On June 4, 1996, a devastating and mysterious event unfolded in the waters of Salisbury Sound, approximately 30 miles northwest of Ketchikan, Alaska, involving 17-year-old Christine Meyer and her mother, Dianna. The two were aboard their family's 50-foot yacht, the Marjo, with Christine's father, Robert "Bob" Meyer. The family was traveling to Sitka when, according to Robert's account, he was awakened by the smell of smoke around 12:30 a.m.
He claimed that after alerting his wife and daughter, he went to retrieve the family's two dogs. When he returned, he said Dianna and Christine were gone. The Marjo was soon engulfed in flames and sank in over 500 feet of water, making a thorough investigation of the vessel incredibly challenging.
Robert Meyer's narrative of the events that transpired on the Marjo quickly drew suspicion from investigators. He claimed to have searched for his wife and daughter in the skiff they were towing before heading to Sitka alone. However, there were several inconsistencies in his story, including two unaccounted for hours in his timeline. Further raising red flags, it was discovered that Robert had passed another boat on his way to Sitka harbor but had not stopped to ask for help. The investigation also uncovered that Dianna was aware of Robert's extramarital affair with his business manager, Ann L. Lowe, and was planning to file for divorce. This provided a potential motive, as investigators believed Robert may have wanted to avoid losing his assets in a divorce. Adding to the suspicious circumstances, it was revealed that Robert had taken out life insurance policies totaling one million dollars on Dianna and Christine, as well as a $250,000 policy on the yacht.
Physical evidence further contradicted Robert's account of a tragic accident. A smear of blood, later identified as Dianna's, was found on the family's skiff, along with a. 38 caliber shell casing. When parts of the Marjo were eventually recovered from the deep waters, including the engines and a daybed from above the engine room, they showed surprisingly little fire damage. This suggested the fire had started from the top of the vessel and burned down, which was inconsistent with Robert's story. In 1998, Robert Meyer was charged with the first-degree murders of his wife and daughter, as well as arson. However, before he could stand trial, he died by an apparent suicide. Despite the charges against her husband, the bodies of Christine and Dianna Meyer have never been recovered, and they are presumed to be deceased. The case remains a somber mystery, a story of a family torn apart by secrets and suspected violence on the waters of Alaska.Last Seen: Jun 4, 1996
