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Crime Junkie

WANTED: Michael Bullinger

When a pilot murders his wife, his secret lover and her daughter and then vanishes into the Wyoming wilderness, leaving his getaway car behind, a massive tri-state manhunt ensues for the family annihilator. Eight years later, there’s still no sign of Mike Bullinger and questions remain: did he use his survivalist and flight skills to launch a new life or did he meet his end in the forest? And why did he kill the three people he loved the most?
Duration
49m
Broadcast on
22 Sep 2025
Audio Format
other

When a pilot murders his wife, his secret lover and her daughter and then vanishes into the Wyoming wilderness, leaving his getaway car behind, a massive tri-state manhunt ensues for the family annihilator. Eight years later, there’s still no sign of Mike Bullinger and questions remain: did he use his survivalist and flight skills to launch a new life or did he meet his end in the forest? And why did he kill the three people he loved the most?

  • If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
  • Michael "Mike" Bullinger is still wanted and considered armed and at large until his body is found. Information about Bullinger’s whereabouts or any sightings of him should be called into the Canyon County Sheriff’s Office in Idaho at 208-454-7510.
  • If anyone hiking near Pacific Creek in Moran, Wyoming, comes across a gun, bones, or clothes that you believe might be relevant to this case, please contact the Teton County Sheriff’s Office at 307-733-2331.

 

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Hi, crime junkies. I'm your host, Ashley Flowers. And I'm solo today. Well, not technically solo. I am with Maggie today. Now, if you're hearing this and not watching this, you might not know who Maggie is. This is your key to go check us out on YouTube. And if you are watching us on YouTube, then you know exactly who Maggie is. But anyways, even though Brits not here, I didn't want that to stop me from telling you guys this story. Because the one I have for you today is so wild, it might sound like I'm describing the plot of this year's hottest blockbuster release. But I promise it's all true. And one of the biggest leads in the case came from a crime junkie just like you who trusted their instincts. And we might be just one crime junkie tip away from finally knowing what happened to the now infamous pilot who murdered his wife, his secret lover, and her daughter, and then vanished into the wilderness. Did he meet his end in the forest? Or did this man use his survivalist and flying skills to launch a new life? Opinions are split. But we have brand new information that's never been reported before that might finally help determine where in the world is Michael Bollinger. July 12, 2017 is shaping up to be a typical workday for 17-year-old Gina Hun. Gina helps maintain and clean campgrounds for her dad's management company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. And this morning she's tasked with weed whacking at the Pacific Creek campground. Now, before she leaves, Gina's dad's like, "Oh, hey, by the way, there is this abandoned car that someone dumped at campsite for, which I've been meaning to have towed, but you know, for today, just kind of like work around it." And she does. But there is something about the white car at campsite for that she just can't shake. Part of it is the thick layer of dust on the windshield, as if it's been there for weeks. But the other part is the context she has being a local. I mean, she knows this is grizzly bear country. So Gina worries that the owner of the car went hiking and then maybe got attacked in the woods, which isn't unheard of in this area. So after she finishes up all of her work, she walks back over to the car and just peers inside. Now there's nothing too interesting. She sees a blanket, a hat, a disposable coffee cup. And she can't go snooping beyond that because the doors and the trunk are locked up tight. So in true crime junkie fashion, because by the way, we talk to Gina and she is a legit listener of the show. I mean, like, not then, we didn't start the podcast till five months after this, but crime junkies, I always say, are born, not made. And by the way, hey, girl. So she snaps some photos of the car and its license plate to take back with her because there isn't a lick of cell service in this campground or really anywhere near it. But when she gets home that evening, Gina hops on the computer. And the first thing she looks up is missing hikers in the area. The second thing she Googles is the license plate. And when she types out, Utah license plate 1, 2, 9, UMP, her screen floods with headlines nationwide manhunt underway. Triple murder victims identified suspect in Idaho triple homicide last seen in Ogden might be driving a white Ford focus. Trust your gut folks. Sometimes it's nothing. But sometimes you break a case because who knows if anyone would have connected the dots otherwise. So she flags us for her dad, who in turn calls the police. And we don't see this every day, but here all law enforcement agencies are picking up the phone and talking to one another, sharing information. So by that same night, police investigating a triple murder in Canyon County, Idaho, seven hours west know that one of the cars they put into NCIC a few weeks ago in connection to their suspect now has been found. Idaho authorities asked them to secure the car ASAP while they get on the road and start writing a search warrant. And in the meantime, an Idaho detective sends a bullet point memo to the Wyoming authorities to get them up to speed on the crime that they're investigating and the fugitive that they're looking for, Michael Bollinger. And we actually obtain that memo. It reads quote, there is not a clear motive, but it appears Bollinger suddenly uncontrollably and explosively snapped over something. There is a love triangle. Most grizzly crime scene he has investigated in 20

Transcription truncated.

When a pilot murders his wife, his secret lover and her daughter and then vanishes into the Wyoming wilderness, leaving his getaway car behind, a massive tri-state manhunt ensues for the family annihilator. Eight years later, there’s still no sign of Mike Bullinger and questions remain: did he use his survivalist and flight skills to launch a new life or did he meet his end in the forest? And why did he kill the three people he loved the most?