The Party - Park Predators | Wave AI Podcast Notes

Loading summary

Transcript12 lines

[00:00]
Alzheimer's Association Announcer
In the fight against Alzheimer's, now matters more than ever. Because now we have treatments. Treatments that could change everything. But now is no time to stop. Now we've got momentum, so now we use it. Now we seize the moment. Now we turn the tide. Now we make a difference and make some noise. Now is the time to get up, get out and join the movement at the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's held in over 600 communities nationwide. And we need you with us because now is the time for hope. Join the fight@alz.org walk this episode is
[00:32]
SoFi Advertiser
brought to you by SoFi, the all in one finance app where you can bank, borrow and invest. It's time to achieve your financial ambitions. Earn more on your savings with a SOFI Bank High Yield Savings Account. Ditch your high interest credit card debt with a SOFI personal loan or start investing on an easy to use platform with SoFi. Invest. Wherever you are on your financial journey, SoFi's got you covered. Learn more at sofi.comsxm
[01:00]
Delia d'Ambra
Hear that? That's now crispy and McCrispy strips meeting creamy Caesar Sauce sounds extra Crispy caesar sauce at McDonald's for a limited time Hi park enthusiasts. I'm your host, Delia d', Ambra, and the case I'm going to share with you today takes place in Umpqua National Forest in Oregon. It's the story of a young man who, like many people in their 20s, decided to attend a social gathering in the great outdoors. But he never returned, and the mystery that surrounded his puzzling disappearance has all but consumed his family for more than six agonizing years. The vastness of Umpqua National Forest may be part of the problem you see. According to the U.S. department of Agriculture, this forest is nearly a million acres in size and sits on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. The area is home to bodies of water, thick woods, apex predators, and many areas where cell phone reception just doesn't exist. The particular area pertinent to this case is Hobo Camp Campground, which is a roadside camping area that houses four designated campsites, a few fire pits and picnic tables, and a vaulted restroom facility. It's located directly off a main Forest service road called Bryce Creek Road. The Department of Agriculture states on its website that Hobo Camp Campground is supposed to be a place where people can enjoy nature and relax, especially between the hours of 10pm and 6am but one night during the first week of August 2020, things were anything but quiet at this recreation space. A large rave was going on and when the sun rose the next morning, one participant was unaccounted for. To this day, no one can answer the question that looms large about that fateful night. What happened to 27 year old Michael Bryson? This is Park Predators. Shortly before 5pm On Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, a woman named Tina Bryson was at work preparing to leave for the day when a text message popped up on her phone that she wasn't expecting a young woman named Natalie, who happened to be an ex girlfriend of Tina's adult son. Michael had messaged her and asked if she'd heard from Michael recently. Tina told Natalie that it had been a few days since she'd spoken with her son and then she asked what was going on. Natalie then called Tina and told her that she'd been told Michael had gone camping in Umpqua National Forest and had been unaccounted for for about 13 hours. Right away, Tina was confused and concerned about this news. She told me that in that moment her heart dropped and she got this terrible, horrible feeling something wasn't right. So she quickly left work and went home to speak with her husband, Parrish Bryson. She told him, like, look, we have to get some supplies together, grab some water, pack warm clothing and get going because apparently our son is missing. Now, the last time Parrish and Tina had seen Michael was two days earlier, on Monday, August 3rd. Parrish told me that he'd come by their house that morning to spend a few hours helping them out in the yard in exchange for some gas money. Between 11am and noon, Michael, Tina, Parrish and Michael's older sister Christa hung out and ate a late breakfast together. Then Michael gathered his stuff and headed out to leave. He told his parents that he was going to go camping overnight for a few days at Hobo Camp Campground, but he promised he would be back in touch with them by the end of the week. He specifically wanted his mom to know that where he was going didn't have cell phone service, so he didn't want them to freak out if they couldn't get a hold of him. What's interesting is that normally Tina and Krista worked on Mondays, but for some reason that particular day, everyone in the Bryson family happened to be home. Which in hindsight for Parrish and Tina is comforting. Because you see, when Michael hugged each of them before leaving that day, he told them he loved them. And then he walked out the door. That was the last time any of them would ever see him again. A glimmer of insight into what Michael's last known Movements had been came from one of his good friends named Ben. On Monday afternoon, Ben had picked Michael up in Eugene, Oregon, where he lived at the time, and he said that originally Michael's plan was to DJ2 Music Sets at the campground on Monday night and then come home the following morning. Tuesday, August 4th, Ben said Michael expressed he had plans to attend a completely different music festival that upcoming Friday, so he wanted to get home to prepare for that. But sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning, Ben said people at Hobo Camp Campground had convinced Michael to stay another night, so he did. However, extending their stay required Ben to drive to a nearby town on Tuesday to get some more food and supplies. When he returned, he said he and Michael partied for several more hours, but eventually called it quits early Wednesday morning. According to Michael's dad, Parrish, Ben said Michael never got around to setting up his tent, so the two guys just fell asleep in the back of a small school bus that was used to transport sound equipment. At some point, though, after they crashed, Ben said Michael left their bus to join some people who wanted him to party in a larger bus. That vehicle had been converted into a camper of sorts, with side tables and hammocks where people could hang out. Now, folks who'd been on that bus told Ben that the last time they'd seen Michael was between 4 and 4:30am all they could remember was that at some point Michael had gotten upset and said something to the effect of what? You don't want me here? And then he just walked away from the bus and disappeared into the darkness. That was reportedly the last known sighting of him. The only other person who remembered interacting with Michael early Wednesday morning was a young woman who'd arrived around 2 or 2:30am she said that right after she pulled into the campground, Michael had run over to her car and offered to help her unpack. She said that when she interacted with him, he seemed like he might have been under the influence of a substance, but overall he was acting fine. Parrish and Tina said that Ben later told them he'd woken up between 11 and 11:30am on Wednesday and realized that Michael wasn't at the campground. He asked around to see if anyone had seen him, but no one had. That's when he learned for the first time that Michael had last been accounted for sometime between 4 and 4:30am which was alarming because Ben knew that meant about seven hours had gone by before anyone really knew Michael was missing. It was at that point that Ben realized he needed to do something more than just canvas people at the campground. So he got into his car and drove to the nearby city of Cottage Grove, where there was cell phone reception. There he began calling more friends to see if they'd heard from Michael. In fact, it was actually Ben who'd first contacted Michael's ex girlfriend, Natalie, who in turn got ahold of Michael's mom, Tina. But throughout this process of Ben making calls and word spreading around, hours went by. And according to Tina and Parrish, Ben had returned to the campground at least once after making those initial calls. Which of course meant there were stretches of time after 11:30am where his cell phone was off grid. So that, plus Michael's friends not wanting to panic Tina and Parrish, is why his parents didn't find out until closer to 5pm that their son was missing. Anyway, after receiving the news, Tina and Parrish sprung into action and headed straight to Hobo Camp Campground. They arrived around 6:45pm on Wednesday, and on the way, Tina had called the Eugene Police Department and filed a formal missing persons report for Michael. That agency didn't have jurisdiction in the national forest, but because Eugene was where Michael resided at the time, the Brysons figured it was best to start with that police department. And actually, Tina's brother worked for that agency, so there was familiarity in terms of having a loved one on the force. When the Brysons got to the campground, search and rescue resources from the Lane County Sheriff's Office were already there and had assembled a rudimentary search for Michael. Parrish described the recreation space to me as primitive. Searchers saw the stage area that had been set up for the event. Two buses, some campsites, and between 40 and 50 people just milling around. Based on the relaxed nature of those who were hanging out, Parrish and Tina didn't get the sense that anyone was super concerned that Michael was missing. They didn't see any of the partiers actively looking for him, and everyone just seemed way too calm considering the fact that a missing persons investigation was underway. I mean, there the Brysons were in full panic mode about their missing son, and everyone else up there just seemed to be totally chill. Parrish told me that even some of the first responders who'd accompanied them didn't initially think the worst had happened. He said that one of them suggested Michael had probably just gotten too drunk or high the previous night and would likely show up soon. That official informed the family that nothing at the campground suggested his disappearance was suspicious in any way or that foul play was involved. But Parrish and Tina couldn't accept such a quick dismissal, they felt it was imperative that a full scale search get underway for their son. Now, Michael had attended at least one rave event like this the year before, and according to Tina, he'd gone camping numerous times in his life. In all those instances, he'd returned home safe and sound. She knew that this situation was different. By the following day, Thursday, August 6, Tina and Parrish, as well as their extended family members and law enforcement, had assembled between 70 and 100 people to help search the campground and the surrounding woods for any sign of Michael that day. And the next day, they set up a command post of sorts with supplies they'd purchased from a local Walmart and hardware store. Searchers had journals to log, information in, ribbons and flags to mark areas of interest, and a system for checking in and checking out so that authorities could keep track of who was searching where. The description law enforcement put out for Michael was that he was approximately 180 pounds, stood 6ft 2 inches tall, and had short brown hair and hazel eyes. He'd last been seen wearing shorts, a white T shirt, white croc style shoes with rainbows on them, and possibly a brown corduroy ball cap. He also had several distinctive tattoos on