Gregory Mansfield Missing Person Case

Mar 06, 2019

Jan 12, 2024

Gregory

Mansfield

77

39

71 inches

170 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On June 20, 1988, a scenic river trip in the Alaskan wilderness took a tragic turn, leading to the disappearance of 39-year-old Gregory Lee Mansfield. He was enjoying a rafting excursion on the Gulkana River, having set off from Paxson Lake with two companions. The group was navigating a rubber raft through the picturesque but challenging waters. As they approached an area known as Falls Canyon, the river's current intensified. It was in this turbulent stretch of water that Mansfield reportedly lost his balance and fell overboard into the cold, fast-moving river. The suddenness of the event left little time for reaction, and a beautiful day on the water turned into a desperate situation. The two other individuals on the raft with Mansfield were unharmed, but their attempts to rescue him were tragically unsuccessful. One of his companions tried to pull him back into the safety of the raft, but the powerful current swept him away. He was last seen being carried toward a logjam before he disappeared from sight. A significant factor in the incident was that Mansfield was not wearing a life jacket at the time he fell into the water. He was reportedly wearing a gray and black shirt, olive-drab rain pants, a jacket, and brown leather boots. He also had on a blue baseball cap with "U.S.S. Stark" on it and wore glasses. Distinctive features noted by authorities included tattoos on both of his arms. Following the incident, a search of the area was conducted, but it yielded no results in locating Mansfield. His body has never been recovered. The Alaska State Troopers opened an investigation into his disappearance, but despite their efforts, the case grew cold. The Gulkana River, known for its beauty and its dangers, held the secrets of that day. The overview of the case is that of a recreational outing that ended in tragedy, a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the wilderness when safety precautions are not in place. The lack of a life jacket in the swift, cold waters of the Alaskan river proved to be a critical and devastating factor. The companions' inability to overcome the river's force to rescue him, his last sighting near a logjam, and the subsequent unsuccessful searches have left his case without resolution for decades.

Jun 20, 1988

Gulkana River

Alaska

Valdez–Cordova Census Area

No

48540

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

880037894

1988-06-21

Alaska State Troopers

na

Blond/Strawberry

Blue

Blue

07/22/2026