Anthony Shelp Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Feb 12, 2024

Anthony

Shelp

62

56

69 inches

185 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On October 26, 2018, a distressing event unfolded in the waters off the coast of Nome, Alaska, involving 56-year-old Anthony Earl Shelp. Known to his loved ones as Tony, he was aboard the fishing vessel F/V Juda Lee with family members when he fell overboard into the challenging Alaskan waters. The incident occurred on a Friday morning, and despite the immediate and desperate attempts by his family on the boat to rescue him, their efforts were tragically unsuccessful. At the time of his disappearance, Anthony was described as a White male, standing 69 inches tall and weighing approximately 185 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, jeans, and orange socks. His distinctive features included several scars on his abdomen and arms, as well as a tattoo of a wolf with a moon around it on one of his upper arms. The response to Anthony's fall overboard was swift, with the Alaska State Troopers being notified and a large-scale search and rescue operation being launched. The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, and local search and rescue teams from Nome, including the Nome Volunteer Fire Department, joined the effort with boats and aircraft. The search was extensive, covering a 41-square-nautical-mile area for over five hours. However, the operation was severely hampered by deteriorating weather conditions. The search teams faced five-foot seas, 20 mph winds, and frigid water temperatures, making their task incredibly difficult and dangerous. Tragically, Anthony was not wearing a personal flotation device, a critical factor that significantly reduced his chances of survival in the cold Alaskan waters. By the evening, with no sign of Anthony, the active search was suspended. The days that followed the incident brought continued efforts, though on a smaller scale, as weather conditions permitted. The Alaska State Troopers conducted aerial searches, and community members scoured the local beaches, holding out hope for any sign of the missing fisherman. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fall revealed that the family had been in the process of moving to Brevig Mission at the time of the incident. Despite the continued investigation and the initial intensive search, Anthony Shelp has not been located. His case remains active with the Alaska Department of Public Safety, a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those who make their living on the unpredictable waters of the Bering Sea. The disappearance of Anthony Shelp is a heartbreaking story of a family outing that turned into a tragedy, leaving a community to mourn and a family to hope for answers that the vast Alaskan wilderness has yet to provide.

Oct 26, 2018

Nome

Alaska

Nome Census Area

Nome

No

77624

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK18077432

2018-10-26

Alaska State Troopers

8191

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

06/30/2026