Dark Downeast – The Disappearance of Michael Mador (Maine)

Podcast: Dark Downeast
Host: Kylie Low
Episode Date: August 21, 2025
Episode Description: Investigative journalist Kylie Low takes listeners into the nearly 30-year-old disappearance of Michael Mador, a 32-year-old man from Milo, Maine, whose vanishing remains unsolved and whose family is still searching for answers.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode delves into the mysterious disappearance of Michael Mador in April 1996. With a mix of narrative, case file analysis, and personal interviews, host Kylie Low seeks to illuminate overlooked details, explore possible theories, and give voice to Michael's surviving family as they continue seeking closure.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance and the First Reports

• Timeline: Michael Mador was last seen on April 6, 1996, leaving his home in Derby, part of Milo, Maine. He was reportedly wearing hip waders, carrying a .357 handgun, and riding a ten-speed bike.
• Initial Concern: Michael’s friend Matt contacted Fish & Wildlife on April 8 (04:00), noting Michael left behind a note giving away all his belongings and implied he was heading to Alaska or possibly contemplating suicide.
• Found Items: In Michael’s home, handwritten letters, some cash, and a hatchet were left out. Missing were his hip waders, handgun, radio, bicycle, and some CDs.

2. The Letters and Immediate Reactions

• Two Letters:
  • The first, shorter letter instructed friends Peggy and David to deliver a hatchet to Michael’s brother (07:01).
  • The second, longer letter left all Michael’s property and pets to Peggy and David, asserting he would be in “Bangor/Brewer till next Saturday … to get a feel of how it’s going to be away from everyone.” He reiterated his plan to move to Alaska for a new life (06:00-08:00).
  • An incomplete draft was found in the trash, more impersonal and logistics-focused (09:21).
• Critical Analysis of Notes: Host Kylie Low and Michael’s family note the oddity of both a rough draft and a final version, the sudden emotional tone shift, and question the authenticity and motivation behind the letters (31:28-34:15).

3. Search Efforts and Initial Investigation

• Immediate Search: Law enforcement and a scent dog conducted air and ground searches around a local camp Michael frequented but found no trace (10:12).
• Assumptions: The case was initially treated as “attempt to locate/well-being check” rather than a criminal case, possibly limiting the thoroughness of the investigation.

4. Michael’s Background and Family's Perspective

• Sister’s Voice: Terry Kraus paints a vivid picture of Michael—a protective, mischievous big brother, good-natured and outdoorsy (15:13-16:35).
  • “He was always there. He cared. He was just my big brother.” —Terry Kraus [15:13]
• Employment & Struggles:
  • Military service ended abruptly (reason unclear, possibly mental health).
  • Attended trade school, worked as a welder briefly, then returned home and struggled for steady employment (16:43-18:13).
• Mental Health and Self-Medication: Michael was reportedly obsessed with physical fitness and vitamins, perhaps as self-medication. He refused to seek help or counseling despite family urging (18:41-19:22).
  • “I think Mike had … he was trying to self medicate through exercise and vitamins … I was concerned, very concerned.” —Terry Kraus [18:41-19:22]
• Legal Issues: Michael faced a series of minor criminal convictions in the early ’90s, unknown to his sister until more recently (20:10-20:50).

5. Inconsistencies and Family Theories

• Out of Character: Terry and John stress that Michael was always in contact, never just disappeared, and the idea he’d suddenly leave for Alaska on a whim was out of character (21:34-22:20).
• Bike Instead of Truck: Though Michael was known to bike everywhere, riding to Alaska in early April Maine weather seemed implausible (22:49-23:39, 30:35-31:13).
  • “He had no money, he wasn’t prepared, he hadn’t packed … how were you gonna do that?” —Terry Kraus [30:35]

6. Open Questions, Possible Scenarios, and Contemporary Efforts

• What Really Happened?
  • Was Michael planning to harm himself, run away, or did he meet with foul play?
  • The handwritten notes, while verified as his, leave open the question of whether they were voluntary or written under duress.
• Ongoing Advocacy: Terry and John have been persistent in restarting the investigation, contacting police, and conducting independent searches (25:21).
  • They worked with authorities for records checks, searched property records, and arranged for cadaver dog searches based on rumors about possible body disposal sites (25:21, 40:40-41:29).
    • “I want his remains. I want to get a plot … He was loved and he’s remembered and he’s missed and he deserves peace and the family deserves peace.” —Terry Kraus [41:17, 43:02]
• Law Enforcement Stance: Maine State Police confirm the case is “an active criminal investigation,” but offer no public comment (39:19).
• Community and Online Interactions:
  • Attempts to contact last-seen witnesses (Peggy and David) were unsuccessful.
  • Curious public social media comments from David (“he wanted nothing to do with his family and probably changed his identity”) and Peggy suggest ongoing divisions and unanswered questions (37:41).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Michael’s Character & Childhood:
  • “He was the only one allowed to torture me … but we lived in the kind of small town where you went out until the street lights came on.” —Terry Kraus [15:13]
• On the Search for Answers:
  • “We just want him brought home so he can finally rest.” —Kylie Low [Intro Summary]
  • “Not one [sign of life]. Nothing. Nothing. No fingerprints, no ID, no Social Security, no criminal activity, nothing.” —Terry Kraus and John [25:10-25:12]
• On the Family’s Grief and Hope:
  • “He was full of life. He had a right to try to turn things around. Somebody else’s life is not yours to take away.” —Terry Kraus [41:41-41:50]
  • “His is a life paused mid-sentence. And that uncertainty can echo for generations.” —Kylie Low [42:28]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Case Introduction & Disappearance: [03:00–10:12]
• Reading of Letters & Report Summaries: [06:00–10:12]
• Early Search Efforts & Lack of Evidence: [10:12–13:44]
• Family Background and Reflections: [15:13–22:20]
• Analysis of Letters & Theories: [31:28–34:15]
• Current Advocacy & Renewed Search Efforts: [39:19–41:29]
• Reflections on Loss & Legacy: [41:41–43:33]
• Call to Action / Contact Info: [43:33]

Overall Tone & Style

The episode is heart-forward, sensitive, and investigative—honoring Michael as a complex and loved human being, not just a case file. Kylie Low balances factual detail with empathy, leveraging first-person family accounts and careful case analysis.

Conclusion / Call to Action

If you have information about Michael Mador’s disappearance, contact Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit North at 207-973-3750 or toll-free at 1-800-432-7381.

This episode highlights the enduring pain of ambiguity and the dogged perseverance of family, reminding listeners that every “missing person” is a missing story deserving attention until the truth is brought home.