James Tikiun Missing Person Case

Mar 11, 2021

Jun 27, 2023

James

Tikiun

25

22

65 inches

125 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the small, remote community of Chevak, Alaska, a sense of unease settled over the residents in the wake of a devastating fire. James Bennet Tikiun, a 22-year-old male, was last seen on March 7, 2021, in the company of 35-year-old Dennis Slats. The two men were reportedly at the old, abandoned school building, a place that held memories for many in the village. The very next day, in the early hours of March 8, a fire broke out, engulfing the derelict structure. The flames, fanned by strong winds, quickly consumed the building, leaving behind a smoldering ruin and a community in shock. In the aftermath of the blaze, the unsettling realization dawned that James and Dennis were nowhere to be found. Concern mounted as searches of the village and surrounding areas by the Village Police Officers and local residents yielded no trace of the two men. Alaska State Troopers and Deputy Fire Marshals were called in to investigate both the fire and the disappearances. Their initial investigation into the cause of the fire, which was determined to have started under the school's gym, was inconclusive. The search of the debris for any sign of the missing men was hampered by the vastness of the collapsed structure and the presence of hazardous materials, including asbestos, lead, and mercury, which had been identified in the building in the years prior. A heavy snowfall the day after the fire further complicated search efforts. It was unknown if James and Dennis perished in the fire, and with no signs of them having left the village, their disappearance became a profound mystery. The disappearance of James Tikiun and Dennis Slats has left a lasting impact on the community of Chevak. The old school, which had been closed since 2003, held hopes of being repurposed into a community center, a dream that was tragically destroyed in the fire. The fire also caused significant damage to the village's infrastructure, severing power and sewer lines and leaving many homes without essential services for an extended period. In the months following the incident, state funding was allocated for the cleanup of the hazardous debris and to aid in the search for the remains of the two men. The case remains an open wound for the community, a story of two men who vanished on a cold March night, leaving their families and friends with unanswered questions and the heavy burden of uncertainty. The investigation into the fire and their disappearance continues.

Mar 07, 2021

Chevak

Alaska

Kusilvak Census Area

No

101426

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK21023850

2021-03-08

Alaska State Troopers

6026

Black

Brown

Brown

07/07/2026