On May 18, 2025, 51-year-old Alton Wallace of Milbridge, Maine, embarked on a clam harvesting trip, a familiar routine in the coastal community. He was dropped off at the town dock, expecting to return later that day. When he failed to come home, concern grew among his friends and family, who then initiated a search for him. Their search led to the discovery of his boat near Pinkham Island; the vessel was in gear but the engine was not running. There was no sign of Alton Wallace.
As evening approached with no word, a family member officially reported him missing, setting in motion a large-scale search and rescue operation in the waters of Washington County.
The official search for Alton Wallace began around 3:15 p.m. that Sunday, involving a coordinated effort from multiple agencies. The Maine Marine Patrol, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, Maine Warden Service, Maine Forest Service, and an underwater recovery team, commenced operations in Narraguagus Bay. The search area was initially focused near Fickett Point at the mouth of the Narraguagus River, a location determined by the last ping from Wallace's cell phone, which occurred at approximately 7:30 that morning. The first day of searching was hampered by poor visibility and was called off as night fell. In the days and weeks that followed, the search intensified. The Down East community rallied together, with hundreds of local fishermen and community members joining the official agencies, scouring the bay and surrounding islands by boat, plane, and with drones. Despite these extensive efforts, which included the use of sonar to scan the murky waters, there was no sign of the missing clammer for over a month.
Tragically, the month-long search came to a somber conclusion. On the morning of June 21, 2025, a fisherman discovered Alton Wallace's body near the high-water line on the western shore of Foster Island, about a mile east of Fickett Point. Maine Marine Patrol officers responded to the scene and were able to confirm his identity from the driver's license found in his pocket. His body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. The recovery of Mr. Wallace brought a heartbreaking end to the uncertainty for his family and the close-knit Milbridge community. His disappearance prompted a massive and sustained search effort, showcasing the profound camaraderie of the Down East region as residents dedicated their time and resources in the hope of bringing him home. The case, which began as a standard trip for a local clammer, concluded with the unfortunate discovery that he was deceased, leaving a community to mourn the loss of one of their own.Last Seen: May 18, 2025
