Lorence Dobson Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Mar 14, 2024

Lorence

Dobson

63

50

70 inches

175 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the autumn of 2012, 50-year-old Lorence Marvin Dobson traveled to the scenic and remote area of Portage Lake near Whittier, Alaska, with the intention of gold panning. On October 8th, he was out on the water when the canoe he was using drifted away from him. In an attempt to recover the vessel, Mr. Dobson entered the chilly Alaskan waters. This was the last time he was ever seen. The Alaska State Troopers were notified of the incident the following day, October 9, 2012, and promptly initiated a search for the missing man. Despite extensive search and rescue efforts in the area where he was last seen, no trace of Lorence Dobson was found. The challenging conditions of Portage Lake, known for its cold, glacier-fed waters, made the search particularly difficult. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance, having entered the water to retrieve his canoe, lead authorities to believe that he likely drowned. He was wearing shorts and a black t-shirt at the time of the incident, which would have offered little protection against the cold temperatures of the lake. The official investigation into the disappearance of Lorence Marvin Dobson remains open. He is registered as a missing person with the Alaska State Troopers, and his case is documented in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Physical descriptors noted in his file include several distinctive marks: a discoloration and a mole on his right leg, as well as scars on both of his forearms. The case serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers of the Alaskan wilderness. Although he is presumed to have drowned, without the recovery of his remains, the case remains an unresolved and sorrowful mystery for his family and friends.

Oct 08, 2012

Whittier

Alaska

Valdez–Cordova Census Area

No

77543

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK12241554

2012-10-09

Alaska State Troopers

8451

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

07/15/2026