his arm, legs, and rib cage. One was of a geometric shaped bear, another was an elephant's head, and others included a lion's face tree in a diamond shape and a pair of hands shaking in the shape of a heart. To help search efforts, one of Michael's former bosses created the let's Find Michael Bryson public Facebook group, which still exists today. The page aimed to get the word out about the case, and according to Parrish, after just one week of being live, it had more than 5,000 members. The first weekend of searching, a detective with the sheriff's office came out to the scene. And in the following days, more and more volunteers showed up. At one point, there were between 200 and 250 people looking for Michael. Local businesses donated supplies, and Parrish and Tina were even provided an RV so they could remain on site day and night. In total, they lived in that RV in the national forest for 19 days. During that time, nothing surfaced as far as where Michael was. But Tina and Parrish did discover that some of their son's belongings had been left behind in Ben's car. Michael's tent was there, along with a thumb drive he'd brought that had music files on it. He'd also left behind his backpack, a change of clothing, his keys, a comforter, and his cell phone. The only things missing were him, the Clothing he had on at the time of his disappearance and his wallet. Initially, the Brysons had been told that his cell phone was gone. But they later learned from them that after leaving the search area, he'd found it underneath one of the seats in his car. Tina went through that device, but she didn't find anything useful. After two weeks or so of searching, law enforcement officially called off the day to day search for Michael. And on August 19th, volunteers and community members held a vigil in Harrisburg as a show of support for the Bryson family. In our interview, Michael's mom, Tina, described the initial weeks and months after her son's disappearance as a blur. She and her husband suspect Michael was likely using substances while he was at the rave and probably wasn't in the clearest state of mind. But finding no trace of him just seemed bizarre. Parrish told me that Michael had struggled with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health conditions, some of which he'd been prescribed medications for, but he wouldn't always consistently take. Since the age of 18, he'd used substances including ketamine, and he'd been to rehab a few times for substance use. But at the beginning of August 2020, his life had been on an upswing. His dad told me that a few months before he vanished, Michael had become determined to get his life together and pursue an electrician apprenticeship. He'd also said he wanted to go back to school and attend a community college. Parrish said that something about turning 27 had prompted Michael to want more out of his life. Up to this point, he'd had a few different jobs and spent a lot of time making music or getting gigs as a dj. As he approached the end of his twenties, he'd told his parents he eventually wanted to have a family, settle down and not spend as much time going to music festivals. Prior to his disappearance, he'd been a bartender and cook at a local establishment in Harrisburg. But like I mentioned earlier, he actually lived about 30 minutes south of that city in Eugene. His roommate at the time owned a house and allowed him to rent a room. That guy didn't join Michael at Hobo Camp Campground, but Parrish told me he actually tried to talk Michael out of going. You see, most of the people Michael was planning to meet up with were not friends from his normal friend group. They were folks he'd only known for about six months or so. According to his dad, Parrish, Michael had met most of these people at different events or gatherings in the music industry. They all hung out at a music hall. Michael sometimes DJED at and over time had stayed in one another's orbit. This group of new friends were who'd invited Michael to attend the party at Hobo Camp Campground. It seems the event was a combination of someone's birthday celebration, week long camping trip, multi night electronic dance music, rave in the woods. Personally, this sort of thing isn't my cup of tea, at least not these days. But I can totally see the appeal, especially if I was in my twenties again. Now because of the nature of this gathering and illicit substances that were being consumed, that could explain why there were so few witnesses to Michael's disappearance. I mean, if a majority of the people who went to this gathering were under the influence of substances, their recollections likely weren't super credible. But still, it's kind of wild to me that of the reported 40 or 50 people who were there, no one claimed to have seen him as after 4:30 in the morning on August 5. But even with few eyewitnesses and months of no updates, the Brysons weren't willing to give up hope. They plastered the trails in the area with flyers about Michael and spoke with local and national media outlets to try and keep his story in the limelight. About four months into the investigation, though, the biggest update yet came a bombshell clue that would introduce a brand new twist in this case foreign
[16:27]
Talkspace Advertiser
this podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. Ever feel like you're being pushed or pulled in more directions than you can even begin to process? When life demands more than you can give at work, in your relationship or at home, Talkspace can help. Talkspace provides convenient online access to therapy, psychiatry and mental health support. Just answer a few questions online and Talkspace will match you with a licensed provider in less than two days, with some even offering same day appointments. Chat with a therapist over live video, audio or messaging so you can get mental health support that fits your lifestyle and schedule. No taking time off work, no commuting to an office and no waiting room. Just support that meets you right where you are. Best of all, Talkspace is covered by most major insurance plans with an average copay of $15. Get space when you need it with Talkspace and now you can get $80 off your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com get $80 off with promo code space80@talkspace.com that's talkspace.com
[17:29]
Cassie and Danielle
welcome to National Park After Dark. We're your hosts Cassie and Danielle. Join us every Monday as we visit a new park through stories of true crime, animal attacks, fatal accidents, miraculous survivals, and other incredible tales that you need to hear to believe. Our hope is that by sharing inspiring tales and our passion for protecting our planet's wild places inspires you to explore them yourselves. Find us on your favorite podcasting streaming platforms, watch us on YouTube and follow our adventures on all socials at National Park After Dark and remember to enjoy the view. But watch your back.
[18:12]
Delia d'Ambra
In January 2020, one months after searching for Michael, the Brysons received a phone call from a detective with the Lane County Sheriff's Office who was working the case. He informed them that the previous month, which would have been December 2020, some of Michael's clothing had been located behind a patch of vegetation on an embankment near a creek about a mile and a half away from Hobo Camp Campground. Parrish told me that he and Tina were called in to identify the items and positively confirmed they belonged to their son. In fact, Parrish said he knew the clothing was Michael's, like before authorities even brought it up to him. He said he could tell from a distance without even having to be close to the items that they they were without a doubt his sons. What was strange, though, was that Parrish and his brother in law, who worked for the Eugene Police Department and had participated in previous searches, knew that the area the clothing was found in had already been searched. And yet that's where Michael's clothing was completely visible and not in an advanced state of disrepair. In Parrish's opinion, he suspected that Michael's clothing was likely placed where it was found, meaning someone put it there after the initial searches in August 2020. To him, there's just no other explanation for the stuff ending up there but Michael remaining missing A few months later, in October 2021, when a reporter for the Spokesman Review asked Elaine County Sheriff's sergeant straight up if the agency suspected foul play was involved, the sergeant said, quote, we're certainly open to the possibility that there was criminal action, and we haven't had anything that has led us one way or the other at this point. End quote. Even more puzzling, at least to Michael's family, was what they learned after even more time had passed. According to Parrish, he and Tina were informed by law enforcement that during a subsequent search of the creek around the time Michael's clothing was initially found, their son's driver's license had been discovered downstream from where the clothing was. Apparently, the part of the creek where the license was discovered was about 2 and a half miles away from where Michael disappeared, but closer to the spot where his clothing had been located. Parrish told me that investigators have since showed him a video of his son's driver's license in the state it was in when it was found. But in his opinion, it didn't look like it was damaged or extremely weathered. So his theory is that someone likely had Michael's wallet after he vanished and discarded anything in it that wasn't of value. It's important to note that a bridge crossed over the creek close to where the ID had been found. So in Parrish's opinion, it's possible, at least to him, that if someone had the wallet, they could have stood on that bridge, rifled through its contents, and then tossed items like the driver's license into the water as they decided what to keep and what not to keep. It's one scenario that could explain why the ID ended up where it ended up in relation to everything else. However, that scenario is just Parrish's personal opinion. I can totally picture what he's describing because it makes sense, just given what we know about Michael's stuff. But something that doesn't align with that theory is that Michael's parents told me he would have had a debit card and an EBT card in his wallet when he vanished. And it's safe to assume that if someone had his wallet and wanted to take stuff from it, they would have taken those cards. However, not once since August 5, 2020, have Michael's parents noted any financial activity on his accounts. Meaning if someone stole his bank and government assistance cards, they never tried to use them. Cash, on the other hand. Well, that's a different story, because, you see, on the night Michael vanished, he apparently had several hundred dollars on his person, and he'd let a lot of people at the campground know that. According to Michael's parents, in the hours before he left to go to Hobo Camp Campground, Michael, Michael had cashed an unemployment check that he'd received as part of a government assistance initiative related to the COVID 19 pandemic. Those funds totaled $600, and Michael took all of that money with him on his camping trip. His dad, Parrish, told me that he and Tina later learned that a guy at the party had previously loaned Michael $400, and so a good chunk of his cash went to repay that guy. The family later spoke with the man who loaned Michael money, who assured them that he did receive $400 cash from Michael. So that would have left Michael with $200 when he vanished. But what's interesting is that according to people that family members spoke with, Michael had apparently been telling folks at the party that he had $600 cash in his wallet. Now, some people have wondered if perhaps Michael bragging about having so much cash could have made him a target. And the answer is, no one knows for sure, but theoretically, it's possible. What's more interesting to me, though, is what surfaced in this case in the fall of 2024, a message seemingly meant for law enforcement. And it did not mince words.
