In the autumn of 1994, a 30-year-old man named Keithley 'Keith' Young embarked on a sea journey that would become his last. On October 26, 1994, he was a crewmember aboard the F/V Fierce Competitor, a 105-foot crabber, which was en route from Warrenton, Oregon, to King Cove, Alaska. Also on board were four other individuals: Larry Jones, Gordon Young, Vicki Rowe-Simonsen, and Robert Simonsen. The group was reported missing from Sitka, Alaska, after the vessel disappeared in the Gulf of Alaska. At the time of his disappearance, Keithley was described as having blond or strawberry hair and blue eyes. He had a scar on his abdomen and another on his lower lip. He was believed to be wearing dark jeans, long johns, and rubber boots or fisherman slippers, along with a gold wedding band.
The F/V Fierce Competitor and its five crew members vanished without a trace, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for decades.
An Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon signal was detected, which led to the discovery of the vessel's life raft approximately 450 miles southeast of Kodiak. The raft was located about 50 miles from where the EPIRB signal originated. Despite this discovery, severe weather conditions at the time made it impossible for rescuers to retrieve the life raft. Tragically, no signs of life were seen on or around the raft, and none of the five individuals on board the Fierce Competitor were ever found.
The disappearance of the F/V Fierce Competitor is a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea. The case of Keithley Young and his fellow crewmates remains an unsolved tragedy. The Alaska State Troopers investigated the disappearance, but the circumstances surrounding the vessel's fate are still unknown. The lack of wreckage or survivors has left the families of the missing with unanswered questions and enduring grief. The story of the Fierce Competitor serves as a chilling testament to the unforgiving nature of the Alaskan waters and the profound loss experienced by the tight-knit fishing communities of the Pacific Northwest.Last Seen: Oct 26, 1994
