What really went on with Michelle Levy’s runaway?

I know I’m certainly not the first person to raise suspicions about the Michelle Levy runaway case but as more information comes to light, it gets stranger and stranger and I just can’t leave it unsaid. I think most of Sydney agrees it is a bizarre case but after watching Mr Levy (the father’s) interview after Michelle’s ‘rescue’ – I was shocked at how blasé he was.

The biggest concern in this case is the parent’s lack of care, worry or concern for the welfare of their only daughter and for some strange reason – they have withheld quite a bit of information from the authorities. I respect this is a family matter and they deserve the right to some privacy to resolve this matter; but when you take the time and resources of 1,000 people from your local community and the police; it becomes a public issue and concern. People care about children and they were naturally worried and extremely kind with their time to help look for Michelle.

Before even learning of the reason Michelle ran away (a reason which took 24 hours for the father to be honest about), I assumed it was probably something trivial like a disagreement over a treat or house chores. Then of course there is the rumours surrounding Mr Levy’s assault charges and that Michelle has runaway a few times before. If this is the case, would you let the community spend their time searching for her if this was simply a family dispute? I can’t believe the parents thought their daughter was in any danger because they certainly didn’t show an ounce of distraught or panic.

I’m not a parent but you would think that the mere words and thoughts of your 11-yr old daughter ‘scrubbing through skips’ for food or ‘roughing it’ as the father so elegantly put would bring you to tears. “She was still in good condition” he said…

In his latest interview, Mr Levy kept referring to the man as ‘this person’, and expressed no interest in investigating further, finding out WHO he is and WHAT intentions he had in harbouring a runaway child. Mr Levy couldn’t even provide a straight answer for a reporter’s question of “Did Michelle want to come home..?”

When asked what the woman from Anglicare said to his wife Anne when she called with the news of Michelle’s whereabouts, the father answered – “I don’t know what she said to Anne, Anne didn’t tell me.” Seriously? Wouldn’t you ask a million questions of your wife once receiving the first phone call after your daughter has been missing for two days..?

The father then went on to say that he is “comfortable” with a complete stranger respecting the wishes of an 11 year old girl to hide from the police and her family for two days. Comfortable?

Earlier in the week the mother mentioned in a Facebook post that she was overwhelmed by the support for Michelle’s ‘disappearance’… It wasn’t a disappearance; it was a runaway. A tantrum.

Thankfully Michelle was safe and happy (because the innocent 50-year old stranger gave her a chocolate bar after her parent said ‘no’) but there are so many children on the street who aren’t safe and need the help of the police and the community.

Yes this stranger man did do a nice thing for the Levy’s but in what crazy world would a parent allow this all to take place and:

not ask authorities to truly investigate the man’s motives and what went on in the 48 hours she was missing,
let Michelle spend the six hours after her rescue with ‘distant relatives’ while her mum collects unused flyers and
this all plays out in the media and on social media with no one really asking questions about all these gaps and suspicions…

I think the family know this man and it was simple a runaway case that got out of hand. And if that’s the case, the Levy’s should be honest and apologise for wasting everyone’s time and resources. I’m relieved a sweet little girl is safe; but I urge the authorities to take a good look at what’s going on in the Levy household and I encourage the media to do their part by truly investigating this case instead of ignoring the elephant in the room.

Hopefully all it was is an 11 yr old girl running away because her parents wouldn’t give her a chocolate bar before bedtime.

83 Comments

- - mom108638 said
  - 15 Apr 2015
    10:12 pm
Everyone behaves differently in stressful situations … But gut feelings are good to listen to

- - P&M'smum said
  - 05 Mar 2015
    10:42 pm
I did wonder about the truth behind this family’s actions but, we will never know until they choose to reveal the truth.

- - mom62297 said
  - 05 Jan 2015
    2:57 pm
Very well put! I know I’d be beside myself if my daughter went missing or ran away. You could excuse his seamingly blahzay appearance during the interviews as shock can come in many forms, but I know the first thing I’d do when they found her would be to race over there as soon as possible. I doubt we will ever know the whole truth.,….

- - stepmom107932 said
  - 25 Dec 2014
    5:03 pm
wait seriously that is insane running away over a chocolate bar, but hey who knows what was really going on.

