The story of Michael Eugene Oros, better known as The Mad Trapper of Sheslay, is a chilling tale of isolation, paranoia, and violence in the remote wilderness of northern British Columbia. Oros, an American draft dodger, fled to Alaska in the late 1960s to avoid conscription into the Vietnam War. But the harsh conditions of Fairbanks proved too unforgiving, and he soon moved south, settling in the abandoned mining village of Sheslay, British Columbia.
Life in Sheslay only deepened Oros's paranoia. He became increasingly convinced that he was being stalked by shadowy figures he referred to as "sneak arounds." In his writings, he mentioned "torture druggers" who he believed were experimenting on him and poisoning his food. His isolation fed these delusions, turning him from an eccentric recluse into a man consumed by fear and suspicion.
Over the years, Oros's behavior became more erratic and hostile. He set traps around his cabin, fired warning shots at passing strangers, and harassed local trappers and prospectors. Locals viewed him as a dangerous nuisance, someone best avoided. But the situation escalated dramatically when ex-Nazi and fellow recluse Gunther Lishy vanished without a trace. Suspicion fell on Oros, and the RCMP launched an investigation.
The police soon discovered evidence linking Oros to Lishy's disappearance, along with disturbing writings and makeshift traps rigged throughout his property. Oros, however, refused to cooperate. As officers closed in, he lashed out, firing at law enforcement and injuring an officer in the process. What followed was a tense manhunt through the unforgiving terrain of northern British Columbia.
On March 19, 1985, the chase came to a deadly conclusion on Big Island in Teslin Lake. RCMP officers had planned to surround Oros using two helicopter teams, but mechanical issues caused delays. When officers finally landed, they found Oros dragging a sled through the woods. He vanished into the trees and reappeared moments later with a rifle. From the shadows, he fired a shot that fatally struck Corporal Michael Buday in the neck. As Oros aimed his rifle toward Constable Garry Rodgers, the constable fired back, hitting Oros in the forehead and killing him instantly. Upon inspection, investigators discovered Oros’s weapon had jammed—he had pulled the trigger, but the bullet never fired.
In the aftermath, eerie stories emerged. Big Island, where Oros made his last stand, is known in local Indigenous lore as a spiritually significant place. Some speculated that the island’s guardian spirit had intervened, possessing Constable Rodgers to protect the land. The fact that Oros’s rifle malfunctioned at the critical moment only added to the mystique, leading some to believe that something otherworldly ensured his demise.
The mystery surrounding Oros's descent into madness and the fate of Gunther Lishy remains unsolved. Was Oros simply a victim of untreated mental illness, driven to violence by isolation, or was there more to his fears than anyone realized? And did a supernatural force truly intervene to stop him that day?
Join us as we unravel the twisted tale of The Mad Trapper of Sheslay in our latest episode of Unsolved Canadian Mysteries, available now on Spotify and YouTube.
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