Serialously with Annie Elise – Episode 329

INSANE TWIST: Best Friend of Mob Boss’s Son Found Murdered | Mike Miske

Date: October 20, 2025
Host: Annie Elise
Podcast: Serialously with Annie Elise & Audioboom Studios

Episode Overview

Annie Elise unpacks the shocking true crime saga of Jonathan Fraser—a young Hawaiian man who disappeared under mysterious circumstances in 2016, shortly after surviving a devastating car accident that killed his best friend, Caleb Miske. The case leads into the shadowy world of organized crime on Oahu, centering around Caleb’s father, Michael Miske, a seemingly legitimate businessman later revealed to be a violent mob boss. Twists abound as Annie explores revenge, chemical weapons, torture, witness intimidation, and the eventual unraveling of Mike Miske’s criminal empire.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Hawaii Mob Connection

• Annie emphasizes how Hawaii, often thought of as a peaceful paradise, harbors serious organized crime, exemplified by the “North Shore Boys” gang led by Mike Miske.
• Quote:
  • “Normally you think of Hawaii as a vacation destination, right? ...But it does [have organized crime].” (03:50)

2. Jonathan and Caleb: Tragic Beginnings

• Jonathan and Caleb, best friends and car enthusiasts, are involved in a horrific car crash in November 2015.
• Caleb is the driver, and both are hospitalized; Caleb dies months later from his injuries.
• Mike Miske, Caleb's father, blames Jonathan for his son's death, despite clear evidence Caleb was driving.

3. From Gifts to Disappearance – The Trap

• Mike abruptly extends hospitality and lavish gifts to Jonathan after months of hostility: offers a car, rent-free housing, and pays for Jonathan’s pregnant girlfriend Ashley’s spa day.

• Quote:

  • “It almost became like he was doing too much or being too generous, if that makes sense.” (13:58)

• While Ashley is at the spa (July 30, 2016), Jonathan disappears from their home.

• Immediate concern from Ashley and his family; his behavior inconsistent with “just running away.”

• Police take the disappearance seriously, given Jonathan’s recent trauma and lack of motive to leave.

4. Early Investigation and the Main Suspect

• Jonathan’s car is found abandoned in an area he had no reason to visit (Hawaii Kai), strongly suggesting foul play (19:49).
• Friends and family unanimously point to Mike Miske as a dangerous enemy.
• Revelation: Mike’s exterminator business was a front for organized crime; Annie details Miske’s extensive violent criminal background, including kidnapping, robbery, and chemical attacks on clubs to drive away their business rivals.

5. The Web of Violence – Mike Miske's MO

• Mike’s crimes escalate to murder and nearly-successful murder attempts on others.
• Chemical attacks: Miske orders associates to unleash military-grade insecticide gas at rival nightclubs (March 2017), attempting to suffocate patrons, prompting widespread fear.
• Quote:
  • “The specific chemical that he used was actually classified as a chemical weapon...banned in any sort of battlefields these days.” (27:22)

6. Jonathan’s Disappearance: The Theories

• Theories emerge: Was Jonathan tortured and murdered at Mike’s house? Or was he abducted and dumped in the ocean?
• Eyewitnesses offer disturbing testimony of Jonathan zip-tied and bloodied, allegedly tortured with a propane torch.
• Witness James Borling Salas tells his mother and police about seeing Jonathan tied up, but is later attacked in jail and dies on life support, likely a silencing hit by Miske’s associates.
• Quote:
  • “He was tied up in a plastic green chair. He had zip ties holding his arms and legs in place... there was also blood all over his face…” (39:57)

7. Failed Justice: Witness Intimidation and Delays

• Witness killings and fear of retaliation result in a lack of actionable evidence.
• Ashley, Jonathan’s girlfriend, launches a tireless campaign for answers and justice.
• Police and eventually the FBI struggle for years to build a prosecutable case.

8. Breakthrough – Gangs Betrayed

• Years later, a key break arrives: one of Mike's own gang members (Kelly) drunkenly confesses at a cockfight to helping throw Jonathan, weighted with cement blocks, into the ocean on Mike’s orders (46:06).
• Police secure a plea deal from Kelly and another pivotal witness (Ashlyn, involved in chemical attacks), who agree to testify against Mike, finally allowing prosecution to proceed.

