Wednesday September 6th, 2023
The Atlin Whisper “Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.” Margaret Mead
A KILLER ON THE YUKON BORDER Part 3 Sheslay Mike by Paul Lucas Hutsigola Lake, January/February,1982. At the end of January 1982, smoke was reported by local pilots at Hutsigola Lake. It was clear to everybody that Sheslay Mike was back in his digs, and the word went out. The RCMP assembled a fully armed team that included Peter Bird. They flew into the lake in two helicopters, and managed to arrest Oros at the cabin, but not before some hair-raising moments. Fact is, all it takes is one reasonably placed shot to down a helicopter and every man on that mission knew it all too well. Needless to say, a huge sigh of relief came with the sound of handcuffs being snicked onto those dangerous and unpredictable wrists. A search of the cabin and Mike’s caches revealed further evidence of his involvement in Lishy’s death evidence that included Lishy’s pack, sleeping bag and, most importantly, his .44 magnum revolver. Mike was stuffed in a helicopter and transported directly to Atlin, where he was questioned at length. But he wasn’t giving anything away. The man was cagey. The contents of his diaries, however, led to an order for a psychiatric evaluation in Vancouver. Terrace, B.C. March,1982. RCMP constable Mike Buday was off shift and having a beer at the Skeena Hotel in Terrace. Buday was about to meet Sheslay Mike Oros for the first time, under less than perfect circumstances. They were holding Oros at the Terrace jail, preparing to ship him to Vancouver, and he was creating havoc - busting this, shattering that, and no-one was willing to enter his cell to subdue him. He had just learned that his dogs, rather than being left to starve at Hutsigola lake, had been shot, and he was furious. The only guy who they thought could handle him was Buday. And handle him he did. Rousted from his bar stool, he headed down to the jail house, opened up the door, grappled with the feisty and combative Oros for a few minutes until, finally, he grabbed him in a choke hold and knocked him out. Job done, he went back to his beer. But it wasn’t the last Mike Buday would see of Sheslay Mike Oros, and their next meeting would have tragic consequences.
Mike Buday
In the process of being transported for evaluation, Jamie Stephen, who was now stationed in Sechelt B.C., was asked to interview Oros in a holding cell at Vancouver airport. While Mike did end up making some vague references to Lishy, no new information came from the meeting.