The Teslin Lake Incident

Written By Lindsay Eldridge

Above: Constable Michael Joseph Buday and his dog Trooper

NORTHWESTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Michael Oros aka Sheslay Free Mike: Police Mugshot

“Sheslay Free Mike” terrorized the north for more than a decade.
His real name was Michael Oros, and he's been remembered as a legend of the north, the other “mad trapper”, a folk hero… and a cold-blooded killer.
But there's much more to this story than meets the eye...

This two-part series takes a look back at a well-known, historic case that was sensationalized through headlines, to show that behind it was a real, human story.

Special thanks to Garry Rodgers, Bob Buday, and Ed Hill.

Additional Content Warning:
This series includes brief mentions of the death of an animal.

Monthly Donation:
Canadian True Crime has donated to the Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime

Credits:
Voice of Michael Oros: Craig Baird of Canadian History EHX podcast
General script consultant: Carol Weinberg
Audio editor and voice of disclaimer: Erik Krosby
Senior Producer: Lindsay Eldridge
Researcher, Writer, Narrator and Sound Design: Kristi Lee
Theme songs: We Talk of Dreams
All other music by Epidemic Sound and Blue Dot Sessions

Sources

Constable Michael Buday Memorial Park: 

The Painting:

News Archives:

Collection of articles on the case by The Whitehorse Star, mainly retrieved from newspapers.com. Notably:

  • Sheslay Free Mike suspected all, By PHILIP ADAMS Staff Reporter, The Whitehorse Star, March 20 1985

  • Homicide. Jury confirms crazy Mike theory, By Becky Striegler, The Whitehorse Star on August 15, 1986

  • Charting the killing of Sheslay Free Mike by Sam Holloway, The Whitehorse STAR, August 2 2019. Originally published in the Yukoner Magazine in October 1996

  • Cabin was looted, no byline, The Whitehorse Star, March 22, 1984

  • Policeman ambushed; shot in back by Massey Padgham, The Whitehorse Star, March 22, 1984

  • RCMP Dog Handler, suspect die in shoot-out, no byline, The Whitehorse Star, March 20 1985

  • Homicide, Jury says: Confirms Crazy Mike theory by Becky Striegler, The Whitehorse Star, August 15 1986

  • Diary of a Mad Trapper by Chris Rose, The Vancouver Sun, Wednesday June 26, 1985

  • RCMP-felled trapper had shot friend, jury finds by Becky Streiger special to The Vancouver Sun, August 16 1986

  • Mad trapper roamed bush like animal by Larry Pynn, The Vancouver Sun, November 24 1993

  • Extend mental care, jury says, no byline, The Whitehorse Star, June 28 1985

  • Yukon team to get gear by Becky Streigler, The Whitehorse Star, June 28 1985

  • Bullet hole clue to trapper’s fate by Becky Streigler, The Whitehorse Star, August 14 1986

Books:

Other sources:

Lindsay Eldridge
Next

Raymond Laroche