Twenty-one years ago today (March 24), little Michael Dunahee disappeared from a Victoria park, sparking one of the largest police investigations in Canadian history.
Victoria police continue to investigate the missing person case.
Four-year-old Michael vanished from the playground at the former Blanshard elementary school on March 24, 1991. He was last seen around 12:30 p.m.
While Michael played at the playground, his mother Crystal was getting ready for a football game at the nearby field.
His father Bruce stood just metres away checking a game score. When Bruce looked over at the playground, he couldn't see his little boy.
Within a half hour, police officers were combing the area.
This time last year, Michael's parents, who live in Esquimalt, spoke at a police press conference in the hopes of generating tips that could lead them to their son. Michael would now be 25 years old.
“(His memories) are still embedded in our lives and in our hearts,” Crystal said at the time. “We know someone is out there who knows what happened. We need to find closure so we can move forward.”
Over the years, Cyrstal has become an advocate for missing children. She heads Child Find B.C.
In 2002 she lobbied for the introduction of the Amber Alert system in which information about missing children is promptly relayed to the public through different media channels.
Anyone with information about Michael Dunahee's disappearance is asked to call the Victoria Police Department tip line at 250-995-7444 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
For details on the case or to see an age-enhanced photo of what Michael may look like today, please visit michaeldunahee.ca.
-with files from Erin Cardone.