received phone calls to meet an individual at Bay Square in order to go to a mall and buy her mother a gift for a promotion at work. Two classmates familiar with Amy saw her talking with a white male, approximately 30-35 years old, 5’8 to 5’10, medium build with dark hair, possibly wearing a tan jacket and glasses.  The male may have had a trace of beard growth and a bald spot near top/rear of his head.    There was no vehicle description.

The Bay Village Police Department, working closely with the FBI, continues to investigate this homicide.  To date, the investigation has resulted in more than 20,000 interviews, over 10,000 leads and thousands of suspects.  Law enforcement continues to employ new avenues for investigation. Great strides continue to be made in the area of forensic science.  Since these new technologies could prove beneficial, law enforcement continues to collect, preserve and analyze any and all potential evidence.  In addition to investigating leads as they are received by law enforcement, other investigative methods are being used in an effort to solve this homicide.  Utilizing case analysis, a complete review of the case, including all evidence and past suspects, is being conducted. With the assistance of the Prosecutor Tim McGinty and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, retired FBI Special Agent Phil Torsney has been brought on board to work exclusively on this investigation.

The City of Bay Village, the FBI and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office is dedicated to identifying and prosecuting the individual responsible for this homicide.  Information received from the public will be vitally important in solving this homicide. The Police Department believes a person(s) has specific knowledge of the individual responsible for Amy’s abduction and murder and encourage them to contact Bay Village Police or the FBI.  You can chose to have your identity remain confidential.

I want to thank the local media for their continued interest in publishing this case and assisting law enforcement in finding the person responsible.

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