- - keeleynme said
  - 18 Nov 2014
    1:06 pm
I think a lot has been left out of the media, but if it hasn’t then something seriously wrong going on, if it was me I’d want the man charged and would have had a breakdown

- - hopefullyheidi said
  - 17 Nov 2014
    12:25 am
Hmm I had heard of this case, but hadn’t really followed what was happening. There does seem to be some strange circumstances surrounding it though.

- - jackiehansen85 said
  - 16 Nov 2014
    10:37 pm
Sounds like the whole family needs counselling.

- - deb_gs said
  - 11 Nov 2014
    11:31 am
You never know what goes on behind closed doors. To be a fly on the wall in the household.

- - zenbart said
  - 08 Nov 2014
    2:41 pm
Yes, I find it really strange. It’s hard to judge people, but i really wonder what happened in their house. It’s an odd situation a child runaway just because she was deprived of a bar of chocolate. Ther’s more to it than what it appears to be. Our dog disappeared and my hubby zoned the entire park,what more if it’s a child?

- - rachkap said
  - 06 Nov 2014
    2:00 am
I totally agree with you. I couldn’t understand why he respected an 11 years old’s wishes didn’t notify police either – it just doesn’t make sense.

- - rachkap said
  - 06 Nov 2014
    1:59 am
I totally agree with you. I couldn’t understand why he repsected an 11 years olds wishes didn’t notify police either – it just doesn’t make sense.

- - Danii said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    10:43 pm
I think a more thourough investigation MUST be done of the dynamics/issues between the “parents” and Michelle. I feel there has been child abuse, perhaps “father” is sexually abusing her and she ran away for this reason & he knows that & thats why he is being so blase! the ‘mother” could possibly be aware also and is trying to cover it up. THERE CERTAINLY IS MORE TO THE STORY. I hope Michelle is safe & if not I hope she gets the help & protection needed.

- - mcspenny said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    9:33 pm
It is a very strange situation. At least she was found safe and sound.

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    8:40 pm
I haven’t heard about this case either. Things like this just don;t sit right with me. What the heck happened? We may never know.

- - Lov'n'Life said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    8:09 pm
totally agree how are they not beside themselves about it

- - ella12 said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    4:39 pm
A very interesting story this is.

- - jodie737 said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    3:46 pm
I actually no nothing about this case. I havent seen it on our news in qld. However the above writer does raise legitimate concerns, i believe. I am a parent and as my children are now young adults, have been through all stages of a childs life. I must say though that i have been blessed with great kids and never had to go through any trouble like running away. I am a helicopter mum though and had rules and curfews and always had to know where my kids were and who with. Ive never understood lacsidasical parenting. Especially in the era we live in now. Even if you knew or thought you knew where your child was. What about the time it took for that child to get there. The time on the street alone. It only takes one car to drive past, the driver with bad intentions, and they are gone. And even though some kids would have been born with a genetic disposition to have behavioural problems, i really believe environment plays a major role in how that child develops. So i agree with the poster above, someone should be checking out why this girl feels the need to run away. I dont think its just because of a chocolate bar. oh and by the way my kids didnt grow up in an idillyc home, they saw domestic violence and then living on a tight budget. But they were always told and treated by me with love and care. Im just saying that in case people think i wouldnt really have any knowledge on the matter cause everything was rosy in my kids lives and thats why they turned out good. I hope this girl finds some peace in her life.

- - Karan said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    2:58 pm
I asked many similar questions on social media and was shot down as a sociopath who should be grateful the child is home safe and not raped or murdered.

I think the authorities need to look into this case a lot more closely and this family needs to be monitored. Michelle certainly needs some sort of counselling about stranger danger, respecting the people who care about her (as in those who searched for her, not the parents who came across as “oh its just another day”) and finding out why she runs away so often.

I agree with everything the author has raised. If my child spent a couple of days with a complete stranger, I would be dragging her off to the hospital for a full physical and demanding the police find out why the stranger did not bother calling anyone as soon as he knew who she was

- - rovermum said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    1:08 pm
The entire case was bizarre. You can only hope that some honest detail will eventually come to light.

- - yummy_mummy88 said
  - 05 Nov 2014
    12:53 pm
Hopefully this is just a case of an misunderstanding between this 11 year old girl and her parents.

I am glad after everything that goes on in this world- that is missed that this girl is safe !