On the morning of December 11, 2001, 40-year-old Robert Thompson, the captain of the fishing vessel 'Nesika', set out from Newport, Oregon, for the first day of the Dungeness crab season. It was a cold day on the Pacific Ocean, typical for that time of year. On board with Captain Thompson were three other fishermen: Steven Langlot, 34, Benjamin Eder, 21, and Jared Hamrick, 20.
The four men were just a mile west of Yaquina Head when their journey took a tragic and unforeseen turn, forever altering the lives of their families waiting ashore.
At approximately 10:20 a.m., the 40-foot crabbing vessel 'Nesika' was struck and capsized in the rough waters of the Pacific. The suddenness of the event left little time for reaction. A search and rescue operation was launched, but the vast and unforgiving ocean held the four men in its grasp. In the aftermath of the capsizing, the body of one crew member, Steven Langlot, was recovered and identified. For the families of the other three men, a painful and enduring period of uncertainty began. The vessel itself, the 'Nesika', was later found, having run aground on Beverly Beach, north of Newport, a silent testament to the tragedy that had unfolded.
The search for Robert 'Bob' Thompson, Benjamin Eder, and Jared Hamrick continued, but the men were never found and are presumed to be lost at sea. The disappearance of the 'Nesika's' crew left a profound void in the tight-knit fishing community of Newport. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the water. The case remains a sorrowful chapter in the region's maritime history, an event defined by the sudden loss of four lives and the lingering questions that arise when loved ones vanish into the sea.Last Seen: Dec 11, 2001
