Convicted Bay Area Killer Found Guilty of 1986 Murders in Fremont Women Case
An imprisoned Bay Area killer, David Misch, 63, has been convicted of the 1986 murders of best friends Jennifer Duey and Michelle Xavier, two young Northern California women. The Alameda County jury found Misch guilty after a DNA match connected him to the crime. The naked bodies of the victims, who had been shot and stabbed, were discovered in a remote area in Fremont on Feb. 2, 1986.
DNA Evidence Links Misch to the Crimes
During the trial, evidence was presented showing that DNA found under Duey’s nails in 2001 matched Misch’s DNA. Despite serving a life sentence for a murder committed in December 1989, Misch claimed in 2003 that he had witnessed the kidnapping of the two young women at gunpoint and tried to save them. This explanation was given for the presence of his DNA at the crime scene. Additionally, a partial license plate number written on one victim’s hand was linked to Misch.
Prosecutors’ Argument and Sentencing
Prosecutors argued that Misch, a convicted rapist, targeted the victims after they crossed paths with him on the night of the murders. Xavier, 18, and Duey, 20, both Fremont residents, had planned a simple evening of pizza and movies before their lives were tragically cut short. Misch now faces a sentence of 50 years to life for these heinous crimes, with his sentencing scheduled for Jan. 2.
Connection to Unsolved Case
Misch is also facing charges in a separate high-profile case involving the kidnapping and presumed murder of 9-year-old Michaela Garecht in Hayward in 1989. Investigators believe Misch abducted and killed Michaela after she rode her scooter to a market with a friend. Although her body has never been found, a partial palm print on the scooter was a match for Misch, according to police.
This conviction serves as a testament to the commitment of the Alameda District Attorney’s office in seeking justice for victims and their families, even if it takes decades to achieve. Chief Assistant Dist. Atty. Royl Roberts expressed regret that justice could not have been served sooner for the families of Jennifer Duey and Michelle Xavier. The impact of these tragic events continues to reverberate through the community, reminding us of the importance of swift and effective law enforcement in ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals.