Richard Boyce Missing Person Case

Aug 24, 2012

Mar 13, 2024

Richard

Boyce

77

63

70 inches

190 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the early morning hours of a July day in 2012, 63-year-old Richard "Dick" Boyce, a longtime resident and commercial fisherman from Haines, Alaska, was working on his gillnet boat, the Eleanor S., near Mab Island. This location is situated approximately 45 miles south of his hometown. The weather conditions were calm for that time of year, with light winds and a moderate tidal current. Mr. Boyce was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) at the time, which he was known to do during inclement weather. He was dressed in green rain gear and brown XtraTuf boots. The incident occurred when the boat's net became entangled in the propeller, prompting him to rush to the back of the vessel. Tragically, as he moved across the deck, he tripped and fell overboard into the cold water. His daughter and deckhand, Karen Boyce, was the only other person on board and immediately went to the steering station to disengage the engine. When she returned, there was no sign of her father in the water. It is believed that the weight of his heavy rain gear and boots may have pulled him under. Karen saw her father's arms fly into the air as he fell and heard him call her name from the water. She attempted to reach him as he bobbed up, but was unable to. He then instructed her to cut the engine power, which she did, but by the time she came back out of the cabin, he had floated to the bow of the boat. A report of a man overboard was received by the Coast Guard at 5:10 a.m. An immediate search was launched, involving a 25-foot Coast Guard response boat, a Jayhawk helicopter, and several other fishing boats that were in the area. Despite their efforts, Richard Boyce was not located and was presumed to have drowned. A later investigation by the U.S. Coast Guard identified several factors that may have contributed to the accident, including the lack of safety lines and non-skid material on the boat's deck, as well as slick hatch covers. The investigation also noted that his family indicated he was not a strong swimmer. The tragic event deeply affected the local community, leading to the creation of the Richard Boyce Inflatable Suspender Memorial Fund to purchase inflatable suspenders for every fisherman in the fleet, aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future. This case serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers of commercial fishing and the critical importance of safety measures at sea.

Jul 04, 2012

Juneau

Alaska

Juneau Borough

Juneau

No

22177

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK12217236

2012-07-04

Alaska State Troopers

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/08/2026