Dave McKenna Missing Person Case

Dec 26, 2018

Jan 12, 2024

Dave

McKenna

81

48

72 inches

235 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and rugged landscape of Willow, Alaska, the story of Dave McKenna's disappearance began on a summer day, July 28, 1993. At 48 years old, the man, also known by friends and family by a variety of nicknames including "Big Dave," "Uncle Dave," and "Mr. Smilely," vanished, leaving behind a puzzling scene that would mark the start of a long and unanswered mystery. The last trace of McKenna was the discovery of his 4-wheeler and trailer, found abandoned at 4 Mile Road in Willow, a detail that offered no immediate clarity as to his fate. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance were vague from the outset, leaving his loved ones and investigators to grapple with a profound sense of uncertainty. The investigation into Dave McKenna's whereabouts was opened by the Alaska State Troopers on August 2, 1993. Despite their efforts, the case quickly grew cold, with few leads to pursue. The central question of whether McKenna fell victim to an accident, became lost in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, or met with foul play has remained unanswered for decades. The official report notes that he was last seen wearing blue jeans and a gray and white plaid shirt, though it's also mentioned he may have had no shirt on. Physical characteristics, such as a limp and a scar on his left forearm, were also documented in the hope they might aid in his identification. As the years turned into decades, the case remained open, a silent testament to a life interrupted and a family left without answers. The passage of time has not erased the memory of Dave McKenna. His case is documented in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under case number MP54268, a digital footprint of his enduring absence. The Alaska State Troopers continue to be the primary agency investigating his disappearance, holding onto the hope that new information might one day surface. The core of the mystery remains the abandoned 4-wheeler and trailer at 4 Mile Road. The lack of any further evidence or witnesses has left the narrative of Dave McKenna's last moments shrouded in ambiguity, a poignant and unresolved chapter in the annals of Alaska's missing persons cases.

Jul 28, 1993

Willow

Alaska

Matanuska-Susitna Borough

No

43454

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

930050109

1993-08-02

Alaska State Troopers

10554

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/27/2026