Richard Omelak Missing Person Case

Nov 25, 2019

Jan 11, 2024

Richard

Omelak

62

18

68 inches

150 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the autumn of 1981, a young man named Richard Raymond Omelak, an 18-year-old American Indian/Alaska Native male, disappeared from his home in Fairbanks, Alaska. On October 1st of that year, Richard, who was also known as Ricky or Ricki, left his residence on Laurene Street and was never heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The circumstances surrounding his departure from his home are not publicly detailed, leaving a void of information about his state of mind or any potential plans he may have had. The days turned into weeks, and with no word from Richard, concern undoubtedly grew among his family and friends. The official report of his disappearance, however, was not filed with the Fairbanks Police Department until years later, on April 11, 1996. The reasons for this delay are not publicly available, adding another layer of complexity to an already perplexing case. The Alaska State Troopers also have a case file open for Richard, indicating a multi-agency interest in resolving his long-unanswered disappearance. Over the decades, his case has become one of the many cold cases that haunt the interior of Alaska, a region known for its vast and unforgiving wilderness. Decades have passed since Richard Omelak was last seen, and his family has been left without answers. In an effort to generate new leads through modern forensic techniques, DNA samples were collected from Richard's mother and maternal half-brother. These samples have been completely processed and uploaded to national databases, with the hope that they might one day be matched with unidentified remains. The investigation into what happened to Richard Omelak remains open, a quiet but persistent effort to bring closure to a family that has waited for far too long. His disappearance is a stark reminder of the many individuals who have vanished in Alaska, their stories unresolved and their loved ones left in a perpetual state of uncertainty. The case of Richard Omelak is a somber narrative of loss and the enduring hope for answers, a story that began on an autumn day in Fairbanks and has continued for over four decades.

Oct 01, 1981

Fairbanks

Alaska

Fairbanks North Star Borough

No

67490

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK19084723

Fairbanks Police Department

9831

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/07/2026