[23:11]
Alzheimer's Association Announcer
In the fight against Alzheimer's, now matters more than ever. Because now we have treatments. Treatments that could change everything. But now is no time to stop. Now we've got momentum, so now we use it. Now we seize the moment. Now we turn the tide. Now we make a difference and make some noise. Now is the time to get up, get out, and join the movement at the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, held in over 600 communities nationwide. And we need you with us because now is the time for hope. Join the fight@alz.org Walk this episode is
[23:42]
SoFi Advertiser
brought to you by SoFi, the All in One Finance app. The sooner you start investing, the more potential you have to build your money. Even for beginners. Sofi makes it simple with an easy to use app to get you going. SoFi is offering up to $1,000 in stock when you open up and fund a Sofi Self directed brokerage account. Terms apply. Learn more@sofi.com SXM Brokerage offered through SoFi Securities LLC Member Finra SIPC
[24:13]
Cassie and Danielle
welcome to National Park After Dark. We're your hosts, Cassie and Danielle. Join us every Monday as we visit a new park through stories of true crime, animal attacks, fatal accidents, miraculous survivals, and other incredible tales that you need to hear to believe. Our hope is that by sharing inspiring tales and our passion for protecting our planet's wild places inspires you to explore them yourselves. Find us on your favorite podcasting streaming platforms, watch us on YouTube and follow our adventures on all socials ashinalpark after dark and remember to enjoy the view, but watch your back.
[24:56]
Delia d'Ambra
According to coverage by that Oregon Life and my interview with Michael's parents on November 3, 2024, more than four years after Michael disappeared, people in Lane county woke up to a mysterious message scrawled in chalk on the outside wall of the Lane County Jail. The chalk graffiti read, quote Blaise Powers knows what happened to Mike Bryson, end quote. Interestingly, the L in the name Michael wasn't there, meaning the author had either accidentally misspelled it or had intentionally left the letter L out. I don't know. But in parentheses next to the sentence were the first two names of two young women who were twin sisters. A few hours after the graffiti was found, Tina and Parrish heard about it. And obviously the message, cryptic reference to their son's case, was interesting, but they weren't really sure what to make of it. You see, they'd already personally spoken with Blaze Powers prior to this, and so had the detective who was assigned to the case. According to what Parrish told me in his interview, he and his wife had already learned that Blayze was someone who'd been at Hobo Camp Campground when Michael vanished. Through connections the family had made online and via the let's Find Michael Bryson Facebook group, Tina said they learned that the pair of twin sisters whose first names were written in chalk and had also been at the campground when Michael vanished. For the sake of fairness, I'm going to refer to these women from here on out as simply the twins or the sisters. Parrish and Tina told me that law enforcement's conversations with Blaze didn't produce any new information. And unfortunately, by the time he was spoken with again, one of the twins that was named in the graffiti had already died. But the Brysons vested interest in all of these folks, especially the sisters, stemmed from screenshots of text messages that one of Michael's good friends had sent them. The messages had reportedly come from one of the twins phones. The content of the text suggested that while at the campground, one or both of them had allegedly dosed Michael with a substance, and then, as a result of being under the influence of that substance, he'd run into the woods. At the end of the day, Tina and Parrish aren't sure if the chalk graffiti's message is a red herring or perhaps just someone with a vendetta against Blaye and the sisters trying to get them in trouble. Michael's parents don't think the information was credible, but said investigators did take it seriously, at least enough to follow back up with Blaze. But beyond that, nothing ever happened. What I really wanted to know, though, was who put the chalk graffiti there? I mean, it was on the outside of the county jail, for crying out loud. In a photo posted by that Oregon Life, which I've linked to in the listed source material, you can clearly see a security camera directly above the exterior wall that the chalk was written on. My questions are, was that camera on? Did it show who wrote the message? For some answers, I reached out to the detective with the Lane County Sheriff's Office, who's currently assigned to Michael's case, but to date I've not heard back. Since 2020, the Brysons have actually had three different detectives assigned to their son's case. The first one handled things for about 16 months. The second one was in charge of the investigation for another year or so. And the current detective is who's been on the case the longest. He's the one that I emailed as part of my reporting in August 2025. He told the Eugene Registered Guard that if a criminal component is established in this case, his office will see it through to the very end. He also remarked, quote, Michael Bryson was a person. He was Tina and Parrish's son. He was a friend to many. The fact that it's been five years and they don't have any answers regarding their son is heartbreaking. And it's my case now and I'll speak for the sheriff's office when I say we will not stop looking for him until he's located and brought back home to them, end quote Parrish told me that so far they have a good relationship with this detective and the case is still very active. He said that tips continue to come in and every few weeks he and Tina meet with their detective to discuss what's going on and how to move forward. Parrish said ground searches for Michael still happen from time to time, but those are mostly tip driven. Unfortunately, as far as Parrish is aware, the FBI has never been brought in on this case because the Lane County Sheriff's Office allegedly hasn't formally requested federal assistance even though the area where Michael vanished is on federal land. Now that it's been several years. Michael's parents told me that they've come to terms with the fact that their son is likely no longer alive. Parrish actually told me he had this realization the very first time he and Tina arrived at Hobo Camp Campground. He said that when he stepped out of their car, he was struck with a sense of peace about his son that he hadn't felt in a long time. Almost like Michael wasn't there anymore. He was finally free of his demons and in heaven is what they believe. Parrish said that their daughter, Michael's older sister Christa, expressed something similar during the searches. Parrish said he and Krista were walking together at one point when she turned to him and said that she could no longer feel her brother. As far as possible scenarios that could explain what happened to him, there are several theories that the Bryson family feels make a lot of sense. The first is that Michael died as a result of an accidental overdose Then whoever was around him got scared and instead of seeking help, they covered up his death. But even Parrish has had his doubts about that theory because it means several people would have known that's what happened. And keeping that many people quiet for so long would be really, really difficult to do. The second scenario is that Michael could have decided to leave the campground and walk away along Bryce Creek Road, which is a narrow, paved, winding road that Parrish personally says he witnessed a lot of motorist speeding on. Now, it would have been a 20 mile or so walk for Michael to have made it to the nearest town. So Parrish wonders if maybe someone struck him on the roadway. And again, instead of getting him help, covered up his death. Parrish saw during the physical searches and later learned from tips that came in that the landscape surrounding Hobo Camp Campground was home to several methamphetamine production operations. Officially, no correlation between those discoveries and Michael's disappearance has been established, but for Parish, it remains a possibility. When I asked him and Tina if they or law enforcement ever found indications that Michael may have died by suicide or chosen to walk away from his life, they responded almost in unison, quote, no, absolutely not. End quote. Parrish said that even when his son had extreme low points in his life, Michael always reached out. He'd call his sister or one of his parents. He wouldn't just disappear without a trace. At this point, Michael's parents told me that they don't even really care anymore about what exactly led to their son's disappearance and presumed death. They just want to be able to bring him home. Parrish said that if someone who knows what happened to him would just point them in the direction of Michael's remains, he wouldn't even ask any questions. He'd just go with authorities to locate his son and bring him home where he belongs. For as long as they're able, the Brysons tell me they'll continue to talk about Michael's case. In recent years, they established the Michael Bryson foundation, which aims to help families of other missing people. They also host a 5k race in Michael's honor every year in Eugene, which raises funds for a Harrisburg High School student scholarship in Michael's name. If you would like to donate to the Michael Bryson foundation or learn more information about the annual 5K race, visit the website michaelbrysonfoundation.com and if you're listening to this episode and believe you may have important information for investigators, please contact the Lane County Sheriff's Office Dispatch center at 541-682-41.50 or send a confidential email to lcso tiplinecountyor.gov links to those resources can be found in the show notes and blog post for this episode. Park Predators is an Audio Chuck production. You can view a list of all the source material for this episode on our website parkpredators.com and you can also follow park predators on Instagram arcpredators. I think Chuck would approve.
[33:14]
Alzheimer's Association Announcer
In the fight against Alzheimer's, now matters more than ever. Because now we have treatments. Treatments that could change everything. But now is no time to stop. Now we've got momentum, so now we use it. Now we seize the moment. Now we turn the tide. Now we make a difference and make some noise. Now is the time to get up, get out and join the movement at the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's held in over 600 communities nationwide. And we need you with us because now is the time for hope. Join the fight@alz.org walk this episode is
[33:45]
SoFi Advertiser
brought to you by SoFi, the all in one finance app where you can bank, borrow and invest. It's time to achieve your financial ambitions. Earn more on your Savings with a SoFi Bank High Yield Savings Account. Ditch your high interest credit card debt with a SoFi personal loan or start investing on an easy to use platform with SoFi. Invest wherever you are on your financial journey, SoFi's got you covered. Learn more at sofi.comsxm.

