Possible Lead in Michaela Garecht case - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

biscuitgirl · 02-02-2012, 10:14 AM

Sorry if this has been posted already. It appears that Loren Herzog who recently committed suicide and is possibly tied to the Swedish hitchhikers murders is now possibly tied to the kidnapping of Michaela Garecht. She was the little girl who went to the convenience store with a friend and was grabbed by a young blond man with a pockmarked complexion.

Apparently Herzog, one half of the Speed Freak Killers, is now being accused by the other half Wesley Shermantine of kidnapping and killing Michaela. Shermantine also has stated that he will lead authorities to several bodies that he and Herzog killed and buried. I think this is good because it will hopefully lead to some closure in long ago disappearances, but it will also be heartbreaking to the families that have been hoping these loved ones are still alive. Here are links to the articles:

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_19868258
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/...-in-1988-case/

WishfulDreamer · 02-02-2012, 06:45 PM

Herzog looked EXACTLY like the composite sketch! I can't believe I never put the pieces together before.

1990 UM fan · 02-02-2012, 06:56 PM

Tell me if you think the composite from the show looks like Philip Garrido, who kidnapped Jaycee Dugard in 1991. He is considered a suspect in her abduction as well.

WishfulDreamer · 02-03-2012, 01:31 AM

There are some similarities, but I think the sketch resembles Herzog more (judging from photos of Herzog during that time period)

1990 UM fan · 02-03-2012, 06:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WishfulDreamer

There are some similarities, but I think the sketch resembles Herzog more (judging from photos of Herzog during that time period)

Couldn't really find a pic of Garrido from around that time period, so the recent one is all I had.

TracyLynnS · 02-03-2012, 09:10 AM

Here's Herzog and the "pockmark" sketch from the mercury news article in post #1. And a photo of Philip Garrido in January 1988. Michaela went missing in November 1988. IMO, Garrido's nose and the sketch are identical, but the eyes look more like Herzog. I could go either way on which of these two could be involved. I wonder where they both were in November 1988, and what kind of cars and hairstyles (or wigs!?) they had.

RobinW · 02-03-2012, 09:15 AM

Even though Wesley Shermantine is a pathological liar and may just be stringing the authorities along, I just can't get past how much Loren Herzog resembles that composite sketch! As far as I know, it wasn't in the M.O. for either of them to abduct and murder children, but I'm sure psychopaths like these can be capable of anything.

WishfulDreamer · 02-03-2012, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

Here's Herzog and the "pockmark" sketch from the mercury news article in post #1. And a photo of Philip Garrido in January 1988. Michaela went missing in November 1988. IMO, Garrido's nose and the sketch are identical, but the eyes look more like Herzog. I could go either way on which of these two could be involved. I wonder where they both were in November 1988, and what kind of cars and hairstyles (or wigs!?) they had.

Herzog had the long hair in the late 80s!! Just like the sketch. I'm going to do a little research and try to find a good picture of him with the long hair. The only one I can find right now is the one from a charley project page he's listed on as a suspect. http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/...n_cynthia.html

Scroll to the bottom and there he is in the middle, looking just like the sketch!

It says circa 1999, but I'm pretty certain he had the hair in the 80s as well.

TracyLynnS · 02-04-2012, 09:56 AM

In that charleyproject photo, he really does look like the sketch. This guy seems to have been another criminal who deliberately changed his look over the years. And in the last, larger photo, he looks very scary.

I noticed that when his hair grows out, it's wavy, just like in the composite. It will be interesting to find out more on this guy. I thought Shermatine was just a liar looking for attention but maybe he's onto something with this claim.

WishfulDreamer · 02-04-2012, 04:13 PM

For those interested, Michaela's mother has an entire website dedicated to her daughter, a note to the kidnapper(s), and to others to protect their children. This compassionate, strong woman deserves answers.
http://www.missingmichaela.com/home

If Herzog was responsible and he took his own life without telling where she is and what happened...I can't even form the words of hate that makes me feel.

Killarney Rose · 02-04-2012, 05:55 PM

No way does it look like Garrido. Especially not the eyes.

1990 UM fan · 02-04-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killarney Rose

No way does it look like Garrido. Especially not the eyes.

He is still a suspect in her abduction though. I don't think it's based on the composite, but by how far away he lived from where Michaela was abducted.

WishfulDreamer · 02-05-2012, 10:19 PM

What also is eerie is that if Herzog is indeed responsible for the Swedish Hitchhiker murders, he was only 18 years old or so at the time. Whoa.

