On the night of February 18, 1998, Steven Lance Brown, a 41-year-old deckhand for the Washington State Ferries, vanished into the cold waters of Puget Sound. He was working aboard the ferry Tacoma during its run from Seattle to Bainbridge Island when he disappeared. Just a few minutes into the trip, Brown was reportedly asked to head to the second mate's office. He was last seen walking up a flight of stairs on the vessel and was never seen again.
The ferry system, in operation since 1951, had never before had a deckhand go missing from a ferry, making his disappearance highly unusual.
The circumstances surrounding Steven's disappearance are perplexing and have led to multiple theories, including an accidental fall, suicide, or foul play. Investigators have not been able to rule any possibility out. Ferry officials stated that it would be nearly impossible to accidentally fall from the 460-foot boat due to its four-foot-high railings. Shortly after the ferry departed from the Seattle dock, at least three passengers reported hearing cries for 'Help! Help!'. One passenger also claimed to have seen a small light, similar to a flashlight, in the water about 25 feet from the ferry, though no splash was heard, and no one was seen in the water. The captain was alerted and turned the ferry around to search, and another passenger ferry joined the effort, but their search revealed nothing.
Further complicating the investigation is Steven Brown's past. Court records revealed that in 1986, he was investigated by Bellevue police in connection with an alleged murder-for-hire plot, though he was never charged due to insufficient evidence. He also had two prior theft convictions in King County. While law enforcement considered his criminal record as part of the puzzle, they have not publicly linked it to his disappearance. His family has dismissed the idea of suicide, stating that he had future plans, including a business trip to San Francisco for a new coffee and tea marketing venture he had started with a friend. The investigation into what happened to Steven Lance Brown remains open, leaving his family and investigators with many unanswered questions. His disappearance from the Tacoma ferry remains a mysterious and unresolved case.Last Seen: Feb 18, 1998