Summary7 min read

Park Predators – “The Party” (August 11, 2026)

Host: Delia D’Ambra
Case Profile: The 2020 disappearance of Michael Bryson, 27, from Umpqua National Forest, Oregon.

Episode Overview

In this episode, investigative journalist and park enthusiast Delia D’Ambra delves into the haunting case of Michael Bryson—a young man who disappeared during a rave at Hobo Camp Campground in Oregon’s massive Umpqua National Forest. Through interviews with Michael’s parents and detailed recounting of law enforcement efforts, Delia presents the timeline of events, the desperate search, and the enduring pain and questions facing the Bryson family. The haunting uncertainty and the mysterious clues that continue to surface underscore just how easily “the most beautiful places hide the darkest secrets.”

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

1. Background: The Setting and the Disappearance

[00:59 - 03:30]

Umpqua National Forest: Nearly one million acres, dense woods, little cell service.
Hobo Camp Campground: Remote, only 4 campsites, simple amenities, off Bryce Creek Road.
Early August 2020: A large, crowded rave is held at Hobo Camp.
After the party, Michael Bryson is reported missing, sparking confusion and dread for his family.

“But he never returned, and the mystery that surrounded his puzzling disappearance has all but consumed his family for more than six agonizing years.” – Delia D’Ambra [01:26]

2. Timeline of Michael’s Last Days

[03:31 - 07:00]

August 3, 2020: Michael last seen by his parents and sister at home in Eugene, OR. He leaves for camping at Hobo Camp, warns of no cell service.
Monday-Tuesday: Michael, accompanied by friend Ben, attends party. Has plans to return home for another festival.
Tuesday Night into Wednesday: Michael convinced to stay another night.
Early Morning (Aug 5): Michael last seen between 4:00 and 4:30 am, reportedly upset and leaving a converted bus after a disagreement.

“All they could remember was that at some point Michael had gotten upset and said something to the effect of: ‘What? You don’t want me here?’ And then he just walked away from the bus and disappeared into the darkness.” – Delia D’Ambra [06:40]

Ben wakes up late morning, searches camp, realizes Michael is gone.
Michael’s absence is not reported to his parents until nearly 5pm.

3. Initial Search & Reaction at Hobo Camp

[07:01 – 09:30]

Tina and Parrish Bryson (Michael’s parents) immediately drive to the campsite and report Michael missing.
Parental alarm vs. partygoers’ indifference: Searchers and campers seem remarkably calm; no one actively looking for Michael.
Local law enforcement begins search but initially believes Michael simply wandered off or is intoxicated.
Michael’s past: Experienced camper, familiar with partying and raves, not known to disappear before.

“They didn’t see any of the partiers actively looking for him, and everyone just seemed way too calm considering the fact that a missing persons investigation was underway.” – Delia D’Ambra [08:39]

4. Massive Search, Community Efforts, and Missing Belongings

[09:31 – 13:40]

Over the next days, the Brysons, volunteers, and law enforcement launch extensive searches.
Up to 250 people join the hunt; social media group “Let’s Find Michael Bryson” quickly gathers 5,000+ members.
Michael’s personal items are left behind (backpack, clothes, keys, phone found in vehicle later), except for his wallet, the clothes he wore, and himself.
After two weeks, daily search operations cease, but family and community hold vigils and keep awareness alive.

5. Family Perspective: Michael's State Pre-Disappearance

[13:41 – 15:45]

Michael had struggled with mental health and substance use, but had been improving, seeking work as an electrician, planning to settle down.
Had recently cashed a $600 unemployment check, intended for essentials and to repay a debt.
The social circle at the rave: Newer acquaintances, not close longtime friends.

6. Emergence of Evidence: Clothing, ID, and Unsettling Theories

[18:11 – 22:45]

Dec 2020: Some of Michael’s clothing is found in plain sight, less than 2 miles from camp—area had already been searched previously.
- Suggestion: Clothing may have been moved there after initial searches.
Michael’s driver's license later found downstream in the same area (oddly undamaged).
Theories about possible use or disposal of his possessions.
Despite speculation that his openly-carried cash could have made him a target, none of his bank or EBT cards were used after the disappearance.

