Clifford Stigall Missing Person Case

Apr 11, 2018

Jul 30, 2024

Clifford

Stigall

76

32

68 inches

185 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the unforgiving waters of Alaska, a 32-year-old man named Clifford Dalton Stigall vanished on November 30, 1981, into the frigid depths of the sea off the coast of Kodiak. He was serving as the deck boss aboard the F/V St. Patrick, a 138-foot steel scallop trawler, when a catastrophic series of events led to one of Alaska's most devastating maritime disasters. The vessel, with a crew of twelve, encountered a severe storm with winds gusting over 65 knots. Shortly after midnight, a massive 25-foot wave struck the ship, smashing wheelhouse windows and causing the vessel to take on water. This led to a loss of power, leaving the St. Patrick rolling violently in the tumultuous seas. In a state of panic and confusion, and fearing the vessel was about to capsize and sink, the acting captain, who was not licensed to be a ship's master, gave the order to abandon ship five miles east of Marmot Island. The crew's attempt to abandon the St. Patrick was fraught with peril and tragedy. There were only nine survival suits for the twelve people on board, forcing three men to enter the 40-degree water with only life jackets. The single life raft they had became unreachable as the fierce winds pushed it away faster than they could swim. Clifford Stigall, clad in an orange Bayley survival suit, was among those who plunged into the icy water. For hours, the crew members struggled to stay together, battling the relentless waves and encroaching hypothermia. One by one, many succumbed to the harsh conditions. The search and rescue efforts that followed were extensive, yet grim. A Coast Guard helicopter eventually rescued two survivors, Robert Kidd and Wally Thomas, from the frozen beaches of Marmot Island more than a day after the incident. Both were suffering from severe frostbite and hypothermia. In the aftermath of the tragedy, the abandoned F/V St. Patrick was found damaged but still afloat and was towed to Womens Bay, where it later sank. The bodies of eight crew members were eventually recovered, some from the sea and others from the shores of Marmot Island. However, Clifford Stigall and another crewman, Gary Stallings, were never found. The investigation into the sinking revealed that the vessel was significantly lacking in proper lifesaving equipment and that the crew was largely inexperienced. This heartbreaking incident serves as a stark reminder of the inherent dangers of the sea and the profound loss experienced by the families of those who never returned. The cases of Clifford Stigall and Gary Stallings remain open, their fates officially unknown, leaving their loved ones with unanswered questions and an enduring sense of grief for the men lost to the Alaskan waters.

Nov 30, 1981

Kodiak

Alaska

Kodiak Island Borough

No

32651

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

C81-11690

1981-12-01

Alaska State Troopers

10661

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/17/2026