Timothy Staples Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

May 13, 2024

Timothy

Staples

46

38

73 inches

200 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the quiet coastal community of Ketchikan, Alaska, the disappearance of 38-year-old Timothy Staples remains a painful and unresolved event. On February 12, 2017, Timothy, a male of American Indian/Alaska Native descent, embarked on a journey that he would never complete. He was last seen leaving the Mountain Point boat launch in a skiff, with the intended destination of Metlakatla. Accompanying him on this fateful trip was Troy Smart. The journey across the water was expected to be a routine one, but as time passed with no word from either man, a sense of unease began to grow among their loved ones. The initial concern soon escalated into a full-scale search and rescue operation when the skiff the two men were traveling in was discovered capsized and empty. The small vessel was found approximately 100 yards north of Blank Island, a stark and silent clue in the vast Alaskan waters. Debris believed to be from the skiff was also located in the same area, further cementing the grim reality that something had gone terribly wrong. The U.S. Coast Guard, along with other local agencies, launched an extensive search effort, covering a wide expanse of the Nichols Passage and Tongass Narrows. Despite their exhaustive efforts, which included multiple helicopter and boat crews, there was no sign of Timothy or Troy. The search, which began with the hope of rescue, eventually transitioned into a recovery mission as the chances of finding them alive diminished with each passing day. Years have passed since Timothy Staples and Troy Smart vanished into the cold Alaskan waters, yet their absence continues to be deeply felt by their families and the community. The investigation into their disappearance remains open, a haunting reminder of the lives that were abruptly cut short. The discovery of the overturned skiff points to a tragic accident at sea, but without the recovery of the two men, a definitive explanation of the events of that day remains elusive. The case serves as a somber illustration of the inherent dangers of the sea and the profound and lasting impact of loss on a close-knit community. The official investigation is being handled by the Alaska State Troopers, and the case files for both Timothy Staples and Troy Smart remain active missing persons cases.

Feb 12, 2017

Ketchikan

Alaska

Ketchikan Gateway Borough

No

77737

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK17010013

2017-02-12

Alaska State Troopers

8327

Brown

Brown

Brown

No

06/26/2026