Two photos of Michael Dunahee. At left, as he appeared in 1991. At right, an artist’s image of what he might have looked like in 2012. (Michaeldunahee.ca)
The disappearance of Michael Dunahee 28 years ago next week continues to go unsolved.
Dunahee, then four-years-old, went missing at around 12:30 p.m. on March 24, 1991, from the area near the Blanshard Elementary playground in Victoria. He had left his mother to play at the nearby playground and was a short distance away from his family.
His mother, Crystal Dunahee, had been at the location for a touch football game in a field next to the playground. She had given Michael permission to go play in the park and wait for his father Bruce. That was the last time anyone saw Michael.
When Bruce couldn’t find Michael at the playground, touch football players helped the couple look for the little boy. Bruce and Crystal also contacted police immediately.
Many families and spectators were in the area at the time for a touch football game, police said. But despite a massive search involving hundreds of volunteers and police from multiple agencies, no sign of Dunahee was ever found.
Victoria police said Dunahee’s disappearance is the largest investigation in VicPD’s history and is one of the largest missing child investigations in Canada.
“We continue to receive and investigate new tips and are always exploring new advancements in forensics and technology,” Detective Sgt. Michelle Robertson of the VicPD historical case review section said in a release.
“Over the years many people in our community, including the investigators, have been personally and profoundly affected by this case. So many people have come forward and worked to help our officers, for which we’re very grateful.”
VicPD said they strongly believe that there is still someone out there that has first-hand information about what happened to Michael on March 24, 1991, and can tell them about his whereabouts.
Anyone who has information about Dunahee’s disappearance is asked to call VicPD’s dedicated Tip Line at 250-995-7444. To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
The annual Michael Dunahee 5km Fun Run and Walk will take place this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the Esquimalt Recreation Centre. Victoria Police Chief Del Manak will speak at the event.
CHEK News