“Parrish ... suspected that Michael's clothing was likely placed where it was found, meaning someone put it there after the initial searches in August 2020. To him, there's just no other explanation.” – Delia D’Ambra [19:29]

7. Strange New Leads: The Chalk Graffiti and Suspicions

[24:55 – 29:00]

Nov 2024: Four years later, message appears in chalk on Lane County Jail wall:
“Blaise Powers knows what happened to Mike Bryson” (misspelling of “Michael,” references twin sisters present at the party).
All named individuals had already been interviewed by police; one sister has since died.
Text messages suggest Michael may have been “dosed” with a substance, then ran into the woods.
No conclusive evidence emerges from these new "clues," but they further fuel the family’s worries and the online conversation.

8. Law Enforcement Status and Ongoing Theories

[29:01 – 31:15]

Three different detectives have managed Michael’s case over the years.
The current detective is described as engaged and compassionate, keeping regular contact with the family.
No FBI involvement, despite federal jurisdiction (forest land).
Theories discussed by the family:
1. Fatal accidental overdose, followed by panic-induced cover-up.
2. Hit and run on the nearby road, covered up.
3. Possible connection to local criminal activity (e.g., meth production), but no direct evidence.
Family strongly rejects possibility of suicide or intentional disappearance.

Parrish reacting to suicide/walk away theory:
“No, absolutely not.” [31:15]

9. The Family’s Grief and Legacy

[31:16 – 33:05]

The Brysons have established the Michael Bryson Foundation to help other families with missing loved ones.
They host an annual 5K race in his honor, raising scholarship funds and community support.
Parents’ plea: They no longer seek to punish—only to bring Michael home.

“At this point ... they don't even really care anymore about what exactly led to their son's disappearance and presumed death. They just want to be able to bring him home.”
“He wouldn't even ask any questions. He'd just go with authorities to locate his son and bring him home where he belongs.” – Delia D’Ambra [32:20]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

“What happened to 27 year old Michael Bryson?” – Delia D’Ambra [02:30]
“Parrish said that when he stepped out of their car, he was struck with a sense of peace about his son that he hadn't felt in a long time. Almost like Michael wasn't there anymore. He was finally free of his demons and in heaven is what they believe.” – Delia D’Ambra [30:50]
Lane County Detective (on Michael):
“Michael Bryson was a person. He was Tina and Parrish's son. He was a friend to many. The fact that it's been five years and they don't have any answers regarding their son is heartbreaking. And ... we will not stop looking for him until he's located and brought back home to them.” [29:40]

Important Segment Timestamps

00:59–03:30: Introduction, context, Umpqua National Forest, night of disappearance
03:31–07:00: Timeline of events, Michael’s last movements, witness testimony
09:31–13:40: Family arrives, search organization, community efforts
18:11–21:45: Discovery of clothing, ID, implications
24:55–28:30: Mysterious graffiti, rumors, substance allegations
29:01–31:15: Detective’s statement, family’s theories, FBI involvement
31:16–33:05: Family coping, Michael Bryson Foundation, plea for resolution

Additional Resources

To support ongoing search efforts or learn more about the Michael Bryson Foundation: michaelbrysonfoundation.com
For tips: Lane County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 541-682-4150 or confidential email: lcsotipline@countyor.gov

Tone and Style

Delia maintains a compassionate, thorough, and investigative tone throughout, balancing the chilling uncertainty of the case with empathy for the Bryson family.
She vividly details the procedural and emotional aspects, weaving in both hard facts and heartfelt moments.

Summary

This episode of Park Predators meticulously explores the disappearance of Michael Bryson, the unanswered questions left for his family and the community, and the haunting possibilities that linger in the forests of Oregon. Delia D’Ambra’s nuanced storytelling and focus on both investigation and personal narrative illuminate the human toll of such mysteries and the ongoing quest for answers—and closure.

