Did UM do a segment on the 1988 disappearance of Michaela Garecht? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Composite Sketch · 12-31-2003, 04:10 PM

I saw the segment on the disapperance of Amber Swartz and other California girls about a week or two ago, and one thing made me curious: when they got to the abduction of Michaela in her town of Hayward, I noted that the footage was obviously old - it was like the 'fuzziness' of the segments in UM's first few years. So I wondered if UM covered that story separately soon after it happened. I wasn't able to glean anything from the episode guide.

For those curious or don't know, the footage was of the abductor grabbing Michaela from her bike and putting her into a car, as her friend screamed "MICHAELA!" just before the car drove away.

Brent88 · 12-31-2003, 04:44 PM

I remember that case from UM. I only remember it because of the last part you posted.

crystaldawn · 12-31-2003, 05:36 PM

Yes, it was on one of the older UM's. I have it in my collection.

U.M. Fanatic · 10-21-2005, 01:59 PM

Sorry to bump an older thread, but this is the first time I've seen this story on Lifetime in quite awhile. Does anybody have any updates on this sad case?

On a side note, maybe this means Lifetime is going to show some of the other segments that dont get aired a lot. One can only hope.

Kane · 10-21-2005, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by U.M. Fanatic

Sorry to bump an older thread, but this is the first time I've seen this story on Lifetime in quite awhile. Does anybody have any updates on this sad case?

At the following link, she listed as having been born in 1979. It notes that she would currently be 26 years old (that is, if she is still alive). So, due to the current nature of the data, it is obvious that her fate remains a mystery.

http://geocities.com/farmgirl1032001...a_garecht.html

As many of you probably know, Michaela Garecht was focused on not one, but two UM segments. She was first profiled on the show in the spring of 1989, and became the secondary focus of a 2002 segment about Amber Swartz, a girl whose 1988 disappearance is believed to be connected to a series of California abductions, including that of Michaela Garecht.

A man named Tim Bindner has been considered a person of interest in the Amber Swartz case. Despite all suspicions towards him, there was no hard evidence to link him to any of the abductions.

For more info on the Amber Swartz case, go to the following link:

http://unsolved.com/0239-Swartz.html

U.M. Fanatic · 10-21-2005, 05:05 PM

Thanks for the info, Kane!

DarkDante · 10-23-2005, 02:49 AM

The weird thing about this case is that the authorities seem to think that Tim Bindner was in the vacinity of Michaela's abduction. However being that her abductor is one of the creepiest looking monsters I have ever seen in my life - I can definatley say that the man who abducted Michaela looked nothing like Tim Bindner. - So how does he tie in besides having an obsessive need to help locate these girls?

Weird

U.M. Fanatic · 10-23-2005, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

However being that her abductor is one of the creepiest looking monsters I have ever seen in my life

Totally agree, that sketch is pretty creepy.

Kane · 10-23-2005, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

The weird thing about this case is that the authorities seem to think that Tim Bindner was in the vacinity of Michaela's abduction. However being that her abductor is one of the creepiest looking monsters I have ever seen in my life - I can definatley say that the man who abducted Michaela looked nothing like Tim Bindner. - So how does he tie in besides having an obsessive need to help locate these girls?

Weird

If there is anything else that ties Tim Bindner to the abductions, chances are the cops are not saying, for fear that public disclosure of certain potential details could hinder the investigation. Also, if the abductions, including that of Michaela Garecht, are connected and Binder was involved, he may have had some help. This might explain why the composite sketch of Michaela's abductor didn't resemble Bindner.

In any case, I think we can all agree that there is currently too little evidence (if any) to link Bindner to the cases. However, the cops are unable to rule him out either.

justins5256 · 10-23-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

The weird thing about this case is that the authorities seem to think that Tim Bindner was in the vacinity of Michaela's abduction. However being that her abductor is one of the creepiest looking monsters I have ever seen in my life - I can definatley say that the man who abducted Michaela looked nothing like Tim Bindner.

Stranger still, I have memories of an old AMW episode about child abductions, and the Garrecht case was mentioned. At the time, it was believed that there was a group of people abducting young children for pornography, prostitution, and slavery purposes. The name of the man who abducted Michaela was believed to be "Tony". I don't remember much else, unfortunately.

Just thought I would throw that out there, as it is a different angle in which Bindner is not a suspect (to my knowledge).

Kane · 10-23-2005, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

Stranger still, I have memories of an old AMW episode about child abductions, and the Garrecht case was mentioned. At the time, it was believed that there was a group of people abducting young children for pornography, prostitution, and slavery purposes. The name of the man who abducted Michaela was believed to be "Tony". I don't remember much else, unfortunately.

