Kelly Coopchiak Missing Person Case

Oct 19, 2023

Feb 13, 2024

Kelly

Coopchiak

27

25

60 inches

128 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Female

In the vast and unforgiving landscape of Alaska, a young woman's disappearance has left a community heartbroken and searching for answers. Kelly Coopchiak, a 25-year-old female from Togiak, was last seen on October 3, 2023, in Koliganek, Alaska. She had been fishing with her uncle on the Nushagak River, a place of both sustenance and peril. The day took a turn when Kelly departed alone in her uncle's boat, a black Lund skiff, venturing into the wilderness. This solitary journey would be the last time she was seen, sparking a desperate search and a painful, lingering uncertainty for her loved ones and community. The discovery of her uncle's swamped boat near Lewis Point on the Nushagak River on October 7, 2023, escalated the concern. The initial report of the empty, swamped vessel with no identifying registration numbers came from a Koliganek Village Public Safety Officer. It wasn't until two days later that authorities received information suggesting that Kelly Coopchiak was likely the person who had been on the boat. This new information triggered an extensive search operation. The Alaska State Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department deployed aircraft to scour the area from above, while search parties on the ground checked nearby cabins, hoping to find any sign of the missing woman. For two weeks, Alaska State Troopers, alongside Dillingham Search and Rescue, combed the river by boat, searching the land, air, and water for any trace of Kelly. Despite their exhaustive efforts, the search proved unsuccessful in locating her. The only item recovered was a pair of black rain pants she was believed to have been wearing. After two weeks of intensive searching yielded no results, the Alaska State Troopers made the difficult decision to suspend the active search for Kelly Coopchiak. They stated that they would shift to a reactive search strategy, meaning they would only resume active searching if new information or evidence emerged. While authorities have stated that no foul play is suspected in her disappearance, the lack of answers has been difficult for her community. The case of Kelly Coopchiak is a poignant reminder of the dangers that can be present in the Alaskan wilderness and the profound impact a single person's absence can have on a community. The official investigation remains open, a sliver of hope in the vast expanse where she was last seen.

Oct 03, 2023

Koliganek

Alaska

Dillingham Census Area

No

130903

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK23107403

2023-10-07

Alaska State Troopers

1043

Black

Brown

Brown

07/17/2026