June 15, 2026 | By: Isabella Lazo

This story is part of a collaborative project between Project: Cold Case and the University of North Florida’s Applied Journalism class.

Michael Sinotte Jr. loved to spend his days hiking trails in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.

“Hiking was his favorite thing to do,” his mother, Ann Felici, said. “His favorite trail was the Great Swamp Area.” He also liked to hike Goddard Park and the Valley Park trails.

Michael’s hikes ended when he went missing on June 14, 2019 around the Great Swamp Area. He was 22 years old. His car was found in the parking lot, a half-eaten burger inside. Michael’s disappearance is still unsolved.

Michael was born and raised in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. He attended Community College of Rhode Island where he was working toward his associate degree in computers. “He liked computer courses,” his mother said.

Growing up, Michael was a very happy child. “He loved to swim,” his mother said. “He loved going to the beach as a family. Loved to swim, build sandcastles.”

Ann recalled one of her favorite memories with her son. “At Christmas time, he would always be really eager to see what Santa brought. He would have a smile, ear to ear,” she said.

Michael was an animal lover; he loved to go on day trips to the zoo. He would go to zoos out of state as well, but his favorite was Roger Williams Zoo in Rhode Island.

Approximately three months before he went missing, Michael, Ann, and his sister, Gianna, spent a day horseback riding.

Michael was a reserved person. “If a topic of interest came up, he would join in, especially if he was passionate about it,” Ann said. He was soft- spoken, reserved, intelligent, and respectable, often referred to by his mother as a “gentle giant,” standing at 6 feet tall and wearing a size 13 shoe.

Michael was a simple man, always dressing in jeans and sweatshirts. He liked to follow a routine. He worked as a GrubHub driver at night. If he wasn’t working, he would come home dependably around 10:30 p.m. In fact, on June 14, 2019, his failure to return on time is what alerted Ann to the idea that something might be wrong. That night she looked out the window and noticed her son’s car wasn’t in the driveway.

On the night of his disappearance, there’s a record of him being contacted by police. They were questioning him for being pulled over in the breakdown lane. He told police that he had pulled over to enter a customer address into his GPS, yet reports show he didn’t take or deliver a single order that night. That was the last time he was seen.

Ann would report her son missing the next day. She had called his phone and waited for her son to come home. Michael’s car was found in the Great Swamp Area with a burger sitting in the passenger seat. With no trace of Michael.

Police attempted to search the area, but the Great Swamp Management Area is Rhode Island’s biggest natural reserves, spanning more than 3,000 acres of dense forest, winding trails, and wetlands, all of which are difficult to navigate. In the days following Michael’s disappearance, local police and volunteers searched through the swamp on foot, by boat, and even with drones. Some searchers got lost and even hurt trying to navigate the area.

Searches have been organized in recent years, but none have yielded results. They hope to find something, anything, that would explain or give clues about Michael’s disappearance. Despite their efforts, no trace of Michael was ever found, and Michael’s family are left without answers.

But Michael’s story had begun years earlier, when he first started to face mental health challenges. Around middle school, Michael began developing symptoms of mental illness, including schizophrenia. In the weeks leading up to his disappearance, Michael had stopped taking his medication.

His mother believes his mental health issues did not play a role in his disappearance. “They found fast food in his car, and he filled up his gas. He didn’t plan on not coming home,” she said. Despite his struggles, those who knew Michael describe him as kind, curious, and deeply connected to his family. His sudden disappearance left them with more questions than answers, and years later, they still hold onto the hope that one day they’ll learn what really happened.

Ann does not let her son be forgotten. On the anniversary of his disappearance, the family goes to the Great Swamp to leave flowers, pictures, and notes. When the family gets together, they remember him. On his birthday, they remember him and pray.

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Anyone with information concerning Michael Joseph “Mikey” Sinotte Jr.’s disappearance is asked to call the North Kingstown Police Department Detective Division at (401) 294-3316 ext. 8211. To remain anonymous and possibly eligible for a reward, call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.

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