FBI Breathing New Life Into Amy Mihaljevic Case

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio - The FBI believes the man who kidnapped and killed Amy Mihaljevic, 10, almost 14 years ago is still alive, and they're hoping the public can help find him.

NewsChannel5's Debora Lee reported that agents are breathing new life into one of northeast Ohio's most notorious child abduction cases.

Mihaljevic disappeared from a Bay Village strip mall in October 1989. The FBI recently released video of Mihaljevic reviewing a book for her fifth-grade class, in hopes of breathing new life into the case.

Agents also hope someone has seen Mihaljevic's turquoise horse-head earrings, silver-studded black ankle boots, and black leather binder with a Buick logo, which all were missing when her body was found on a rural Ashland County road on Feb. 8, 1990.

"These child predators keep certain items from their victims as souvenirs, or they hand them out or give them to friends," said FBI agent Bob Hawk.

Jim Kapucinski was just a few feet away from where Mihaljevic was abducted, and he didn't see anything unusual that day. He thinks she knew her abductor.

"There was no screaming, no struggling, because I would have known it," he said.

A lot has changed in the 14 years since Mihaljevic disappeared from the shopping center. Her mother has passed away, and some of the original investigators have retired. But the FBI said one thing that hasn't changed is their determination to find her killer.

Anyone who has seen the girl's earrings, boots or notebook, or anyone who knows anything about her murder should call the FBI or the Bay Village Police Department.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for anyone who helps officials solve the case.

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