On a calm and sunny January day in 1986, 17-year-old Anthony Beirnes, known to his loved ones as Tony, embarked on what was supposed to be a short boating trip with two of his friends, Mitchell Zimny and Keith Humenik, from Anacortes, Washington. The three teenage boys, all juniors in high school, set out on January 25, 1986, in a borrowed 10-foot homemade white aluminum skiff. Their intended destination was Young Island, a mere one-and-a-half-mile journey across the water. They were last seen near Fidalgo Island, equipped with a 7.5-horsepower engine and six gallons of gasoline, prepared for a brief adventure on the ocean. Anthony was wearing a gray ski coat with a blue stripe and a light blue sweatsuit on the day he disappeared.
The hours turned into a day, and the boys did not return to shore as expected. Concern grew, and a search was initiated for the three missing teenagers. The United States Coast Guard searched for several days, but the vast expanse of the water offered few clues. The only piece of evidence ever recovered was a single oar from the skiff, found on the south side of Burrows Island. Despite extensive search efforts, the boat and the three boys were never located. Investigators found no indication that the teenagers had planned a long trip, as they had not taken any camping gear or other supplies with them.
The disappearance of Anthony and his friends is a story of a youthful outing that ended in heartbreaking loss. With no further evidence or signs of the boys, law enforcement has presumed that they drowned in a tragic accident at sea. For the families of the boys, the sea had brought sorrow before; both Anthony's and Mitchell's families had previously lost relatives in fishing accidents off the coast of Alaska. The case remains open, a painful reminder of three young lives cut short. The Skagit County Sheriff's Office continues to hold the case file, number 86-0450, should any new information ever come to light. The prevailing belief is that the teenagers were victims of an unfortunate boating accident, and their remains have never been recovered.
Last Seen: Jan 25, 1986
