Ronald Hoffman Missing Person Case

Feb 26, 2019

Jun 27, 2024

Ronald

Hoffman

83

37

72 inches

178 lbs

Uncertain

Male

In the unforgiving maritime landscape of Alaska, 37-year-old Ronald V. Hoffman, a male from Seldovia, vanished on November 22, 1979, from the area of Dutch Harbor. He was the captain and owner of the F/V Hellion, a 60-foot crab fishing vessel. On that day, Hoffman and his two crewmembers, Walter Laughead, also of Seldovia, and 19-year-old Aaron Goin of Oregon, departed Dutch Harbor. Their mission was to retrieve crab pots from the sea and transport them to Beaver Inlet for winter storage. This routine task, however, was set against a backdrop of nature's formidable power, a power that would soon tragically alter the course of their lives. The day after the Hellion and its crew set out, a fierce storm descended upon the region. The vessel and its three occupants were caught in the tempest, which brought with it winds gusting up to 70 knots and tumultuous seas with waves reaching 20 feet in height. Communication with the F/V Hellion was lost amidst the storm, and the vessel, along with Ronald Hoffman, Walter Laughead, and Aaron Goin, disappeared without a trace. The last known contact with the vessel was on November 22, and a report was filed with the Alaska State Troopers the following day. An extensive search was undoubtedly launched in the harsh conditions of the Bering Sea, but no sign of the F/V Hellion or its crew was ever found. The unforgiving waters offered no clues, and the vessel was presumed to have been lost to the violent storm. The case of Ronald Hoffman, Walter Laughead, and Aaron Goin is a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea, particularly in the treacherous Alaskan waters. The disappearance of the Hellion stands as a testament to the sudden and overwhelming force of nature, leaving behind unanswered questions and an enduring sense of loss for the families and community that knew the three men. The official circumstances of their disappearance are noted as missing from the F/V Hellion, a vessel that was swallowed by the sea, leaving behind a legacy of a maritime tragedy.

Nov 22, 1979

Dutch Harbor

Alaska

Aleutians West Census Area

No

48416

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK18025981

1979-11-23

Alaska State Troopers

na

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/24/2026