In the autumn of 1961, a young, 22-year-old Vern Stephen Pratt, also known as 'Duke,' was in Anchorage, Alaska. On the evening of November 6th, his life took an unforeseen turn following his involvement in a hit-and-run accident. That night, between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m., a witness saw Vern's 1955 black and blue Plymouth sedan in a ditch near the Portage Bar. Vern, who appeared to be intoxicated, was seen lying down in the front seat, seemingly asleep.
He was a member of the Akimel O'odham tribe and was enrolled with the Gila River Indian Community. At the time, he was described as being between 5'10' and 5'11' tall, weighing around 155 pounds, with black hair and a notable physical characteristic of extreme myopia, rendering him unable to see without his glasses.
The following morning, on November 7th, at approximately 9:00 a.m., the same witness noticed that Vern's vehicle was still in the ditch. However, Vern was no longer inside. A search of the car revealed that his eyeglasses had been left behind, a critical detail given his severe near-sightedness. At the time of his disappearance, Vern was believed to be wearing charcoal-colored slacks, a white shirt, a light gray wool jacket with a knit collar and cuffs, a tie, and low-cut black shoes. He also had a one-inch scar on his right wrist, a one-inch scar on his left arm, and a brown mark on the left side of his torso.
The days turned into weeks, and the weeks into decades, with no sign of Vern Stephen Pratt. His case grew cold, becoming one of Alaska's many long-standing mysteries of missing persons. The Alaska State Troopers opened an investigation, but the trail seemingly ended at that ditch near the Portage Bar. Despite the passage of over sixty years, his case remains open, a silent testament to a life interrupted. The circumstances of his disappearance, beginning with a minor car accident and ending with an empty vehicle, have left his family and investigators with more questions than answers, creating a narrative of loss and enduring uncertainty.Last Seen: Nov 6, 1961
