Thomas Grissom Missing Person Case

Dec 22, 2016

Mar 13, 2024

Thomas

Grissom

62

42

72 inches

185 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On a summer day in July of 2006, 42-year-old Thomas "Tom" Lester Grissom was with three other people in a skiff near the remote and uninhabited St. Matthew Island, Alaska. The small boat overturned in the frigid waters of the Bering Sea. While his three companions managed to survive the harrowing ordeal by swimming to the shore, Grissom was not as fortunate. He was last seen in the water and subsequently vanished without a trace. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing orange bib rain pants, a gray or black hooded sweatshirt, Xtra Tuffs boots, and blue gloves. The circumstances surrounding the capsizing of the skiff remain somewhat vague in public records. Following the incident, a report was filed with the Alaska State Troopers, officially marking the beginning of the search for Thomas Grissom. He was described as a Caucasian male, standing 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 185 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. Distinctive features included numerous tattoos on his arms, back, and chest, including birds on his upper arms, letters and other designs on his forearms, reptiles on his back, and insects on his chest. Despite the efforts of authorities, Thomas Grissom has never been found. The case eventually became cold, and in late 2016, his information was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) in the hopes of generating new leads. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and tragic maritime accident in a desolate location. The isolation of St. Matthew Island, coupled with the unforgiving nature of the Bering Sea, created a scenario where survival after the skiff overturned was incredibly challenging. The fact that three individuals made it to shore is remarkable, yet it also deepens the sorrow for the one who did not. Thomas Grissom's disappearance is a somber reminder of the inherent dangers of the sea and has left his loved ones without answers for many years.

Jul 23, 2006

St. Matthew Island

Alaska

Bethel Census Area

No

19207

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

060065575

2006-07-24

Alaska State Troopers

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/22/2026