In the remote and unforgiving waters of Alaska, the story of Walter Wynne Laughead's disappearance is a somber tale intertwined with the perils of the sea. On November 22, 1979, 23-year-old Walter Laughead, along with two other crewmen, vanished from the fishing vessel Hellion in the vicinity of Dutch Harbor. The crew was tasked with retrieving crab pots and transporting them to Beaver Inlet for winter storage. At the time of their departure, the unforgiving Bering Sea was on the cusp of unleashing a furious storm, a factor that would ultimately seal the fate of the Hellion and its crew.
The F/V Hellion, a 60-foot crab fishing vessel, was captained by its owner, Ronald Hoffman of Seldovia. The crew was comprised of Walter Laughead, also from Seldovia, and 19-year-old Aaron Goin of Oregon. On November 23, the day after the Hellion left Dutch Harbor, a severe storm descended upon the region, bringing with it winds that howled at speeds of up to 70 knots and churning the sea into a frenzy of 20-foot waves. It was amidst this tempest that all communication with the Hellion was lost. The vessel, along with its three-man crew, had disappeared without a trace, swallowed by the tumultuous Alaskan waters. An extensive search was undoubtedly launched in the days that followed, but the vast and treacherous expanse of the Bering Sea offered no clues as to the vessel's or the crew's whereabouts.
The disappearance of Walter Laughead, Ronald Hoffman, and Aaron Goin is a heart-wrenching reminder of the immense power and danger of the Alaskan maritime environment. In the years since the Hellion was lost, no wreckage of the vessel has ever been recovered, and the remains of the three men have never been found. The Alaska State Troopers opened a case on the matter, but with no new evidence or leads, the investigation has grown cold. The official narrative concludes that the Hellion and its crew were tragically lost to the violent storm that swept through the area. This event serves as a stark illustration of the risks faced by those who make their living on the unpredictable waters of Alaska, where the beauty of the landscape is matched only by its potential for peril. The case of Walter Laughead and his fellow crewmen remains a painful open wound for their families and a somber chapter in Alaska's long and often tragic maritime history.
Last Seen: Nov 22, 1979
