Canada

Renewed appeal for information on 35th anniversary of Michael Dunahee’s disappearance

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Missing child Michael Dunahee is pictured.

Tuesday marks the 35th anniversary of Michael Dunahee’s disappearance, which became one of the largest missing persons cases in Canadian history.

Dunahee was four years old when he vanished from the Blanshard Elementary School playground in Victoria on March 24, 1991, despite his family being nearby. Three-and-a-half decades later, what happened to the child remains unknown.

In a social media post Tuesday, Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers asked anyone with information to call police or give an anonymous tip at 1-800-222-8477.

The Victoria Police Department created an online tip portal in 2021 and has since followed up on hundreds of leads, but the case remains unsolved. Police also released a sketch of what Dunahee may look like as an adult man.

Michael Dunahee sketch A forensic sketch of Michael Dunahee, portraying what he may look like now, is shown: (Victoria Police / BC RCMP forensic sketch artist Cpl. Virginia Bernier)

A number of people who resemble the missing boy have been DNA tested over the years, but a match has not been found.

The annual “Keep Hope Alive” five-kilometre walk/run organized by Dunahee’s family will take place in Esquimalt on Sunday, March 29. The event raises money for Child Find B.C. and organizers are hoping for a large turnout to mark 35 years since the boy disappeared.