Date: Wednesday, March 24th, 2021

File: 1991-10349

Victoria, BC – Investigators, together with the Dunahee family are releasing a new age-enhanced sketch as we mark the 30th anniversary of Michael Dunahee’s disappearance.

On March 24th, 1991, at approximately 12:30 p.m., four-year-old Michael Dunahee disappeared from the area of the Blanshard School playground, just a short distance away from his family. Many families and spectators were in the area at the time for a touch football game. An extensive search was launched for Michael, which involved hundreds of volunteers and police from multiple agencies.

Michael has not been found.

An age-enhanced sketch of Michael, created by BC RCMP forensic sketch artist Cpl. Virginia Bernier showing Michael as he may appear at 34-years-old is being released and a new online tip portal is being launched.

 

Working with information from Michael’s family and relying on years of expertise and training, Cpl. Bernier worked with extensively with VicPD Detective Sgt. Michelle Robertson to create the image.

“It’s an honour to be part of this investigation,” BC RCMP Forensic Sketch Artist Cpl. Virginia Bernier said. “Michael’s story really hits home for all of us. It’s my hope that my work, in some small way, helps resolve this file.”

 

Michael’s family has turned their tragedy into a grassroots effort to protect other families. The annual Michael Dunahee ‘Keep The Hope Alive’ Run has been a fixture in our community for 30 years. Each year, families run and walk both to mark Michael’s disappearance and highlight the on-going search, but all monies raised go to Child Find BC.

“We have always kept our hope alive,” Crystal Dunahee said. “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.”

“We remain committed to solving Michael’s disappearance,” Detective Sgt. Michelle Robertson of VicPD’s Historical Case Review Section said. “Someone out there knows what happened to Michael that day 30 years ago and where Michael is today. We need to hear from that person.”

VicPD continues to partner with agencies including the Canadian Centre for Child Protection in the search for Michael and to help protect children everywhere.

“It is absolutely heart-breaking to know this family has been searching for their child for three decades. We want to commend the Victoria Police Department for their commitment to finding Michael, and their efforts today to continue the search,” Lianna McDonald, Executive Director at the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, said. “Michael did not just vanish. Someone somewhere knows what happened to him. It’s been 30 years – it’s time to come forward and share that information and help this hurting family.”

The investigation into Michael Dunahee’s disappearance remains one of the largest missing person investigations in Canada. To help gather information, a new Michael Dunahee online tip portal has been launched at vicpd.ca/michaeldunaheetips.

If you have information about Michael Dunahee’s disappearance, you are asked to visit vicpd.ca/michaeldunaheetips  or contact VicPD’s dedicated Michael Dunahee Tip Line at 250-995-7444.

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