The State - News from Nov. 22, 1988

Despite a fruitless manhunt for an acne-scarred kidnaper who grabbed her daughter from a market in Hayward, Sharon Garecht remained hopeful that 9-year-old, Michaela, will be back for her scheduled solo performance of the German Christmas carol “O Tannenbaum.” “We need for people to keep an eye out,” Garecht said. “The police have got a lot of leads. We’re really hopeful. I honestly believe that she’s OK. Nobody can hide forever.” Michaela had gone to the market with a friend when the kidnaper used the fourth-grader’s scooter to lure her into his car. He drove off as the girl screamed for help. Scores of volunteers have distributed thousands of flyers in a frantic effort to find the missing girl.