Loading summary

Transcript12 lines

[00:00]
Alzheimer's Association Announcer
In the fight against Alzheimer's, now matters more than ever. Because now we have treatments. Treatments that could change everything. But now is no time to stop. Now we've got momentum, so now we use it. Now we seize the moment. Now we turn the tide. Now we make a difference and make some noise. Now is the time to get up, get out and join the movement at the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's held in over 600 communities nationwide. And we need you with us because now is the time for hope. Join the fight@alz.org walk this episode is
[00:32]
SoFi Advertiser
brought to you by SoFi, the all in one finance app where you can bank, borrow and invest. It's time to achieve your financial ambitions. Earn more on your savings with a SOFI Bank High Yield Savings Account. Ditch your high interest credit card debt with a SOFI personal loan or start investing on an easy to use platform with SoFi. Invest. Wherever you are on your financial journey, SoFi's got you covered. Learn more at sofi.comsxm
[01:00]
Delia d'Ambra
Hear that? That's now crispy and McCrispy strips meeting creamy Caesar Sauce sounds extra Crispy caesar sauce at McDonald's for a limited time Hi park enthusiasts. I'm your host, Delia d', Ambra, and the case I'm going to share with you today takes place in Umpqua National Forest in Oregon. It's the story of a young man who, like many people in their 20s, decided to attend a social gathering in the great outdoors. But he never returned, and the mystery that surrounded his puzzling disappearance has all but consumed his family for more than six agonizing years. The vastness of Umpqua National Forest may be part of the problem you see. According to the U.S. department of Agriculture, this forest is nearly a million acres in size and sits on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains. The area is home to bodies of water, thick woods, apex predators, and many areas where cell phone reception just doesn't exist. The particular area pertinent to this case is Hobo Camp Campground, which is a roadside camping area that houses four designated campsites, a few fire pits and picnic tables, and a vaulted restroom facility. It's located directly off a main Forest service road called Bryce Creek Road. The Department of Agriculture states on its website that Hobo Camp Campground is supposed to be a place where people can enjoy nature and relax, especially between the hours of 10pm and 6am but one night during the first week of August 2020, things were anything but quiet at this recreation space. A large rave was going on and when the sun rose the next morning, one participant was unaccounted for. To this day, no one can answer the question that looms large about that fateful night. What happened to 27 year old Michael Bryson? This is Park Predators. Shortly before 5pm On Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, a woman named Tina Bryson was at work preparing to leave for the day when a text message popped up on her phone that she wasn't expecting a young woman named Natalie, who happened to be an ex girlfriend of Tina's adult son. Michael had messaged her and asked if she'd heard from Michael recently. Tina told Natalie that it had been a few days since she'd spoken with her son and then she asked what was going on. Natalie then called Tina and told her that she'd been told Michael had gone camping in Umpqua National Forest and had been unaccounted for for about 13 hours. Right away, Tina was confused and concerned about this news. She told me that in that moment her heart dropped and she got this terrible, horrible feeling something wasn't right. So she quickly left work and went home to speak with her husband, Parrish Bryson. She told him, like, look, we have to get some supplies together, grab some water, pack warm clothing and get going because apparently our son is missing. Now, the last time Parrish and Tina had seen Michael was two days earlier, on Monday, August 3rd. Parrish told me that he'd come by their house that morning to spend a few hours helping them out in the yard in exchange for some gas money. Between 11am and noon, Michael, Tina, Parrish and Michael's older sister Christa hung out and ate a late breakfast together. Then Michael gathered his stuff and headed out to leave. He told his parents that he was going to go camping overnight for a few days at Hobo Camp Campground, but he promised he would be back in touch with them by the end of the week. He specifically wanted his mom to know that where he was going didn't have cell phone service, so he didn't want them to freak out if they couldn't get a hold of him. What's interesting is that normally Tina and Krista worked on Mondays, but for some reason that particular day, everyone in the Bryson family happened to be home. Which in hindsight for Parrish and Tina is comforting. Because you see, when Michael hugged each of them before leaving that day, he told them he loved them. And then he walked out the door. That was the last time any of them would ever see him again. A glimmer of insight into what Michael's last known Movements had been came from one of his good friends named Ben. On Monday afternoon, Ben had picked Michael up in Eugene, Oregon, where he lived at the time, and he said that originally Michael's plan was to DJ2 Music Sets at the campground on Monday night and then come home the following morning. Tuesday, August 4th, Ben said Michael expressed he had plans to attend a completely different music festival that upcoming Friday, so he wanted to get home to prepare for that. But sometime between Monday night and Tuesday morning, Ben said people at Hobo Camp Campground had convinced Michael to stay another night, so he did. However, extending their stay required Ben to drive to a nearby town on Tuesday to get some more food and supplies. When he returned, he said he and Michael partied for several more hours, but eventually called it quits early Wednesday morning. According to Michael's dad, Parrish, Ben said Michael never got around to setting up his tent, so the two guys just fell asleep in the back of a small school bus that was used to transport sound equipment. At some point, though, after they crashed, Ben said Michael left their bus to join some people who wanted him to party in a larger bus. That vehicle had been converted into a camper of sorts, with side tables and hammocks where people could hang out. Now, folks who'd been on that bus told Ben that the last time they'd seen Michael was between 4 and 4:30am all they could remember was that at some point Michael had gotten upset and said something to the effect of what? You don't want me here? And then he just walked away from the bus and disappeared into the darkness. That was reportedly the last known sighting of him. The only other person who remembered interacting with Michael early Wednesday morning was a young woman who'd arrived around 2 or 2:30am she said that right after she pulled into the campground, Michael had run over to her car and offered to help her unpack. She said that when she interacted with him, he seemed like he might have been under the influence of a substance, but overall he was acting fine. Parrish and Tina said that Ben later told them he'd woken up between 11 and 11:30am on Wednesday and realized that Michael wasn't at the campground. He asked around to see if anyone had seen him, but no one had. That's when he learned for the first time that Michael had last been accounted for sometime between 4 and 4:30am which was alarming because Ben knew that meant about seven hours had gone by before anyone really knew Michael was missing. It was at that point that Ben realized he needed to do something more than just canvas people at the campground. So he got into his car and drove to the nearby city of Cottage Grove, where there was cell phone reception. There he began calling more friends to see if they'd heard from Michael. In fact, it was actually Ben who'd first contacted Michael's ex girlfriend, Natalie, who in turn got ahold of Michael's mom, Tina. But throughout this process of Ben making calls and word spreading around, hours went by. And according to Tina and Parrish, Ben had returned to the campground at least once after making those initial calls. Which of course meant there were stretches of time after 11:30am where his cell phone was off grid. So that, plus Michael's friends not wanting to panic Tina and Parrish, is why his parents didn't find out until closer to 5pm that their son was missing. Anyway, after receiving the news, Tina and Parrish sprung into action and headed straight to Hobo Camp Campground. They arrived around 6:45pm on Wednesday, and on the way, Tina had called the Eugene Police Department and filed a formal missing persons report for Michael. That agency didn't have jurisdiction in the national forest, but because Eugene was where Michael resided at the time, the Brysons figured it was best to start with that police department. And actually, Tina's brother worked for that agency, so there was familiarity in terms of having a loved one on the force. When the Brysons got to the campground, search and rescue resources from the Lane County Sheriff's Office were already there and had assembled a rudimentary search for Michael. Parrish described the recreation space to me as primitive. Searchers saw the stage area that had been set up for the event. Two buses, some campsites, and between 40 and 50 people just milling around. Based on the relaxed nature of those who were hanging out, Parrish and Tina didn't get the sense that anyone was super concerned that Michael was missing. They didn't see any of the partiers actively looking for him, and everyone just seemed way too calm considering the fact that a missing persons investigation was underway. I mean, there the Brysons were in full panic mode about their missing son, and everyone else up there just seemed to be totally chill. Parrish told me that even some of the first responders who'd accompanied them didn't initially think the worst had happened. He said that one of them suggested Michael had probably just gotten too drunk or high the previous night and would likely show up soon. That official informed the family that nothing at the campground suggested his disappearance was suspicious in any way or that foul play was involved. But Parrish and Tina couldn't accept such a quick dismissal, they felt it was imperative that a full scale search get underway for their son. Now, Michael had attended at least one rave event like this the year before, and according to Tina, he'd gone camping numerous times in his life. In all those instances, he'd returned home safe and sound. She knew that this situation was different. By the following day, Thursday, August 6, Tina and Parrish, as well as their extended family members and law enforcement, had assembled between 70 and 100 people to help search the campground and the surrounding woods for any sign of Michael that day. And the next day, they set up a command post of sorts with supplies they'd purchased from a local Walmart and hardware store. Searchers had journals to log, information in, ribbons and flags to mark areas of interest, and a system for checking in and checking out so that authorities could keep track of who was searching where. The description law enforcement put out for Michael was that he was approximately 180 pounds, stood 6ft 2 inches tall, and had short brown hair and hazel eyes. He'd last been seen wearing shorts, a white T shirt, white croc style shoes with rainbows on them, and possibly a brown corduroy ball cap. He also had several distinctive tattoos on his arm, legs, and rib cage. One