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Was the Hiker a Wanted Fugitive? #truecrime #crimejunkie

September 27, 2025 / 00:48

This episode discusses the 2017 sighting of Michael Bullinger, a suspected triple homicide perpetrator, by a family hiking near Pacific Creek campground.

The family, consisting of a ranger, his wife, and their kids, encountered a gray-haired man in dirty clothes who ignored their greeting. Initially, they thought nothing of it.

Weeks later, the ranger's wife recognized Bullinger's image on the news, leading her to believe there was a chance they had seen him on the trail.

She rated her certainty of the identification as seven or eight out of ten, raising questions about the encounter and its implications.

The episode invites listeners to consider whether this was a random meeting or a significant moment in the search for Bullinger.

TL;DR

A family hiking in 2017 may have encountered triple homicide suspect Michael Bullinger.

Episode

0:48
00:00:01
What if you passed a man on the trail
00:00:02
and later realized he might be a killer
00:00:05
on the run? In July 2017, a local
00:00:08
ranger, his wife, and kids were hiking
00:00:10
near Pacific Creek campground when they
00:00:12
crossed paths with a gray-haired man in
00:00:14
dirty clothes. No gear, no water. He
00:00:17
turned his face away, ignored their
00:00:19
hello, and kept walking.
00:00:21
The family didn't really think anything
00:00:22
about it until a couple of weeks later
00:00:25
when the wife saw Michael Bullinger's
00:00:27
picture on the news wanted for a triple
00:00:30
homicide.
00:00:32
When asked how sure she was that it was
00:00:34
him, the rers's wife said seven or eight
00:00:37
out of 10. Was this a random hiker or
00:00:40
the closest anyone has come to catching
00:00:42
Bolinger alive? Watch our full episode
00:00:45
on the case and let us know what you
00:00:47
think.

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Episode Highlights

  • The Shocking Revelation
    Weeks later, the wife sees a news report about a triple homicide suspect.
    “When the wife saw Michael Bullinger's picture on the news wanted for a triple homicide.”
    @ 00m 27s
    September 27, 2025

Episode Quotes

  • He turned his face away, ignored their hello, and kept walking.
    Was the Hiker a Wanted Fugitive? #truecrime #crimejunkie
  • Was this a random hiker or the closest anyone has come to catching Bolinger alive?
    Was the Hiker a Wanted Fugitive? #truecrime #crimejunkie

Key Moments

  • Chilling Discovery00:27
  • Close Call00:40