Michaela Garecht: Taken Pt. 1

About this episode

On the Saturday before Thanksgiving in 1988, nine-year-old Michaela "Kayla" Garecht and her best friend rode their scooters two blocks to a Hayward, California corner store for candy and soda. Minutes later, in a busy parking lot in broad daylight, a stranger grabbed Kayla, forced her into a car, and drove off. What began as an ordinary morning became one of California's most haunting disappearances: an eyewitness account that should have cracked the case, a crucial early mistake that sent police chasing the wrong man, and a trail that went cold before it ever got warm. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow The Final Hours to never miss a case! To hear episodes ad-free and released early, subscribe to Crime House+. Join at crimehouseplus.com or if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, tap “Try Free” at the top of this show’s page. The Final Hours is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals including Clues, Crime House 24/7, Crimes Of Reddit, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Murder True Crime Stories and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow us on Social • Instagram: @Crimehouse • TikTok: @C