Thomas Saccheus Missing Person Case

Mar 12, 2020

Feb 12, 2024

Thomas

Saccheus

76

70

63 inches

140 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of Alaska, the story of 70-year-old Thomas Henry Saccheus unfolded with concern and sorrow. On September 23, 2019, he was last seen in the small coastal village of Golovin. Mr. Saccheus, an elder from the nearby community of Elim, had been with a whaling party when inclement weather forced them to stop in Golovin. From this point, his intended path became a matter of grave concern, as he seemingly vanished into the remote Alaskan wilderness, leaving his community to wonder what had become of him. He was a dependent adult with medical conditions that required monitoring by a caretaker. It is believed that Mr. Saccheus, possibly disoriented and determined to return home, attempted to walk from Golovin to his residence in Elim. The journey between the two villages is a formidable 38-mile trek over difficult terrain, which includes crossing two creeks. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a green camouflage hooded coat, blue jeans, a light gray t-shirt, and black tennis shoes, along with a black hat and gloves. Testimony from his son later revealed that his father had been showing signs of early-onset dementia, which might have contributed to his decision to undertake such a perilous journey on foot. The combination of his health conditions, the challenging landscape, and the unpredictable Alaskan weather created a deeply worrying situation for his loved ones and authorities. Immediately following the report of his disappearance, extensive search efforts were launched. For two months, teams scoured the area between Golovin and Elim, hoping to find any trace of the missing elder, but their efforts were met with no success. As time passed with no sign of Mr. Saccheus, the case transitioned from a search and rescue mission to a legal process to bring closure to his family. In October 2020, a Nome court jury convened to hear the details of his case. After reviewing evidence and hearing testimony about the circumstances of his disappearance, the climate conditions, and the exhaustive but fruitless search, the jury reached a somber conclusion. They determined that Thomas Saccheus was presumed to have died as a result of exposure to the elements. With no foul play suspected, his case is now considered closed, a heartbreaking end to the search for the missing elder.

Sep 23, 2019

Golovin

Alaska

Nome Census Area

No

77071

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK19068609

2019-10-03

Alaska State Troopers

7944

Gray or Partially Gray

Brown

Brown

07/15/2026