March 24, 1991 was an ordinary Sunday morning in the Dunahee household.
Bruce and Crystal packed up their children, baby Caitlin and four-year-old Michael, and headed toward Blanshard elementary school where Crystal was set to play a round of touch football.
When they arrived, Michael wanted to play on his own within sight at a nearby playground B次元官网网址� something his parents hadnB次元官网网址檛 let him do before.
B次元官网网址淗e disappeared from sight in a split second and within the time that Bruce looked down to put Caitlin in the buggy, to when he looked up again, Michael had gone,B次元官网网址� said Valerie Green, author of the first authorized book written about MichaelB次元官网网址檚 disappearance.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 the story of what happened when Michael Dunahee was presumably abducted and how his family has survived almost 22 years without knowing.B次元官网网址�
MichaelB次元官网网址檚 abduction was the first child-stranger abduction in Victoria. Drawn from interviews with family, friends and the Victoria police, Vanished: The Michael Dunahee Story deals with the familyB次元官网网址檚 struggles since Michael went missing, the media challenges and the impact on Caitlin, who grew up in the wake of the abduction.
B次元官网网址淲e sat with Valerie before beginning and we felt she would represent the family in an understanding, compassionate way,B次元官网网址� said Crystal Dunahee, who has rejected previous offers to tell her familyB次元官网网址檚 story as a movie.
B次元官网网址淵ou know when itB次元官网网址檚 the right time and from what IB次元官网网址檝e read so far, itB次元官网网址檚 very well put together.B次元官网网址�
Dunahee also hopes the book will lay to rest some of the misinformation published about her family over the years.
B次元官网网址淓ven after all this time, it still catches me,B次元官网网址� said Dunahee, who lives in Esquimalt. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still fresh no matter how many years go by. ItB次元官网网址檚 still an open wound.B次元官网网址�
Since 1991, child services agencies have become more interconnected, noted Dunahee, a recipient of the Order of British Columbia for her work as president of Child Find B.C. and Child Find Canada.
B次元官网网址淚f your child does go missing, you donB次元官网网址檛 have to reach out to every single agency that assists with missing children,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭hat was the most heart wrenching thing I had to do.B次元官网网址�
The book, Green said, is written in the spirit of hope.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a cold case, but itB次元官网网址檚 still active. That seems incredible after almost 22 years,B次元官网网址� said the Saanich-based writer. B次元官网网址淚 was surprised that even the police are hopeful, without evidence to the contrary. ThereB次元官网网址檚 never been a body found. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no actual crime scene.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淵ou never know,B次元官网网址� Dunahee said. B次元官网网址�(Michael) just might pick up the book himself and realize this is the story of his life thatB次元官网网址檚 missing.B次元官网网址�
Vanished will be available from local bookstores this month for $18.95, with half of the proceeds to support Child Find B.C.
B次元官网网址淗opefully itB次元官网网址檚 a lot safer world, but at the same time, I think itB次元官网网址檚 taken away a lot of the freedom for children to be able to go out and play, which is a shame,B次元官网网址� Green said.
nnorth@saanichnews.com
Child Find B.C. benefit
Keep the hope alive for Michael Dunahee, his family and all missing children during a gala fundraiser for Child Find B.C., Nov. 30 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the CFB Esquimalt Wardroom, 1586 Esquimalt Rd. Tickets are available by pre-purchase only, for $40, by calling 250-382-7311.