Just thought I would throw that out there, as it is a different angle in which Bindner is not a suspect (to my knowledge).

I too remember that America's Most Wanted did a segment about Michaela Garecht. I don't remember exactly when AMW aired the segment, but I'm positive that it was after UM first did so.

UM originally profiled the case in the spring of 1989, four or five months after Michaela's abduction. Since the case was so recent at the time of the UM broadcast, my guess is that the theory of a group of abductors wasn't generally known (or even thought of) until sometime after the segment had already aired.

DarkDante · 10-23-2005, 06:06 PM

Kane I would like you thoughts on something - Just hypothetical - "Isn't one perspective of looking at Bindner's interest in these cases is just taking his interest in solving these crimes many many steps further than something who calls up the police department looking for updates to cases that they are interested in?" - Now I know we have to figure in that Bindner's behavior deviates more from the norms than just an interested observer but in reality he could be just that?

Awsi Dooger · 10-24-2005, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

The weird thing about this case is that the authorities seem to think that Tim Bindner was in the vacinity of Michaela's abduction. However being that her abductor is one of the creepiest looking monsters I have ever seen in my life - I can definatley say that the man who abducted Michaela looked nothing like Tim Bindner. - So how does he tie in besides having an obsessive need to help locate these girls?

Weird

I'd love to wager Tim Bindner had nothing to do with the abductions. He's an eccentric wacko. I saw the segment last week and it was sad Amber's mother was focusing so much on Binder, based on messages he left on her answering machine and so on. It seems to me the most convenient or obvious target is charged much more often than actually guilty. I applaud the authorities for not trumping up some phony charge against Binder, just to soothe the families.

Kane · 10-24-2005, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

Kane I would like you thoughts on something - Just hypothetical - "Isn't one perspective of looking at Bindner's interest in these cases is just taking his interest in solving these crimes many many steps further than something who calls up the police department looking for updates to cases that they are interested in?" - Now I know we have to figure in that Bindner's behavior deviates more from the norms than just an interested observer but in reality he could be just that?

There's a point in what you say, DarkDante. But I hope you don't think I'm implying that Tim Bindner is connected to the abductions just because of his unusual behavior.

Admittedly, there's nothing wrong with him (or anyone for that matter) being interested in the abduction cases. It's just that Bindner appears to be excessively fixated on them, so I agree with Awsi Dooger that he is "an eccentric wacko." However, I think we can all agree that it doesn't prove he's involved, and that you can't indict someone based on mere suspicion.

porchlight · 01-05-2009, 08:05 PM

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local...Area-Girl.html

Cold Case: Whatever Happened to This Bay Area Child?
Girl missing for 20 years
Updated 6:43 AM PST, Thu, Nov 20, 2008

For the last two decades a Bay Area mother has mourned for her lost daughter.

It was 20 years ago Wednesday, 9-year-old Michaela Garecht was kidnapped from a Hayward parking lot.

"We have tried for 20 years to reach out to someone who may have some information about this kidnapping," her mother, Sharon Murch, said.

For the last 20 years, on Nov. 19, Sharon Murch, has stood in this Hayward parking lot to search for answers.

"To someone who would have a lead that may help us find out what happened to Mikhaela," she said.

The ribbons from past years still hang in the trees near the parking stall where a stranger abducted her 9-year-old daughter.

"I feel this overwhelming need to keep Mikhala alive, the only way to keep her alive is in people's memories," she said.

Michaela and a friend had ridden scooters to the store to buy candy.

When they came out one of the scooters was laying in the parking lot next to a car.

She went to pick it up.

"A man jumped out of the car, grabbed her from behind, threw her in the car and took off with her," she said.

Over the years, police have sifted through thousands of leads.

One prison inmate lead investigators to where he said Michaela's body was buried.

He later admitted he'd made up the story.

"We've had leads come in the past 20 years we've worked over 13,000 leads the most recent one came in a couple weeks ago," said Officer Chris Orrey.

But without concrete answers, Murch does what she can.

Her friends and her tie ribbons around the parking lot and tape up flyers just in case.

"If Mikhala is still out there somewhere then perhaps she'll see it and i want her to know we still love her and we're still looking for her," she said.

Murch said a small part of her still believes her daughter could be alive somewhere and that's the part that brings her back here year after year.

"The one thing that I do believe is that I will see her again and I will hold her in my arms again," Murch said. "Whether it's in this life or the next. And that's my hope."

