On September 12, 2018, 58-year-old Eric Bealer and his wife, Pamela, both 58, traveled to their remote summer cabin known as 'Green Top' on Yakobi Island, near Pelican, Alaska. The couple, who lived a largely self-sufficient lifestyle on their homestead called Sea Pony Farm, were expected to return by the end of the month. When friends hadn't heard from them by early October, two of them journeyed by boat to the cabin to check on their well-being.
Upon arrival on October 5, 2018, they found no sign of Eric or Pamela, but discovered a plastic bin containing pre-stamped packages and a note taped to the locked cabin door.
The note left on the door stated that Eric and Pamela Bealer had, by their own choice, ended their lives. The message explained they had made efforts to hide their bodies and requested that no time or money be spent searching for them, as they were 'gone' and wished to be left to their peace. The note also mentioned that they had taken their dog with them and had set their chickens free. Inside the bin were meticulously prepared packages and letters addressed to friends and family, along with notarized wills. These documents bequeathed their artwork to a gallery owner in Sitka and their entire estate, including their land and boats, to the Sitka Conservation Society's Living Wilderness Fund.
The couple's decision was not a complete shock to some close friends, who were aware that Pamela suffered from multiple sclerosis and that the couple had discussed ending their lives when her condition became unmanageable. Eric, a renowned woodblock artist, had been clear with friends that he did not want to live without his wife. In the months leading up to their disappearance, Eric had made a final trip to Sitka to deliver his life's work to the gallery. Following the discovery of the note, Alaska State Troopers conducted a search of the properties and the surrounding harbor by air but found no sign of the Bealers. The official search was suspended, and in June 2019, an Alaskan magistrate granted a presumptive death declaration for both Eric and Pamela Bealer. Their bodies have never been found.Last Seen: Sep 12, 2018
