Russell Schroeter Missing Person Case

Mar 05, 2019

May 29, 2024

Russell

Schroeter

70

22

67 inches

145 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the late summer of 1977, a young man named Russell Schroeter, at the age of 22, was with his father in the scenic but rugged landscape of Valdez, Alaska. On August 2nd, from the Valdez Campground where they were staying in space #88, Russell departed from his father's tent. He left without a word, giving no indication of his destination or the purpose of his departure. This quiet exit would be the last time he was ever seen, marking the beginning of a mystery that has endured for decades in the vast Alaskan wilderness. Russell's father believed that his son may have decided to go climbing in the surrounding area, a plausible assumption given the terrain. However, this theory was quickly shadowed by a disconcerting fact: Russell had no climbing equipment with him. Furthermore, he had not taken any food, a necessity for any extended excursion into the Alaskan backcountry. This lack of preparation suggested that whatever Russell had planned, it was not a well-thought-out expedition. The clothing he was last seen wearing included an army green parka, black or green pants, and blue and white tennis shoes. He also wore black plastic-rimmed glasses and a metal watch with an expandable band. A notable physical characteristic was a mole on his chin. In the wake of his disappearance, extensive searches of the area were conducted by the Alaska State Troopers. The search efforts, however, yielded no clues as to Russell's whereabouts. The vast and unforgiving wilderness that draws so many to Alaska for its beauty and adventure offered no answers. The official investigation, managed by the Alaska State Troopers under case number H771633, remains without resolution. Over the years, Russell's case has become one of many long-unsolved missing person cases in the state. The narrative of his disappearance is a brief and somber one: a young man walks away from a campsite and into the wild, leaving behind a father's worry and a lingering question of what became of him.

Aug 02, 1977

Valdez

Alaska

Valdez–Cordova Census Area

No

48537

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

H771633

1977-08-02

Alaska State Troopers

na

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/19/2026