Michaela Garecht of Hayward was kidnapped in 1988. She was 9 years old at the time.
On Monday, Hayward police told Michaela's mother that one of the bones pulled from a mass gravesite could be hers. The gravesite in Linden was used by the so-called Speed Freak Killers. Michaela's mother says this is the first time police have seemed this certain over the last two decades.
"I've shed plenty of tears the last few days just with the idea it could be her. I would like to have a resolution. If Michaela died, I would like to know that. It just feels, it just feels like it might actually be the answer," said Sharon Murch, Micahela's mother.
The bone in question is about three-inches long. San Joaquin investigators sent it along with the remains of another victim to that victim's family. They decided it just didn't match and had it tested at Chico State. It turns out that bone likely is from a girl, age 5 to 13 years of age. Hayward police are now running DNA tests to determine if it belonged to Michaela.
San Joaquin County issued an apology Wednesday night for the mix-up. Hayward police are now testing the bone's DNA to see if it matches Micahela's mother. They have not said when the results will be back. The bone's age make it difficult to test.
