Michael Elkins Missing Person Case

Michael Elkins, a 35-year-old diver, was last seen on January 12, 1998, during a deep-sea diving expedition near Jupiter, Florida. Elkins, along with his diving companions, was participating in a dive to a sunken barge located two miles off the coast. During the dive, Elkins began to struggle with buoyancy control at a depth of approximately 245 feet. Despite efforts by fellow divers to assist him, he did not surface and has not been seen since.

Elkins was diving with a group that included a West Palm Beach police detective, John Claypool, who also disappeared during the dive. The search efforts involved both local authorities and the U.S. Coast Guard, but neither Elkins nor Claypool were found. Elkins was wearing a blue hoodie, green wetsuit, and various diving gear, including a yellow travel tank and green decompression tanks at the time of his disappearance.

The circumstances surrounding the dive and the deep-water conditions have led investigators to presume Elkins lost his life during the expedition, though his body was never recovered. The case remains open, and the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office continues to handle the investigation.
Last Seen: Jan 12, 1998

6233DMFL - Michael Elkins - Doe Network

Tim McCoy - Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History