Alvin Goodlataw Missing Person Case

Nov 06, 2019

May 15, 2024

Alvin

Goodlataw

87

38

67 inches

128 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the winter of 1977, 38-year-old Alvin Goodlataw, an American Indian/Alaska Native male, traveled to a remote hunting camp near the Chitina River in Glennallen, Alaska. On February 6th, he was flown to a cabin in the upper river area to look after some horses. He was left with all necessary provisions, including horse feed, his personal belongings, and food. This would be the last time anyone is known to have seen him. The vast and unforgiving Alaskan wilderness became the silent witness to the events that would follow, events that have left his family and community searching for answers for decades. The solitude of the remote cabin, surrounded by the stark beauty of the Alaskan landscape, held the initial quiet moments of a mystery that would endure. Sometime after Alvin was dropped off, the owner of the horses flew back to the cabin to check on him and the animals. Upon arrival, a concerning scene unfolded – Alvin was nowhere to be found. An immediate search of the area was likely conducted by the owner, but it yielded no clues as to Alvin's whereabouts. This discovery prompted a more formal report of his disappearance. On March 9, 1977, Alvin Goodlataw was officially reported as a missing person, and the Alaska State Troopers initiated a search of the camp and the surrounding rugged terrain. Despite their efforts, which included both ground and air searches, no trace of Alvin was ever discovered. The wilderness that was his temporary home had seemingly swallowed him whole, leaving behind a profound and painful silence. The disappearance of Alvin Goodlataw remains an open and unresolved case. Over the years, the lack of evidence has prevented any definitive conclusions from being reached. In October of 1979, a jury declared Alvin Goodlataw legally presumed dead due to undetermined causes. Court documents from a later wrongful death suit filed by his mother, Martha Goodlataw, shed some light on his personal circumstances, noting a history of alcohol abuse. However, these personal struggles do not explain his ultimate fate. Without any witnesses, physical evidence, or remains ever being found, the case grew cold. The overview of this case is one of a man who ventured into the isolated Alaskan wilderness for a simple caretaking job, only to vanish without a trace. The official searches have long since concluded, but the questions surrounding what happened to Alvin Goodlataw in the remote area near the Chitina River persist, a somber testament to the mysteries held by the vast landscapes of Alaska.

Feb 06, 1977

Glennallen

Alaska

Valdez–Cordova Census Area

No

66206

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

H77279

1977-03-09

Alaska State Troopers

9845

Black

Brown

Brown

07/20/2026