David Klein Missing Person Case

Apr 10, 2025

Apr 11, 2025

David

Klein

57

56

70 inches

200 lbs

Uncertain

Male

On February 20, 2025, a distress signal pierced the winter quiet of the Alaskan waters, marking the last known sign of 56-year-old David Greg Klein and his fishing vessel. A commercial fisherman from Ketchikan, Klein was believed to be the sole occupant of his 43-foot geoduck clam dive boat, the Canis Majoris, when the United States Coast Guard received an Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) alarm. The signal originated from an area north of Thorne Bay on Prince of Wales Island, setting in motion a large-scale search and rescue operation in the challenging Alaskan seas. The response to the EPIRB activation was swift and extensive. The Coast Guard deployed multiple assets, including the cutter John McCormick, a 45-foot fast response boat from Ketchikan, and a Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Sitka. The Alaska Marine Highway System's ferry, the Hubbard, which was in the vicinity, also joined the effort, dispatching a speedboat and its crew to the location of the distress signal. Despite the comprehensive search that scoured the area, neither Klein nor the Canis Majoris were found. The search teams did, however, discover a life raft and some floating debris, grim reminders of the vessel's sudden disappearance. After approximately 25 hours of intensive searching, the U.S. Coast Guard made the difficult decision to suspend the active search. Officials stated that the decision was based on a variety of factors, including the harsh environmental conditions and an assessment of survivability. The focus then shifted from a rescue mission to a recovery operation, leaving the fate of David Klein a painful mystery. The Alaska State Troopers issued a missing person alert for Klein, and authorities confirmed through contact with his next of kin and potential crew members that he was likely alone on the vessel. The disappearance of David Klein and the Canis Majoris serves as a somber illustration of the perils faced by those who make their living on the unpredictable Alaskan waters, leaving a community to grapple with the unanswered questions surrounding the loss of one of their own.

Feb 20, 2025

Ketchikan

Alaska

Ketchikan Gateway Borough

Ketchikan

No

166959

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK25016172

2025-02-20

Alaska State Troopers

9500

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/20/2026