TracyLynnS · 02-10-2012, 09:01 AM

A skull was found yesterday during a search on Shermantine's family property. Authorities notified Cyndi Vanderheiden's family. The age, gender, and ID of the remains haven't been determined yet.

http://www.news10.net/news/article/1...Co-search-site

http://www.news10.net/news/article/1...s%7Cbc%7Clarge

WishfulDreamer · 02-10-2012, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

A skull was found yesterday during a search on Shermantine's family property. Authorities notified Cyndi Vanderheiden's family. The age, gender, and ID of the remains haven't been determined yet.

http://www.news10.net/news/article/1...Co-search-site

http://www.news10.net/news/article/1...s%7Cbc%7Clarge

I just got chills! This is wonderful news, if some family is going to finally have answers.

02-02-2012, 10:14 AM	#1
biscuitgirl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2009 Posts: 86	Possible Lead in Michaela Garecht case Sorry if this has been posted already. It appears that Loren Herzog who recently committed suicide and is possibly tied to the Swedish hitchhikers murders is now possibly tied to the kidnapping of Michaela Garecht. She was the little girl who went to the convenience store with a friend and was grabbed by a young blond man with a pockmarked complexion. Apparently Herzog, one half of the Speed Freak Killers, is now being accused by the other half Wesley Shermantine of kidnapping and killing Michaela. Shermantine also has stated that he will lead authorities to several bodies that he and Herzog killed and buried. I think this is good because it will hopefully lead to some closure in long ago disappearances, but it will also be heartbreaking to the families that have been hoping these loved ones are still alive. Here are links to the articles: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_19868258 http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2012/...-in-1988-case/
	Last edited by biscuitgirl; 02-02-2012 at 10:56 AM.

02-02-2012, 06:56 PM	#3
1990 UM fan Unsolved Mysteries fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 2,510	Tell me if you think the composite from the show looks like Philip Garrido, who kidnapped Jaycee Dugard in 1991. He is considered a suspect in her abduction as well.
	__________________ Join my Unsolved Mysteries page (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Unsolv...899616?sk=wall

02-02-2012, 06:45 PM	#2
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	Herzog looked EXACTLY like the composite sketch! I can't believe I never put the pieces together before.

02-03-2012, 01:31 AM	#4
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	There are some similarities, but I think the sketch resembles Herzog more (judging from photos of Herzog during that time period)

02-03-2012, 09:10 AM	#6
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	Here's Herzog and the "pockmark" sketch from the mercury news article in post #1. And a photo of Philip Garrido in January 1988. Michaela went missing in November 1988. IMO, Garrido's nose and the sketch are identical, but the eyes look more like Herzog. I could go either way on which of these two could be involved. I wonder where they both were in November 1988, and what kind of cars and hairstyles (or wigs!?) they had.

02-03-2012, 09:15 AM	#7
RobinW Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 1,874	Even though Wesley Shermantine is a pathological liar and may just be stringing the authorities along, I just can't get past how much Loren Herzog resembles that composite sketch! As far as I know, it wasn't in the M.O. for either of them to abduct and murder children, but I'm sure psychopaths like these can be capable of anything.

02-04-2012, 09:56 AM	#9
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	In that charleyproject photo, he really does look like the sketch. This guy seems to have been another criminal who deliberately changed his look over the years. And in the last, larger photo, he looks very scary. I noticed that when his hair grows out, it's wavy, just like in the composite. It will be interesting to find out more on this guy. I thought Shermatine was just a liar looking for attention but maybe he's onto something with this claim.

02-04-2012, 04:13 PM	#10
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	For those interested, Michaela's mother has an entire website dedicated to her daughter, a note to the kidnapper(s), and to others to protect their children. This compassionate, strong woman deserves answers. http://www.missingmichaela.com/home If Herzog was responsible and he took his own life without telling where she is and what happened...I can't even form the words of hate that makes me feel.

02-04-2012, 05:55 PM	#11
Killarney Rose Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 24, 2010 Location: AL Posts: 656	No way does it look like Garrido. Especially not the eyes.

02-05-2012, 10:19 PM	#13
WishfulDreamer Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 01, 2009 Location: L.A. Posts: 3,868	What also is eerie is that if Herzog is indeed responsible for the Swedish Hitchhiker murders, he was only 18 years old or so at the time. Whoa.

02-10-2012, 09:01 AM	#14
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	A skull was found yesterday during a search on Shermantine's family property. Authorities notified Cyndi Vanderheiden's family. The age, gender, and ID of the remains haven't been determined yet. http://www.news10.net/news/article/1...Co-search-site http://www.news10.net/news/article/1...s%7Cbc%7Clarge