Mike Madden

Twenty-year-old Mike Madden was last seen on August 10, 1996 in Sonora, California.

Background

At the time of his disappearance, Mike attended Humboldt State University.

Disappearance
Mike had plans to meet his friends at Sand Bar Flat to go camping and fishing. He left his family's home at 5:00 in the morning and left a note for his mom about his plans. He brought his camping gear, fishing gear and his dog, Matilda with him. 

According to Mike's friends, they arrived at Sand Bar Flat at approximately 2:00 in the morning on August 12, 1996, but there was no sign of Mike or his dog at the scene; however, his gear was discovered near a freshly-made fire.

Soon after Mike's friends arrived, a man identified as Joseph Tine appeared at the location, carrying a .45 automatic pistol, asking who they were and if they were looking for "Mikey". Tine and Mike's friends waited for six hours; Tine was repeatedly cocking his pistol during that time. Mike's friends said it looked like Tine was wearing Mike's boots, but it hasn't been confirmed.

After his friends were unable to find him around the campsite, Mike's friends reported him missing. Mike's dog, Matilda returned to the campsite four days later; she was suffering from dehydration and was unable to lead the searchers to Mike's whereabouts.

Joseph Tine underwent a polygraph exam nine months after Mike went missing; however, the results of the polygraph are unknown. Tine has not been charged in connection with Mike's disappearance and the pistol he had in his possession didn't have any spent shells at the time Mike went missing.

Although authorities suspect that Mike possibly met with foul play at San Bar Flat, nobody has been charged in connection with his disappearance. Mike's case is classified as an endangered missing person.