Investigators said they've gone back to reaxamine some early leads in the case.

They would not provide any more detail on the lead they received just a couple weeks ago.

12-31-2003, 04:10 PM	#1
Composite Sketch Staring at you Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 26, 2003 Location: British Columbia, Canada Posts: 304	Did UM do a segment on the 1988 disappearance of Michaela Garecht? I saw the segment on the disapperance of Amber Swartz and other California girls about a week or two ago, and one thing made me curious: when they got to the abduction of Michaela in her town of Hayward, I noted that the footage was obviously old - it was like the 'fuzziness' of the segments in UM's first few years. So I wondered if UM covered that story separately soon after it happened. I wasn't able to glean anything from the episode guide. For those curious or don't know, the footage was of the abductor grabbing Michaela from her bike and putting her into a car, as her friend screamed "MICHAELA!" just before the car drove away.

12-31-2003, 04:44 PM	#2
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	I remember that case from UM. I only remember it because of the last part you posted.
	__________________ Brent

12-31-2003, 05:36 PM	#3
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Yes, it was on one of the older UM's. I have it in my collection.

10-21-2005, 01:59 PM	#4
U.M. Fanatic Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 15, 2005 Location: Lowell, NC Posts: 280	Sorry to bump an older thread, but this is the first time I've seen this story on Lifetime in quite awhile. Does anybody have any updates on this sad case? On a side note, maybe this means Lifetime is going to show some of the other segments that dont get aired a lot. One can only hope.

10-21-2005, 05:05 PM	#6
U.M. Fanatic Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 15, 2005 Location: Lowell, NC Posts: 280	Thanks for the info, Kane!

10-23-2005, 02:49 AM	#7
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	The weird thing about this case is that the authorities seem to think that Tim Bindner was in the vacinity of Michaela's abduction. However being that her abductor is one of the creepiest looking monsters I have ever seen in my life - I can definatley say that the man who abducted Michaela looked nothing like Tim Bindner. - So how does he tie in besides having an obsessive need to help locate these girls? Weird

10-23-2005, 06:06 PM	#12
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	Kane I would like you thoughts on something - Just hypothetical - "Isn't one perspective of looking at Bindner's interest in these cases is just taking his interest in solving these crimes many many steps further than something who calls up the police department looking for updates to cases that they are interested in?" - Now I know we have to figure in that Bindner's behavior deviates more from the norms than just an interested observer but in reality he could be just that?

01-05-2009, 08:05 PM	#15
porchlight Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 03, 2007 Location: south carolina Posts: 107	http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local...Area-Girl.html Cold Case: Whatever Happened to This Bay Area Child? Girl missing for 20 years Updated 6:43 AM PST, Thu, Nov 20, 2008 For the last two decades a Bay Area mother has mourned for her lost daughter. It was 20 years ago Wednesday, 9-year-old Michaela Garecht was kidnapped from a Hayward parking lot. "We have tried for 20 years to reach out to someone who may have some information about this kidnapping," her mother, Sharon Murch, said. For the last 20 years, on Nov. 19, Sharon Murch, has stood in this Hayward parking lot to search for answers. "To someone who would have a lead that may help us find out what happened to Mikhaela," she said. The ribbons from past years still hang in the trees near the parking stall where a stranger abducted her 9-year-old daughter. "I feel this overwhelming need to keep Mikhala alive, the only way to keep her alive is in people's memories," she said. Michaela and a friend had ridden scooters to the store to buy candy. When they came out one of the scooters was laying in the parking lot next to a car. She went to pick it up. "A man jumped out of the car, grabbed her from behind, threw her in the car and took off with her," she said. Over the years, police have sifted through thousands of leads. One prison inmate lead investigators to where he said Michaela's body was buried. He later admitted he'd made up the story. "We've had leads come in the past 20 years we've worked over 13,000 leads the most recent one came in a couple weeks ago," said Officer Chris Orrey. But without concrete answers, Murch does what she can. Her friends and her tie ribbons around the parking lot and tape up flyers just in case. "If Mikhala is still out there somewhere then perhaps she'll see it and i want her to know we still love her and we're still looking for her," she said. Murch said a small part of her still believes her daughter could be alive somewhere and that's the part that brings her back here year after year. "The one thing that I do believe is that I will see her again and I will hold her in my arms again," Murch said. "Whether it's in this life or the next. And that's my hope." Investigators said they've gone back to reaxamine some early leads in the case. They would not provide any more detail on the lead they received just a couple weeks ago.