It's been a harrowing 25 years since the disappearance of Mikelle Biggs, then just 11 years old, from her Mesa, Arizona neighborhood. Seasoned only by the relentless Arizona sun and the undying hope of her family, the 1999 case remains unsolved, leaving a void where answers should lie.
As told by her family to ABC15, the last memory of Mikelle is rooted on January 2, 1999, as she eagerly waited for the ice cream truck, her bike at her side. While the winter sunset embraced the sky, the children dispersed home, a cold evening air took Mikelle away — last seen around 6 p.m., near Toltec and El Moro avenues. In what police believe was a 90-second window of opportunity, she vanished, leaving behind nothing but two quarters, and the silhouette of her absent bike.
The years have whisked away, carrying with them countless tips to the Mesa Police Department, many leading to dead ends. However, new developments hint at a much-awaited break. According to the latest investigation details unveiled by ABC15, a convicted sexual predator named Dee Blalock—who has been under suspicion since the case's inception and resided in Mikelle's neighborhood—is receiving renewed focus. Detective Paul Sipe, who is now leading the charge, has zeroed in on this person of interest.
In a conversation with ABC15, Det. Sipe shared that Blalock—who has been incarcerated on unrelated charges—was seen speaking at a 'block watch' event a mere 10 days following Mikelle's disappearance, a scene captured on video recently discovered within the network's archives. The detective expressed a strong intent to interview Blalock, who was taken into custody for unrelated crimes, a few months post the 'block watch' event in which he participated. The conviction that holds Blalock behind bars, perhaps now holds answers long overdue.
