Thursday, March 28, 2024

Victoria’s Michael Dunahee disappeared 31 years ago today

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Today marks 31 years since Michael Dunahee disappeared.

On March 24th, 1991, at around 12:30 p.m., 4-year-old Michael vanished from a playground outside the now-closed Blanshard Elementary School in Victoria.

The preschooler was just a short distance away from his family and a nearby crowd of spectators who were watching a touch football game.

An extensive search for Michael quickly ensued, which involved hundreds of volunteers and police from multiple agencies, according to VicPD.

But over three decades later, the search has so far proved unsuccessful—though tens of thousands of tips have been received by police.

“Some presume that Michael was abducted,” states a post on MichaelDunahee.ca.

Today, Michael’s disappearance remains one of Canada’s largest missing person investigations and has spawned widespread media coverage. 

Recently, the case was the topic of the podcast Island Crime, which sees podcaster Laura Palmer dive into a Vancouver Island crime story each season.

With 10 episodes, ‘Season 3: Missing Michael’ features interviews with Michael’s family and friends and several detectives.

“What happened to little Michael? Who is responsible for his disappearance? Could he still be alive, more than three decades later?” states the podcast’s synopsis.

In 2021, investigators launched a new online tip portal to aid in the search for Michael and it’s since ushered in hundreds of tips, VicPD says.

That same year, BC RCMP forensic sketch artist Cpl. Virginia Bernier created an age-enhanced sketch of Michael. It shows what he may look like at 34-years-old.

“We have always kept our hope alive,” said Crystal Dunahee, Michael’s mother.

“It is our hope that this new sketch, which shows what Michael may look like today, as a grown man, will help bring us the answers we need.”

Crystal has started and is president of Child Find, a not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to the personal safety of all children. She also worked to develop the Amber Alert system Canadians see today.

‘Michael Dunahee Keep The Hope Alive Run’ set for Sunday

Turning their tragedy into a grassroots effort to protect other families, Michael’s family has hosted the ‘Michael Dunahee Keep The Hope Alive Run’ for the past 31 years.

“Please join us once again for this family event from wherever you wish to participate,” organizers say.

This year’s virtual event is set for Sunday, March 27th, as families run or walk to mark Michael’s disappearance and highlight the ongoing search. All funds raised go to Child Find BC.

VicPD Chief Del Manak plans to participate in this year’s run and says VicPD remains committed to solving Michael’s disappearance.

“Our investigators truly appreciate all of the information and support we are receiving from our community,” added Manak.

Police ask anyone with information about Michael’s disappearance to visit this website or call VicPD’s dedicated Michael Dunahee tip line at (250) 995-7444.

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