On May 3, 2005, 64-year-old Richard Blaine Ward, also known as Dick, was traveling as a passenger aboard the M/V Tustemena, a vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway System. He was last seen in Kodiak, Alaska, before the ferry departed. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a white male, 5'8' tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds, with graying hair and brown eyes. He was reportedly wearing a blue denim shirt, blue jeans, and a dark brown baseball hat, and was carrying a small blue backpack. The journey of the M/V Tustemena was set to take it through the scenic but often treacherous waters of the Alaskan coast, a route familiar to many locals and tourists alike. For reasons that remain unknown, Richard Ward vanished during this voyage, leaving behind personal belongings and a lingering mystery.
The circumstances surrounding Richard's disappearance are unsettlingly vague. He was noticed to be missing from the ferry at some point during its passage. A search of the vessel was conducted, but he was nowhere to be found. It is not clear when exactly he went missing, or if anyone witnessed any unusual events. The Alaska State Troopers were notified and opened a missing person case, but without a clear timeline or any witnesses, the investigation faced immediate and significant challenges. The vast and unforgiving nature of the Alaskan waters meant that if he had gone overboard, the chances of finding him were slim. The case has been entered into national missing persons databases, and DNA from his toothbrush has been submitted to aid in potential identification, should any remains be found.
Over the years, the case of Richard Ward has grown cold, with no new leads or evidence emerging to shed light on what might have happened. The lack of information has been a source of ongoing pain and uncertainty for his loved ones. The Alaska State Troopers have kept his case file open, and he is still listed as a missing person. The official investigation remains open, a quiet testament to a life interrupted and a story without an ending. The overview of the case is one of a man who embarked on a routine ferry trip, only to disappear without a trace, leaving behind a void of information and a family grappling with an unresolved loss.
Last Seen: May 3, 2005
