In the small, close-knit community of Kake, Alaska, the disappearance of 55-year-old Reginald Skeek, Jr., on September 19, 2018, left a void filled with questions and sorrow. Known affectionately as 'Reggie,' he was a familiar and beloved figure in the village, often seen walking around town and visiting with family and friends. On the day he was last seen, just one day after his fifty-fifth birthday, he was wearing blue jeans, a dark red plaid checkered shirt, a dark blue vest, gray
tennis shoes, and a tan Seattle Seahawks logo baseball cap. The last confirmed sighting of Reginald was at the Kake liquor store in the early afternoon. His family became concerned when he did not return, and a search was initiated by community members and local Village Public Safety Officers.
The initial search efforts by the community were soon supplemented by a more extensive investigation. Alaska State Troopers were notified of Reginald's disappearance later that evening. A review of surveillance footage from the liquor store provided a heartbreaking clue; the video captured an unidentified person falling from the city dock into the water behind the building at approximately 12:43 p.m. on the day Reginald was last seen. It is presumed that this individual was Reginald Skeek, Jr. The Alaska State Troopers, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, which dispatched a helicopter from Air Station Sitka, conducted a thorough search of the area. The weather conditions were favorable for the search, with light winds and calm seas, yet no sign of Reginald was found. Despite the extensive efforts, the official search by the Coast Guard was suspended on the evening of September 20, 2018.
Though the official search was called off, the community of Kake, in partnership with the State of Alaska Department of Public Safety, continued their tireless efforts to find Reginald. The Organized Village of Kake issued a statement clarifying that their local search was still very active, with community members diligently searching the bay. A GoFundMe account was established to aid in the search efforts, demonstrating the community's unwavering support for Reginald and his family. Reginald was the primary caregiver for his mother, Lena Skeek, a respected elder in the community, and was deeply loved by his entire family. The circumstances of his disappearance, believed to be a tragic accident, have left his loved ones and the community of Kake with a profound sense of loss as he is presumed to have drowned. His body has never been recovered.Last Seen: Sep 19, 2018
