The Coconut Wireless Strikes Again: Inside Scoop on Michael Miske’s Death

One of the privileges of my profession is that I get access to the inside scoop on high-profile cases here in Hawaii well before the mainstream media catches wind. It’s a phenomenon we locals call the Coconut Wireless—an informal network of whispers, insights, and rumors among those in the know.

In some cases, the Coconut Wireless has a dark side. I’ve heard of people being tipped off about police raids hours before they happened, allowing locals to protect themselves while outsiders, ahem… Ha’oles… suffer the consequence of ignorance.

Today, I’m leveraging my network of little birdies to bring you a coconut wireless bombshell about Michael Miske.

What I’ve Heard About Michael Miske’s Death

Miske, who was in custody at the Honolulu Federal Detention Center, had a cellmate—a quiet, younger man whose identity I haven’t confirmed. According to my sources, on the morning of Miske’s death, his cellmate left to get breakfast, but Miske didn’t leave the cell that morning for food. When the cellmate returned, he found Miske lying flat, stiff as a board, with an iPad resting on his chest, his hands still gripping the device.

Confused, the cellmate reportedly went next door to Miske’s half-brother, John Stancil, who was housed in the adjacent cell—a detail that raises questions about protocol, as family members are rarely housed in such proximity, especially when they are co-defendants in the same case.

Stancil, upon seeing Miske, tried to perform CPR and frantically ordered the cell mate to alert the corrections officers on shift.

The Autopsy and Contraband

The official autopsy lists the cause of death as a fentanyl overdose. This brings up one critical question:

Contrary to what you might think, iPads are allowed in federal custody. I’ve confirmed this with multiple sources. But the contraband issue? Let’s just say it’s not as hard as the officials might want you to believe.

A source who spent years in the federal system told me it’s common to find all kinds of contraband—drugs, cell phones, USB chargers—smuggled in through various means. While I won’t stir the pot by explaining how, let’s just say contraband is far more commonplace than officials might admit.

Some inmates who are nearing release are given chores within the system—working in the mailroom, the kitchen, or, in some cases, handling cell cleanup. My source, who was assigned to clean cells while in custody, confirmed that contraband is not rare. In fact, it’s shockingly common.

My Theory

Here’s what I think happened:

Michael Miske wasn’t a drug addict. He was an entrepreneur, who built a sprawling empire that included both legitimate businesses and alleged underground operations.

I believe Miske procured fentanyl with a purpose. He took a lethal dose by design, orchestrating his death as a final “FUCK YOU” to the government. By passing away before sentencing, his case would be dismissed, and the government would be unable to seize his assets. Instead, his estate would be distributed according to his wishes, not theirs.

If true, this would be a masterful final move from someone who played the game at the highest level, even behind bars. As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, “Mr. Miske and Me: The Boss and the Bail Agent,” the government went out of its way to publicly humiliate and financially destroy him. This final move could be seen as the ultimate checkmate—a deliberate act of defiance, where even in death, Miske claimed victory in one last battle, a selfless act designed to safeguard the financial future of his loved ones through his trust.

Poking holes in my theory; healthy skepticism:

No one ever seems to mention that Miske had a cellmate. Was this cellmate indeed confirmed? Was it a younger quiet man who was known to keep to himself?

And what about Miske’s half-brother, John Stancil—was he actually housed in the next-door cell?

Is it true that an inmate could choose to refrain from taking breakfast and instead remain in their cell, passing the time on an iPad? These are critical questions, because if the cellmate and brother parts of the story are untrue, the entire theory falls apart. However, if these details are accurate, then I believe the other elements of the story become far more likely to be true than false.

Final Thoughts

At this time, no one truly knows what ultimately happened to Michael Miske. I’ve laid out a theory that, based on the coconut wireless, feels probable—but I’ll admit, it’s mostly feelings, paired with unverified facts.

I’ll be diving deeper into this on an upcoming podcast, potentially with a very special guest. Stay tuned.

As always, if you have insights or can corroborate any part of this story, feel free to reach out. The Coconut Wireless thrives when whispers are brought into the open, ready to be heard and critiqued.

Your conspiracy theorist,

-Got Bail Nick