California Man Sentenced for 1986 Double Murder

Justice is supposed to be solemn, but one convicted killer didn’t seem to get the memo. David Misch, 63, who was sentenced to 50 years to life for the 1986 murders of best friends Jennifer Duey and Michelle Xavier, tried to turn his sentencing into an impromptu chilling sing-along. As grieving family members read their impact statements, Misch reportedly belted out multiple verses of “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.”

A Cold Case Cracked by DNA

Duey and Xavier were last seen alive at a birthday dinner in Fremont, California, in February 1986. Hours later, their nude bodies were tragically found dumped on the side of a road. Despite initial investigations, the case went cold for decades - until DNA found under Duey’s fingernails in 2001 finally pointed to Misch.

In 2016, Fremont Police created a cold case position specifically to revisit open homicides. This renewed effort led to Misch’s arrest, giving long-overdue answers to the victims’ families. Misch, who was already serving a life sentence for the 1989 murder of Margaret Ball, was convicted of Duey and Xavier’s murders in December 2023.

A Pattern of Violence

Misch’s rap sheet doesn’t stop there. He has also been charged in the infamous 1988 heartbreaking disappearance of 9-year-old Michaela Garecht. Garecht was snatched outside a Hayward, California, convenience store in broad daylight while retrieving her scooter. Witnesses saw a man grab her and shove her into his car before driving away. She was never seen again.

Although Michaela’s remains have not been found, Misch was linked to the case through his fingerprints, which were discovered on her scooter. In 2020, authorities finally charged him with her murder, marking yet another tragic chapter in his long history of violence.

A Killer’s Courtroom Karaoke

While victim impact statements were being read, Misch mocked the proceedings by singing multiple verses of “99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.” Even after he was removed from the courtroom for his behavior, he reportedly continued whistling from a nearby holding cell - perhaps in protest, or maybe just to get the last note in. Either way, prosecutors weren’t impressed.

“David Misch’s behavior in court was not only reprehensible but a blatant display of no remorse for taking the lives of Jennifer Duey and Michelle Xavier,” said Chief Assistant District Attorney Royl Roberts, according to FOX 2 KTVU. “The families of these two young women have been waiting nearly 40 years to receive justice for their tragic and senseless murders.”

Justice, Despite the Show

Misch’s antics may have added a bizarre and infuriating layer to his sentencing, but they did nothing to change the outcome. His latest conviction ensures he will remain behind bars for the rest of his life.

While families of his victims will never get their loved ones back, they can at least take solace in knowing that justice - albeit delayed - has been served.

References: ‘No remorse’: Bay Area serial killer sings during sentencing | Serial Killer Sings ‘99 Bottles of Beer’ as He’s Sentenced for Murdering 2 Best Friends