Investigators look into possible connection between Joe Kopp murder and Mihaljevic cold case

BAY VILLAGE, Ohio - It's one of northeast Ohio's most prominent unsolved murder cases, a case that remains active 22 years later.

Ten-year-old Amy Mihaljevic was kidnapped from the Bay Square Shopping Center in Bay Village in October 1989, four months later her body was found in Ashland County.

Now a new potential lead in the case; Bay Village police confirm they are exploring a possible connection between the Mihaljevic murder and Frank Dienes, a suspect in the murder of 58-year-old Joe Kopp of Seven Hills.

Police made it clear Dienes is not a suspect in the Mihaljevic case, but they are simply looking into a "possible connection."

Meanwhile, Dienes has already been charged in Kopp's murder. Police reported Kopp's body was found buried in the back yard of Dienes' Seven Hills home.

Dienes has already appeared in court and pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder, gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.

Dienes is being held in jail on a half million dollars bond.