Aaron Goin Missing Person Case

Apr 17, 2018

Jun 26, 2024

Aaron

Goin

65

19

67 inches

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the autumn of 1979, a young man named Aaron Eugene Goin, just 19 years old, found himself in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, a place known for its rugged beauty and the perilous nature of the Bering Sea. On November 22nd, he was part of a three-man crew aboard the 60-foot crab fishing vessel, the F/V Hellion. The vessel, captained by its owner Ronald Hoffman, and also carrying crewmember Walter Laughead, departed from Dutch Harbor with a specific mission. Their task was to retrieve crab pots from the sea and transport them to the relative safety of Beaver Inlet for winter storage. It was a routine part of the demanding life of an Alaskan fisherman, one that countless others had undertaken before them. The day after the Hellion left port, the notoriously unpredictable Bering Sea unleashed its fury. A severe storm descended upon the waters, bringing with it ferocious winds gusting up to 70 knots and churning the sea into a chaotic landscape of 20-foot waves. In the face of such a powerful tempest, the small fishing vessel and its crew were incredibly vulnerable. Communication was lost, and as the storm raged on, a deep sense of unease settled in for those on shore who knew the Hellion was at sea. The vessel was last known to be in the vicinity of Unimak Pass, a treacherous stretch of water that has claimed many ships over the years. Following the storm, the F/V Hellion, along with Aaron Goin, Ronald Hoffman, and Walter Laughead, had vanished without a trace. An extensive search would have undoubtedly been launched, but the vast and unforgiving expanse of the Bering Sea often offers few clues in the aftermath of such events. No wreckage, debris, or any sign of the vessel or its crew was ever located. The disappearance of the Hellion and the three men aboard became another tragic story swallowed by the sea, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who make their living on the turbulent Alaskan waters. The case remains a painful open wound for the families left behind, forever wondering about the final moments of their loved ones. The official circumstances of their disappearance are noted as "Missing from F/V Hellion," a simple phrase that belies the terror and uncertainty of their last hours.

Nov 22, 1979

Dutch Harbor

Alaska

Aleutians West Census Area

No

32653

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK18025981

1979-11-23

Alaska State Troopers

10680

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/25/2026