was of a geometric shaped bear, another was an elephant's head, and others included a lion's face tree in a diamond shape and a pair of hands shaking in the shape of a heart. To help search efforts, one of Michael's former bosses created the let's Find Michael Bryson public Facebook group, which still exists today. The page aimed to get the word out about the case, and according to Parrish, after just one week of being live, it had more than 5,000 members. The first weekend of searching, a detective with the sheriff's office came out to the scene. And in the following days, more and more volunteers showed up. At one point, there were between 200 and 250 people looking for Michael. Local businesses donated supplies, and Parrish and Tina were even provided an RV so they could remain on site day and night. In total, they lived in that RV in the national forest for 19 days. During that time, nothing surfaced as far as where Michael was. But Tina and Parrish did discover that some of their son's belongings had been left behind in Ben's car. Michael's tent was there, along with a thumb drive he'd brought that had music files on it. He'd also left behind his backpack, a change of clothing, his keys, a comforter, and his cell phone. The only things missing were him, the Clothing he had on at the time of his disappearance and his wallet. Initially, the Brysons had been told that his cell phone was gone. But they later learned from them that after leaving the search area, he'd found it underneath one of the seats in his car. Tina went through that device, but she didn't find anything useful. After two weeks or so of searching, law enforcement officially called off the day to day search for Michael. And on August 19th, volunteers and community members held a vigil in Harrisburg as a show of support for the Bryson family. In our interview, Michael's mom, Tina, described the initial weeks and months after her son's disappearance as a blur. She and her husband suspect Michael was likely using substances while he was at the rave and probably wasn't in the clearest state of mind. But finding no trace of him just seemed bizarre. Parrish told me that Michael had struggled with diagnosed and undiagnosed mental health conditions, some of which he'd been prescribed medications for, but he wouldn't always consistently take. Since the age of 18, he'd used substances including ketamine, and he'd been to rehab a few times for substance use. But at the beginning of August 2020, his life had been on an upswing. His dad told me that a few months before he vanished, Michael had become determined to get his life together and pursue an electrician apprenticeship. He'd also said he wanted to go back to school and attend a community college. Parrish said that something about turning 27 had prompted Michael to want more out of his life. Up to this point, he'd had a few different jobs and spent a lot of time making music or getting gigs as a dj. As he approached the end of his twenties, he'd told his parents he eventually wanted to have a family, settle down and not spend as much time going to music festivals. Prior to his disappearance, he'd been a bartender and cook at a local establishment in Harrisburg. But like I mentioned earlier, he actually lived about 30 minutes south of that city in Eugene. His roommate at the time owned a house and allowed him to rent a room. That guy didn't join Michael at Hobo Camp Campground, but Parrish told me he actually tried to talk Michael out of going. You see, most of the people Michael was planning to meet up with were not friends from his normal friend group. They were folks he'd only known for about six months or so. According to his dad, Parrish, Michael had met most of these people at different events or gatherings in the music industry. They all hung out at a music hall. Michael sometimes DJED at and over time had stayed in one another's orbit. This group of new friends were who'd invited Michael to attend the party at Hobo Camp Campground. It seems the event was a combination of someone's birthday celebration, week long camping trip, multi night electronic dance music, rave in the woods. Personally, this sort of thing isn't my cup of tea, at least not these days. But I can totally see the appeal, especially if I was in my twenties again. Now because of the nature of this gathering and illicit substances that were being consumed, that could explain why there were so few witnesses to Michael's disappearance. I mean, if a majority of the people who went to this gathering were under the influence of substances, their recollections likely weren't super credible. But still, it's kind of wild to me that of the reported 40 or 50 people who were there, no one claimed to have seen him as after 4:30 in the morning on August 5. But even with few eyewitnesses and months of no updates, the Brysons weren't willing to give up hope. They plastered the trails in the area with flyers about Michael and spoke with local and national media outlets to try and keep his story in the limelight. About four months into the investigation, though, the biggest update yet came a bombshell clue that would introduce a brand new twist in this case foreign
[16:27]
Talkspace Advertiser
this podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. Ever feel like you're being pushed or pulled in more directions than you can even begin to process? When life demands more than you can give at work, in your relationship or at home, Talkspace can help. Talkspace provides convenient online access to therapy, psychiatry and mental health support. Just answer a few questions online and Talkspace will match you with a licensed provider in less than two days, with some even offering same day appointments. Chat with a therapist over live video, audio or messaging so you can get mental health support that fits your lifestyle and schedule. No taking time off work, no commuting to an office and no waiting room. Just support that meets you right where you are. Best of all, Talkspace is covered by most major insurance plans with an average copay of $15. Get space when you need it with Talkspace and now you can get $80 off your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com get $80 off with promo code space80@talkspace.com that's talkspace.com
[17:29]
Cassie and Danielle
welcome to National Park After Dark. We're your hosts Cassie and Danielle. Join us every Monday as we visit a new park through stories of true crime, animal attacks, fatal accidents, miraculous survivals, and other incredible tales that you need to hear to believe. Our hope is that by sharing inspiring tales and our passion for protecting our planet's wild places inspires you to explore them yourselves. Find us on your favorite podcasting streaming platforms, watch us on YouTube and follow our adventures on all socials at National Park After Dark and remember to enjoy the view. But watch your back.
[18:12]
Delia d'Ambra
In January 2020, one months after searching for Michael, the Brysons received a phone call from a detective with the Lane County Sheriff's Office who was working the case. He informed them that the previous month, which would have been December 2020, some of Michael's clothing had been located behind a patch of vegetation on an embankment near a creek about a mile and a half away from Hobo Camp Campground. Parrish told me that he and Tina were called in to identify the items and positively confirmed they belonged to their son. In fact, Parrish said he knew the clothing was Michael's, like before authorities even brought it up to him. He said he could tell from a distance without even having to be close to the items that they they were without a doubt his sons. What was strange, though, was that Parrish and his brother in law, who worked for the Eugene Police Department and had participated in previous searches, knew that the area the clothing was found in had already been searched. And yet that's where Michael's clothing was completely visible and not in an advanced state of disrepair. In Parrish's opinion, he suspected that Michael's clothing was likely placed where it was found, meaning someone put it there after the initial searches in August 2020. To him, there's just no other explanation for the stuff ending up there but Michael remaining missing A few months later, in October 2021, when a reporter for the Spokesman Review asked Elaine County Sheriff's sergeant straight up if the agency suspected foul play was involved, the sergeant said, quote, we're certainly open to the possibility that there was criminal action, and we haven't had anything that has led us one way or the other at this point. End quote. Even more puzzling, at least to Michael's family, was what they learned after even more time had passed. According to Parrish, he and Tina were informed by law enforcement that during a subsequent search of the creek around the time Michael's clothing was initially found, their son's driver's license had been discovered downstream from where the clothing was. Apparently, the part of the creek where the license was discovered was about 2 and a half miles away from where Michael disappeared, but closer to the spot where his clothing had been located. Parrish told me that investigators have since showed him a video of his son's driver's license in the state it was in when it was found. But in his opinion, it didn't look like it was damaged or extremely weathered. So his theory is that someone likely had Michael's wallet after he vanished and discarded anything in it that wasn't of value. It's important to note that a bridge crossed over the creek close to where the ID had been found. So in Parrish's opinion, it's possible, at least to him, that if someone had the wallet, they could have stood on that bridge, rifled through its contents, and then tossed items like the driver's license into the water as they decided what to keep and what not to keep. It's one scenario that could explain why the ID ended up where it ended up in relation to everything else. However, that scenario is just Parrish's personal opinion. I can totally picture what he's describing because it makes sense, just given what we know about Michael's stuff. But something that doesn't align with that theory is that Michael's parents told me he would have had a debit card and an EBT card in his wallet when he vanished. And it's safe to assume that if someone had his wallet and wanted to take stuff from it, they would have taken those cards. However, not once since August 5, 2020, have Michael's parents noted any financial activity on his accounts. Meaning if someone stole his bank and government assistance cards, they never tried to use them. Cash, on the other hand. Well, that's a different story, because, you see, on the night Michael vanished, he apparently had several hundred dollars on his person, and he'd let a lot of people at the campground know that. According to Michael's parents, in the hours before he left to go to Hobo Camp Campground, Michael, Michael had cashed an unemployment check that he'd received as part of a government assistance initiative related to the COVID 19 pandemic. Those funds totaled $600, and Michael took all of that money with him on his camping trip. His dad, Parrish, told me that he and Tina later learned that a guy at the party had previously loaned Michael $400, and so a good chunk of his cash went to repay that guy. The family later spoke with the man who loaned Michael money, who assured them that he did receive $400 cash from Michael. So that would have left Michael with $200 when he vanished. But what's interesting is that according to people that family members spoke with, Michael had apparently been telling folks at the party that he had $600 cash in his wallet. Now, some people have wondered if perhaps Michael bragging about having so much cash could have made him a target. And the answer is, no one knows for sure, but theoretically, it's possible. What's more interesting to me, though, is what surfaced in this case in the fall of 2024, a message seemingly meant for law enforcement. And it did not mince words.
