Convicted murderer charged in 1988 killing of Hayward girl Michaela Garecht

59-year-old David Misch is charged with Murder and two special circumstances, including murder during the course of a kidnapping and having been convicted of a previous murder, according to Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.

Misch is currently in Santa Rita Jail awaiting trial in the 1986 double murder of two women in Fremont, in addition to Garecht’s case, officials announced. He has been in prison since 1989.

Officials with the FBI, Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, and Hayward Police Department are holding a press conference with the new developments Monday.

Garecht, who was 9 years-old when she disappeared, was abducted in the parking lot of a Rainbow Market in Hayward on Nov. 19, 1988.

According to the FBI, Garecht and her friends were at the market when an unknown man moved their scooter closer to his car. When Garecht tried to get the scooter, he grabbed her and drove away with her in his car.

That was the last time anyone saw or heard from her.

The FBI was previously offering a $10,000 reward for information that can help them arrest and convict the suspect.

Witnesses described the suspect as a young man, between 18-24 years old at the time. He had a slender build, was about six feet tall and 180 pounds with dirty blond, shoulder-length hair and acne on his face.

According to the FBI, his getaway car was an older model, full-sized four-door sedan, possibly gold or tan in color, with damage to the front bumper.