True crime podcast promises to shed new light on Michael Dunahee's disappearance
A 10-episode podcast, called "Missing Michael," promises to dive deep into the disappearance of the then four-year-old boy who went missing in Victoria.
Michael Dunahee went missing from a playground at the former Blanshard Elementary School in Victoria, on March 14, 1991.
His disapperance sparked one of the largest investigations in Canadian history.
"The entire season is focused on his disappearance, the impact on his family, the community and also on the investigation itself," said Laura Palmer, producer and host of the podcast Island Crime.
The producer and host says virtually everything in the podcast will bring new information to listeners.
"Most of the people I’ve talked to have not been interviewed before," said Palmer.
She says she talked to many people that, she feels, will move the 30-year-old open case forward.
"Anything that can help us move the needle forward in this investigation is a positive thing,” said Const. Cam MacIntyre of the Victoria Police Department.
PODCAST POPULARITY
True crime podcasts have become very popular over the years.
The Victoria Police Department says these podcasts are introducing historical, unsolved cases to a new generation. They are also creating renewed interest from those that have been familiar with the files.
"It generates a tremendous amount of public awareness and it generates tips," said MacIntyre.
Jeff Buziak is the father of Lindsay Buziak, a woman who was murdered on Feb. 2, 2008 in Saanich, B.C.
"Certainly, right now podcasts have the time to get into things in-depth," said Buziak.
Lindsay was working as a realtor and showing a home to two prospective clients at the time of her death. That case has never been solved and is still open.
Jeff has been involved in many podcasts involving his daughter’s unsolved murder. He says the long format of podcasts allows for more research and investigative reporting and that has led to many tips relating to his daughter's file.
"I am hopeful that with the focus and the attention on the podcast and the extent to which I have talked to people, that maybe there will be enough there to push the investigation forward," said Palmer. "Get them focused in the right direction, to kind of push things over the edge."
The first episode of Missing Michael is out now. The remaining nine will be released weekly.
If you have information that you want to share with Victoria police you are asked to report tips online or call the Michael Dunahee tip line at 250-995-7444.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.