Amy Derewitz Missing Person Case

Dec 16, 2010

Dec 17, 2019

Amy

Derewitz

47

22

64 inches

108 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

In the late spring of 2001, a 22-year-old woman named Amy Marie Derewitz vanished from Dearborn Heights, Michigan, under deeply concerning circumstances. The last time she was confirmed to be seen was on June 3, 2001, when she went to the home she had previously shared with her ex-fiancé, David Kniga, to retrieve her mail. This was shortly after she had ended their relationship and moved out. When she arrived, an argument reportedly broke out between her and Kniga. At the time of her disappearance, Amy was described as a dependable person with long, thick, dark blonde to light brown hair, brown eyes, and piercings in her ears and navel. She was last seen wearing a gray t-shirt, reddish-colored boxer shorts, and house slippers. The events that unfolded at Kniga's residence on that early June day painted a grim picture of Amy's final moments. According to Kniga's new girlfriend, who was present at the house, the argument between Amy and Kniga escalated. The girlfriend later told authorities that Kniga took Amy into the basement. Before leaving the house at Kniga's request, his new girlfriend witnessed a horrifying scene: Amy was lying on the basement floor, gasping for breath and appearing to be severely injured. The witness did not contact the authorities for help. Amy was never heard from again. Four days later, on June 7, 2001, her teal green Ford Escort was found abandoned in a park parking lot, just a couple of blocks from her mother's home. Her purse, identification, and other personal belongings were missing from the vehicle. For two years, the investigation into Amy's disappearance continued. In June 2003, David Kniga was charged with second-degree murder. He initially pleaded not guilty, but in October of that year, he changed his plea to guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. As part of his plea, Kniga admitted to killing Amy in the basement of their former home. He claimed that he had disposed of her body in a dumpster located near a former Veterans Affairs hospital in Allen Park. Despite this confession and subsequent searches, Amy Marie Derewitz's body has never been recovered. Kniga was sentenced to five to fifteen years in prison and was later paroled. The case is a tragic story of a young life cut short, and for Amy's family, the lack of closure is a persistent source of pain, as they have never been able to lay her to rest.

Jun 16, 2001

Dearborn Heights

Michigan

Wayne County

9437

Dearborn Heights Police Department

Dearborn Heights

Michigan

Wayne County

48125

25637 Michigan Ave., Michigan

3132776770

Local

Law Enforcement

01-26815

Dearborn Heights Police Department

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/12/2026