The Disappearance of Michael Madore (Maine)

When Michael Madore vanished almost 30 years ago, the first theories of his disappearance were pulled from letters found at his house: He was supposedly leaving behind his home and belongings and dogs to start a new life in Alaska. That’s the story police in Milo, Maine first heard when Mike was reported missing. 

But now, without any sign of life for nearly three decades and no indication that Mike made it to the Last Frontier for a fresh start, his sister and brother-in-law want answers. They want the truth. More than anything, they want to bring Mike home where he can finally rest.

Mike is Missing

The first call raising concern about the wellbeing and whereabouts of 32-year old Michael Madore came into the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife on April 8, 1996. A handwritten report later faxed to the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office by the Fish & Wildlife Warden Service details the call made by a friend of Michael’s named Matt. 

According to Matt, Mike was last seen that previous Saturday morning, April 6th, when he left his home in the village of Derby in Milo, Maine without a coat but wearing hip waders and possibly carrying a .357 firearm as he took off on his 10-speed bike. Matt said that Mike apparently left a note behind, signing everything over to his girlfriend. Matt wasn’t sure of the girlfriend’s name.(2p2) 

Two words are underlined in the middle of the page: “Possible Suicide”.

Matt requested a Warden to escort him to a camp located two miles back into the woods in Lake View Plantation. It was an abandoned cabin that Matt’s family had fixed up and claimed as their own; many people used it for hunting or fishing or just hanging out. Mike knew it well. Matt said he found one set of bike tracks leading down the camp trail. 

Two days after Matt’s initial call, the Warden Service faxed the report to the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office. An incident report completed by Chief Todd Lyford contains further summary of Matt’s concerns: Mike reportedly left a note giving all of his belongings to friends, saying that he was leaving for Alaska. However, according to Matt, there was a handgun missing from Mike’s house and at the time, Mike was believed to be experiencing “personal problems”.

By then, the Warden Service had identified the name of the person Matt referred to as Mike’s girlfriend. Other documents, however, do not use that same label to describe her relationship to Mike. For privacy purposes, we’ll use only her first name, Peggy. It turns out that the same day Matt contacted the Warden Service about Mike, Peggy and her husband, David, had contacted the Milo Police Department, also concerned for Mike’s wellbeing.

Milo PD Report & The Notes

The incident report was filed at 11:05 p.m. on April 8, 1996 by Officer Paul McManus of the Milo Police Department. According to the report, Peggy and David told Officer McManus that they last talked to Mike around 12:30 p.m. on the previous Saturday, April 6, and Mike said he wanted to see them at his house at 2:30 p.m. that same day. David reportedly thought it was an odd request because Mike never wanted to see him, only his wife Peggy “as they have a very close relationship.”

Peggy and David explained to the officer that when they arrived at Mike’s house at 9 Railroad Avenue in Milo, they were surprised to find that Mike wasn’t there, but there were some handwritten letters along with a little bit of cash and a hatchet. The letters all appeared to be written by Mike himself. 

Michael Madore’s story continues on Dark Downeast. Press play to hear the full episode wherever you get your podcasts.