In the spring of 1972, a then 31-year-old John Peter Cheplak was in Kodiak, Alaska. On May 27th of that year, he was aboard the F/V Addington, a 65-foot crab fishing vessel. The boat, which was a 40-ton, 54-foot wooden oil screw fishing vessel, foundered in the Shelikof Strait near Cape Uganik, on the west side of Kodiak Island. Cheplak, along with the two other crew members, went missing as the vessel sank. The disappearance was reported to the Alaska State Troopers on May 31, 1972.
Also on board the F/V Addington were the skipper, Melvin Torsen of Kodiak, and Leonard Niemi of Anchorage. In some reports, Melvin Torsen is listed as Melvin William Torsen and was 23 years old at the time of the incident. All three men were lost with the vessel, and none have been seen or heard from since. The circumstances of the sinking in the often-treacherous waters of the Shelikof Strait remain unclear. The case of John Cheplak is still considered an active missing person's case by the Alaska State Troopers.
The disappearance of John Cheplak, Melvin Torsen, and Leonard Niemi is a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the Alaskan seas. With no remains or wreckage of the F/V Addington ever reported as found, the families of the three men were left without answers. The incident is one of many maritime tragedies that have occurred in the region over the years. This case overview is a look into the long-unresolved disappearance of these three fishermen, a story that highlights the unforgiving nature of the sea and the enduring pain of loss for those left behind.
Last Seen: May 27, 1972
