Vanished in the Narrows: The Unresolved Disappearance of Timothy Staples in Alaska’s Southeast Waters

A Routine Crossing Turns Tragic

In the early hours of February 12, 2017, 38-year-old Timothy Staples and 45-year-old Troy Smart departed from the Mountain Point boat launch near Ketchikan, Alaska. Their intended destination was Cowboys Camp on Annette Island, a journey typically requiring about 30 minutes by skiff. When they failed to arrive as expected, concern quickly escalated, prompting one of their fiancées to alert the authorities around 4 a.m.

Discovery of the Capsized Skiff

Later that morning, search teams located the men's 16-foot skiff overturned in Blank Inlet, approximately 100 yards north of Blank Island. The vessel was unoccupied, and nearby debris was found in the surrounding waters. Despite extensive search efforts, including aerial and marine units, no trace of Staples or Smart was found.

Extensive Search Efforts

The U.S. Coast Guard initiated a comprehensive search operation, deploying assets such as a Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Sitka and a 45-foot response boat from Station Ketchikan. The Ketchikan Volunteer Rescue Squad conducted shoreline searches, while the Coast Guard Cutter Maple was dispatched to assist. Despite these efforts, the search yielded no results, and the operation was suspended after several days.

Shift to Recovery Mission

As days passed without new leads, the focus of the operation shifted from rescue to recovery. Searchers covered extensive areas, including Nichols Passage and Tongass Narrows, but no evidence of the men's whereabouts emerged. The challenging weather conditions and treacherous waters of Southeast Alaska complicated the search efforts. ...Read More

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