Michael left work and was supposed to pick up his son at the home of his ex-girlfriend He was engaged and had another son with his fiance. Michael's ex-girlfriend and her husband had wanted to move to Montana and take his son with them. Michael obtained an order that they could not take the child. Michael's blood was found on the porch boards of his ex-girlfriend's home and evidence found that she had purchased a gun on the day Michael went missing. His ex-girlfriend and her boyfriend were both tried for murder, twice, both times with a hung jury. The prosecutor did not file for a third trial and judge dismissed the charges.