9. Trial and Verdict

• In spring 2024, Mike Miske is tried on 16 charges (including murder, racketeering, chemical weapon use), in a marathon 99-day trial.
• He is found guilty of the most serious charges, including Jonathan’s murder.
• Quote:
  • “Thank you, Jesus, for the justice that my son deserves.” – Jonathan’s family member (53:07)

10. Insane Twist – Miske’s Sudden Death

• Before sentencing and potential asset forfeiture, Miske is found dead in federal custody (December 2024), ruled a fentanyl overdose under suspicious circumstances.
• Theories range from suicide to a hit to protect assets for his heirs, to accidental overdose; the method remains controversial.
• Quote:
  • “Was it brought in? Who brought it in? Or was it a deliberate thing? ...Why is he the only inmate that suffered an accidental overdose...?” – News reporter (57:55)

11. Legacy: No Closure for the Family

• Jonathan’s body has never been found, but he is legally declared dead.
• His son grows up fatherless, Ashley and the family left without full closure but relieved at least some justice was served.
• Annie offers personal reflections on the senselessness of the crime and the enduring ambiguity around key details.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mob presence in Hawaii:
  “But at least if you're like me, sometimes you fail to remember that there's actually half a million people who live there...which means not only career people, but also career criminals.” (04:36)

• Jonathan’s personality:
  “He was just young, liked to have fun, like to smoke weed, kind of made reckless decisions and a good guy.” (06:05)

• On Miske’s change of heart (the “setup”):
  “He kept showering Jonathan with presents and it almost became like he was doing too much or being too generous…” (13:58)

• Ashley’s realization:
  “Why would he give us that car? Why would he put us in this house? Why did I not see all of these things? I was pissed off. And it came to me instantly, all of the red flags that anyone could have seen.” (35:09 paraphrased)

• Chilling confession from witness:
  “He was tied up in a plastic green chair. He had zip ties holding his arms and legs in place. There was also blood all over his face…” (39:57)

• On witness intimidation and loss:
  “All of the other inmates started coming up to him, telling him, you know, you're gonna pay. You are gonna pay for turning against Mike. You will never live to testify against him.” (41:10)

• Family reaction to guilty verdict:
  “Thank you, Jesus, for the justice that my son deserves.” (53:07)
  “We really didn't have hope. We prayed and we had faith, but a lot of people told us maybe he wouldn't be found guilty. And that was really, really scary for us…” (53:27)

• On Miske’s death:
  “...he never had a drug issue in the past. He never did heroin or opioids for fun, nothing like that. So the odds that he would go to jail and then suddenly decide to start using drugs, probably pretty slim...maybe a little too convenient.” (58:20)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – News brief: Mike Miske indicted, murder of Jonathan Fraser alleged.
• 04:36 – Hawaii as more than a paradise; crime reality.
• 06:05 – Jonathan’s backstory, car crash, and aftermath.
• 13:58 – Miske’s unexpected generosity toward Jonathan.
• 19:49 – Car found in Hawaii Kai; foul play suspected.
• 27:22 – Chemical attacks on nightclubs.
• 36:30 – Ashley confronts Mike, suspicions mount.
• 39:57 – Witness describes Jonathan’s torture at Mike’s house.
• 41:10 – James Borling Salas threatened and ultimately killed.
• 46:06 – Kelly, gang member, confesses to Jonathan’s ocean murder.
• 53:07 – Family reacts to verdict.
• 55:55 – News flash: Miske found dead in jail.
• 57:55 – Debate over cause of Miske’s death.
• 58:20 – Annie’s closing reflections on unanswered questions.

Conclusion

Annie Elise weaves together a tale of vengeance, organized crime, and the dark underbelly of paradise. The episode exposes the betrayal, violence, and fear that encircled the murder of Jonathan Fraser and the larger-than-life criminal empire that ultimately consumed its leader. While Mike Miske’s death and the absence of Jonathan’s body leave lingering questions, the persistence of Jonathan’s loved ones—especially Ashley—ensures this story is not forgotten.

Final note from Annie:

“Be nice, don't kill people, don't join any cults, don't work for organized crime and just be a good human and stay safe.” (59:32)

For further information, case updates, and to recommend new cases or share stories, visit:
annieelise.com