Lighting Their Way Home

Michael Wayne Dunahee was born May 12, 1986. Michael was abducted when he was four years old and has never been found. He disappeared from the playground at Blanshard Park Elementary School, also known as the Blanshard Street Playground, in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada on March 24^th, 1991.

On March 24^th, 1991, Crystal Dunahee fixed Michael’s jacket in the parking lot of Blanshard Park, an out of the way park in a tough Victorian neighborhood. Crystal and a friend went to play a softball game in a field north of the parking lot, while Micheal asked to play on a swing set just south of the lot. Bruce reminded his son not to wander away from the playground or leave with any other children. He then took the couples 16 month old daughter, Caitlin, to the side of the ball field, not 100 meters away from the playground. Bruce recalls that after about 5 minutes, he stood on a rocky outcropping to check on his son. The playground was empty and the police were immediately called. Two other witnesses, in addition to Michael’s parents, told the police that they did see Michael playing in the park that day. Family, friends and relatives of the Dunahee family were all very quickly ruled out as possibly being involved in his disappearance.

In 2006 the RCMP followed strong tips and reports to a young man who looked like age enhancement photos of what Michael would look like now living in the interior of BC, breathing new life into the case. He was the same age as Michael would have been then and had only arrived in the BC interior in 1991. For several weeks, news stations carried the story that the Michael Dunahee case had been re-opened after several strong leads, perhaps bringing a conclusion to what happened to Michael. However, nothing came out of the leads, and the report of the young man in the interior of BC was determined not to be Michael after DNA testing was done.

There is one theory that has been discussed by many out there in regards to Michael’s disappearance. Now whether this theory is discussed because it is simply sensational,or because it may have a small amount of merit has never been proven. The RCMP have never publicly given any credibility to this theory to this day. Some groups believe that Michael was abducted by a Satanic Cult. They state that it is no coincidence that Michael was abducted on Palm Sunday, 7 days before Easter and 7 streets away from Easter Street. These groups will also argue that Victoria is known to be the satanic cult capital of the world second only to Geneve, Switzerland. The RCMP also refuse to address that Michael’s disappearance may have a connection to the claimed ‘true life’ book “Michelle Remembers” by Dr. Joseph Pazdor. Michelle is a woman who claims her mother offered her to a satanic cult in Victoria when she was young as a personal sacrifice to be ritualized for years and prepared for the “Feast of the Beast”. She claims that after been kept in a dirt cage, suffering unspeakable torture for years the cult returned her to her mother, telling her mother to take back her unworthy daughter and come back when she could offer a dutiful son. There are many that believe, while this book may make a good read, it is a complete work of fiction. Many facts within the book have been proven untrue, and many more remain very questionable. The groups that believe that Michael may have been abducted by a satanic cult also believe there is a connection between the names of Michelle and Michael, and the fact that Michael is also the name of the archangel who threw Satan out of Heaven, which is a point of counter ritual for satanists. The R.C.M.P will not speak publicly on the matter. These groups believe it may be due to fears that it would alert the cult to their investigations, and ‘panic the naive public to learn that their children are at risk’. In my own humble opinion, I believe that when a child vanishes with no evidence as in Michaels case, there are groups that feel the need to find a more sensational reason behind an abduction. The links between Michael’s abductions and satanic cults are just not factually proven to be there. I know it is hard to accept that someone can steal a child away from their loving family so easily and so quickly, but this does happen. There are very sick and disturbed people in the world we live in that do harm children every day. For Michael, we need to be sure that no lead is not investigated, but it is also the RCMP’s job to be sure that no time is wasted on leads that are based on nothing more than speculation. I would also like to mention that I have been to Victoria on numerous occasions and highly consider it one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seem. In all my times of being there, I have yet to be approached by a satanic cult. None of my friends or family members whom reside in Victoria have ever had a run in with a Satanic cult. For it being labeled as the satanic cult capital of the world, I have to wonder where do all the cult members go when I come into town?

Michael’s disappearance spawned one of the largest police investigations in Canadian history and to date, over 11,000 tips have been received by police. The case was a major story for many years, being reported across Canada and in the US. Despite the large number of tips, and a $100,000 reward, police do not have any solid leads in the case.

Michael’s mother Crystal has become an advocate for missing children’s issues in British Columbia, and currently serves as the president of Child Find British Columbia. In 2002, Crystal lent her voice to support the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in calls to introduce an Amber Alert system in BC, stating that she believes her son would have been found had such a program existed in 1991. The system has since been implemented in most regions of Canada.

Michael was last seen around 12:30 pm. On March 24^th, 1991 playing at the Blanshard Park Elementary School Playground. Michael was abducted meters from his parents, but no witnesses to Michael’s disappearance have ever been identified or have come forward. Michael Wayne Dunahee would be 22 years old today, he has been missing for 17 years. This precious little boy was taken from his parents and sister in a matter of seconds on that fateful day, and 17 years later, there are still no strong leads.

Michael is not at home with his family, YET. There will always be hope that we can bring Michael home. Please light a window candle, or leave your porch light on tonight to help light the way home for Michael Wayne Dunahee. We will not allow him to be forgotten until his is reunited with those that love him so dearly. Our thoughts are with the Dunahee family as they continue to search for their son and brother.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Michael Wayne Dunahee, please contact the Victoria Police Department immediately.
L.E.A. – Victoria Police Dept.
Contact – Det. Don Bland
Telephone Number – (250)995-7258

Below is a age enhanced photo showing what Michael Dunahee would look like at the age of 18.

UPDATE JANUARY 15, 2009 – In early 2009, new life was once again brought to the Dunahee case. U.S. police found a “missing person” poster of a Victoria boy who disappeared almost 18 years ago at the Milwaukee home of a possible child killer. Vernon Seitz, 62, confessed to his psychiatrist that he had killed two children in 1959. He was later found dead by Milwaukee police.  Whether Seitz was responsible for the disappearance of Michael Dunahee in any way may forever be unknown.

UPDATE:  As of November 7, 2009, there have been no new leads regarding this case.  Please continue to be on the alert for any information regarding the disappearance of Michael.

Written By: Nadine Risi

September 9, 2008