It was 10:15 in the morning. A Saturday in Hayward, California. November 19, 1988. Nine-year-old Michaela Garecht and her friend Trina rode their scooters to the Rainbow Market to buy candy and sodas. They were just kids being kids. But when they walked out of that store, the world changed forever. Michaela’s scooter had been moved. When she went to grab it, a man snatched her. Trina watched, frozen, as her best friend was forced into a car, screaming.
The question of whether Michaela Garecht remains found has haunted the Bay Area for nearly four decades.
Honestly, the search has been a rollercoaster of heartbreak. If you’ve followed this case, you know the names. You know the "Speed Freak Killers." You know the false leads that have kept Sharon Murch, Michaela's mother, in a state of perpetual "unknowing." But as we sit here in 2026, the legal landscape has shifted drastically, even if the physical evidence hasn't given us the final answer everyone is praying for.
The Truth About the 2012 Bone Fragment
For years, people thought the mystery was over. Back in 2012, investigators were digging through a well in San Joaquin County. This wasn't just any well; it was a dumping ground for Wesley Shermantine and Loren Herzog, the duo known as the Speed Freak Killers. Shermantine, who was on death row, started "selling" locations of bodies for money.
Among the hundreds of bone fragments recovered, one stood out. It was a three-inch piece of bone.
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Initial reports suggested it belonged to a girl between the ages of 5 and 13. For a few agonizing weeks, it looked like Michaela might finally be coming home. Sharon Murch even wrote on her blog that she felt "this is quite possibly it."
Then came the DNA results. They weren't her.
It’s one of the cruelest parts of cold cases. Technology gets better, but sometimes the answers it provides are just "no." That fragment actually belonged to another victim, leaving Michaela’s family right back at the start.
David Misch and the 2024 Conviction
Things got real in December 2020. That’s when Alameda County prosecutors dropped a bombshell: they were charging David Emery Misch with the kidnapping and murder of Michaela Garecht.
Misch wasn't a new face. He was already in prison for a 1989 murder. But the big break came from a palm print. Specifically, a partial palm print left on Michaela’s scooter back in '88. New forensic imaging technology finally allowed detectives to match that print to Misch.
But wait, there's more.
Just last year, in December 2024, Misch was found guilty of two other cold case murders from 1986—the deaths of Michelle Xavier and Jennifer Duey in Fremont. Then, in January 2025, he was sentenced to two consecutive life terms.
Why the Michaela Garecht case is different
Even with these convictions, the Garecht case is a different beast. Here’s why:
- The Missing Body: In the Xavier and Duey cases, the victims were found. With Michaela, we still have no remains.
- The "No Body" Prosecution: Prosecutors are moving forward with a murder charge without a body. It's tough. Misch’s lawyers have argued that without remains, you can’t prove a murder happened beyond a reasonable doubt.
- The Behavioral Evidence: Misch's behavior in court has been... well, let's call it "disturbing." During his 2025 sentencing, he was actually removed for singing while victim impact statements were being read.
Have any Michaela Garecht remains been found lately?
Let’s be blunt: As of early 2026, there has been no official announcement that Michaela Garecht's remains have been located.
The search hasn't stopped, though. Every time a new "Jane Doe" is identified or a developer breaks ground in Northern California, the Hayward Police Department gets a call. They still keep the case file open. They still follow leads.
There was a lot of chatter recently about searches near the Santa Rita Jail or old sites Misch frequented in the late 80s. But so far? Nothing.
It’s a heavy reality. Sharon Murch once said that she had to learn to envision her daughter as "a dead child" rather than just a missing one. That shift in perspective is brutal. It’s what happens when decades pass without a recovery.
What the 2026 Legal Status Means for the Family
Misch is currently sitting in the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California. He is awaiting his trial specifically for Michaela’s case.
Most people ask: "If he's already serving life for three other murders, why bother with this trial?"
It’s about the "unknowing."
For Trina, who saw the kidnapping. For the Hayward community. For Michaela’s father, Rod, who famously said he just wanted the police to "grill" Misch until he gave up the location. A trial is sometimes the only leverage left to get a confession.
The defense is likely to keep pushing the "no remains" angle. It’s a classic strategy. But with the palm print and Misch’s history of preying on young women in the same geographic area during the same time frame, the prosecution's case is a mountain of circumstantial and forensic weight.
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How You Can Help or Stay Updated
This isn't just a "true crime" story. It's a real girl's life.
If you live in the East Bay or have spent time in the Hayward area, memories matter. Sometimes a detail from 1988—a car you saw, a person you knew—doesn't seem important until it's paired with new evidence.
- Follow the Hayward Police Department updates: They are the lead agency.
- Support Organizations: Groups like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) still maintain Michaela’s profile.
- Spread Factual Info: Avoid the "TikTok sleuth" rumors. Stick to the court filings and official police statements.
The search for the truth isn't over just because a man is in handcuffs. Justice is a two-part process: holding the guilty accountable and bringing the lost home. Until those remains are found, the second half of that process remains unfinished.
Keep an eye on the Alameda County court docket for the trial start date later this year. It could be the final chapter in a story that has remained open for far too long.
If you want to support cold case resolution, you can look into funding for "DNA Doe Project" or similar non-profits that use genetic genealogy to identify unidentified remains across California. These organizations are often the ones who find the "needle in the haystack" that police budgets can't always reach.