Dublin Mourns The 34th Anniversary Of Ilene Misheloff's Disappearance

DUBLIN, CA — Monday marked the 34th anniversary of the disappearance of Ilene Misheloff, a 13-year-old girl abducted while walking home from Wells Middle School in 1989. She has never been found, and the case remains open.

For over 30 years on Jan. 30, the community held a candlelight vigil and walk to keep her memory alive and pressure police to continue investigating. The vigil was canceled indefinitely after Ilene’s mother Maddi - a pillar of the community who served on the Dublin San Ramon Services District Board of Directors, and helped organize the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Dublin Pride Week, among other activities - passed away in April 2020 following a two-year battle with bladder cancer.

Misheloff was abducted on Jan. 30, 1989 while walking home from Wells Middle School, according to a city website devoted to the case. She was last seen at approximately 3 p.m. walking alone on Amador Valley Boulevard near Village Parkway. Her key fob was found near the entrance to John Mape Park, the route she normally took home.

At the time of her disappearance, she had braces, pierced ears, and freckles on her cheeks and nose. She had a small lump on the inside of her ankle. She was last seen wearing a charcoal gray pullover "Esprit" polo sweater, a pink and charcoal gray skirt with horizontal stripes, and black low-top Kids sneakers. She would now be 47.

Police are offering a $95,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. Investigating agencies are re-examining the case after David Misch, 59, was charged with the murder of 9-year-old Michaela Garecht, who disappeared outside a Hayward supermarket in 1988. Misch has been in prison since 1989 for another Hayward murder and is awaiting trial for a 1986 cold-case double homicide in Fremont.

Ilene’s parents never gave up hope that their daughter would return. They hosted fundraisers, gave TV interviews, and lent their support to organizations for missing children.

Anyone with information on Ilene’s kidnapping should contact Dublin Police Sergeant Craig Evans at (925) 833-6670. Tips are kept anonymous.