[23:11]
Alzheimer's Association Announcer
In the fight against Alzheimer's, now matters more than ever. Because now we have treatments. Treatments that could change everything. But now is no time to stop. Now we've got momentum, so now we use it. Now we seize the moment. Now we turn the tide. Now we make a difference and make some noise. Now is the time to get up, get out, and join the movement at the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's, held in over 600 communities nationwide. And we need you with us because now is the time for hope. Join the fight@alz.org Walk this episode is
[23:42]
SoFi Advertiser
brought to you by SoFi, the All in One Finance app. The sooner you start investing, the more potential you have to build your money. Even for beginners. Sofi makes it simple with an easy to use app to get you going. SoFi is offering up to $1,000 in stock when you open up and fund a Sofi Self directed brokerage account. Terms apply. Learn more@sofi.com SXM Brokerage offered through SoFi Securities LLC Member Finra SIPC
[24:13]
Cassie and Danielle
welcome to National Park After Dark. We're your hosts, Cassie and Danielle. Join us every Monday as we visit a new park through stories of true crime, animal attacks, fatal accidents, miraculous survivals, and other incredible tales that you need to hear to believe. Our hope is that by sharing inspiring tales and our passion for protecting our planet's wild places inspires you to explore them yourselves. Find us on your favorite podcasting streaming platforms, watch us on YouTube and follow our adventures on all socials ashinalpark after dark and remember to enjoy the view, but watch your back.
[24:56]
Delia d'Ambra
According to coverage by that Oregon Life and my interview with Michael's parents on November 3, 2024, more than four years after Michael disappeared, people in Lane county woke up to a mysterious message scrawled in chalk on the outside wall of the Lane County Jail. The chalk graffiti read, quote Blaise Powers knows what happened to Mike Bryson, end quote. Interestingly, the L in the name Michael wasn't there, meaning the author had either accidentally misspelled it or had intentionally left the letter L out. I don't know. But in parentheses next to the sentence were the first two names of two young women who were twin sisters. A few hours after the graffiti was found, Tina and Parrish heard about it. And obviously the message, cryptic reference to their son's case, was interesting, but they weren't really sure what to make of it. You see, they'd already personally spoken with Blaze Powers prior to this, and so had the detective who was assigned to the case. According to what Parrish told me in his interview, he and his wife had already learned that Blayze was someone who'd been at Hobo Camp Campground when Michael vanished. Through connections the family had made online and via the let's Find Michael Bryson Facebook group, Tina said they learned that the pair of twin sisters whose first names were written in chalk and had also been at the campground when Michael vanished. For the sake of fairness, I'm going to refer to these women from here on out as simply the twins or the sisters. Parrish and Tina told me that law enforcement's conversations with Blaze didn't produce any new information. And unfortunately, by the time he was spoken with again, one of the twins that was named in the graffiti had already died. But the Brysons vested interest in all of these folks, especially the sisters, stemmed from screenshots of text messages that one of Michael's good friends had sent them. The messages had reportedly come from one of the twins phones. The content of the text suggested that while at the campground, one or both of them had allegedly dosed Michael with a substance, and then, as a result of being under the influence of that substance, he'd run into the woods. At the end of the day, Tina and Parrish aren't sure if the chalk graffiti's message is a red herring or perhaps just someone with a vendetta against Blaye and the sisters trying to get them in trouble. Michael's parents don't think the information was credible, but said investigators did take it seriously, at least enough to follow back up with Blaze. But beyond that, nothing ever happened. What I really wanted to know, though, was who put the chalk graffiti there? I mean, it was on the outside of the county jail, for crying out loud. In a photo posted by that Oregon Life, which I've linked to in the listed source material, you can clearly see a security camera directly above the exterior wall that the chalk was written on. My questions are, was that camera on? Did it show who wrote the message? For some answers, I reached out to the detective with the Lane County Sheriff's Office, who's currently assigned to Michael's case, but to date I've not heard back. Since 2020, the Brysons have actually had three different detectives assigned to their son's case. The first one handled things for about 16 months. The second one was in charge of the investigation for another year or so. And the current detective is who's been on the case the longest. He's the one that I emailed as part of my reporting in August 2025. He told the Eugene Registered Guard that if a criminal component is established in this case, his office will see it through to the very end. He also remarked, quote, Michael Bryson was a person. He was Tina and Parrish's son. He was a friend to many. The fact that it's been five years and they don't have any answers regarding their son is heartbreaking. And it's my case now and I'll speak for the sheriff's office when I say we will not stop looking for him until he's located and brought back home to them, end quote Parrish told me that so far they have a good relationship with this detective and the case is still very active. He said that tips continue to come in and every few weeks he and Tina meet with their detective to discuss what's going on and how to move forward. Parrish said ground searches for Michael still happen from time to time, but those are mostly tip driven. Unfortunately, as far as Parrish is aware, the FBI has never been brought in on this case because the Lane County Sheriff's Office allegedly hasn't formally requested federal assistance even though the area where Michael vanished is on federal land. Now that it's been several years. Michael's parents told me that they've come to terms with the fact that their son is likely no longer alive. Parrish actually told me he had this realization the very first time he and Tina arrived at Hobo Camp Campground. He said that when he stepped out of their car, he was struck with a sense of peace about his son that he hadn't felt in a long time. Almost like Michael wasn't there anymore. He was finally free of his demons and in heaven is what they believe. Parrish said that their daughter, Michael's older sister Christa, expressed something similar during the searches. Parrish said he and Krista were walking together at one point when she turned to him and said that she could no longer feel her brother. As far as possible scenarios that could explain what happened to him, there are several theories that the Bryson family feels make a lot of sense. The first is that Michael died as a result of an accidental overdose Then whoever was around him got scared and instead of seeking help, they covered up his death. But even Parrish has had his doubts about that theory because it means several people would have known that's what happened. And keeping that many people quiet for so long would be really, really difficult to do. The second scenario is that Michael could have decided to leave the campground and walk away along Bryce Creek Road, which is a narrow, paved, winding road that Parrish personally says he witnessed a lot of motorist speeding on. Now, it would have been a 20 mile or so walk for Michael to have made it to the nearest town. So Parrish wonders if maybe someone struck him on the roadway. And again, instead of getting him help, covered up his death. Parrish saw during the physical searches and later learned from tips that came in that the landscape surrounding Hobo Camp Campground was home to several methamphetamine production operations. Officially, no correlation between those discoveries and Michael's disappearance has been established, but for Parish, it remains a possibility. When I asked him and Tina if they or law enforcement ever found indications that Michael may have died by suicide or chosen to walk away from his life, they responded almost in unison, quote, no, absolutely not. End quote. Parrish said that even when his son had extreme low points in his life, Michael always reached out. He'd call his sister or one of his parents. He wouldn't just disappear without a trace. At this point, Michael's parents told me that they don't even really care anymore about what exactly led to their son's disappearance and presumed death. They just want to be able to bring him home. Parrish said that if someone who knows what happened to him would just point them in the direction of Michael's remains, he wouldn't even ask any questions. He'd just go with authorities to locate his son and bring him home where he belongs. For as long as they're able, the Brysons tell me they'll continue to talk about Michael's case. In recent years, they established the Michael Bryson foundation, which aims to help families of other missing people. They also host a 5k race in Michael's honor every year in Eugene, which raises funds for a Harrisburg High School student scholarship in Michael's name. If you would like to donate to the Michael Bryson foundation or learn more information about the annual 5K race, visit the website michaelbrysonfoundation.com and if you're listening to this episode and believe you may have important information for investigators, please contact the Lane County Sheriff's Office Dispatch center at 541-682-41.50 or send a confidential email to lcso tiplinecountyor.gov links to those resources can be found in the show notes and blog post for this episode. Park Predators is an Audio Chuck production. You can view a list of all the source material for this episode on our website parkpredators.com and you can also follow park predators on Instagram arcpredators. I think Chuck would approve.
[33:14]
Alzheimer's Association Announcer
In the fight against Alzheimer's, now matters more than ever. Because now we have treatments. Treatments that could change everything. But now is no time to stop. Now we've got momentum, so now we use it. Now we seize the moment. Now we turn the tide. Now we make a difference and make some noise. Now is the time to get up, get out and join the movement at the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's held in over 600 communities nationwide. And we need you with us because now is the time for hope. Join the fight@alz.org walk this episode is
[33:45]
SoFi Advertiser
brought to you by SoFi, the all in one finance app where you can bank, borrow and invest. It's time to achieve your financial ambitions. Earn more on your Savings with a SoFi Bank High Yield Savings Account. Ditch your high interest credit card debt with a SoFi personal loan or start investing on an easy to use platform with SoFi. Invest wherever you are on your financial journey, SoFi's got you covered. Learn more at sofi.comsxm.