David Slwooko Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Oct 07, 2023

David

Slwooko

52

41

71 inches

200 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the late summer of 2012, 41-year-old David Slwooko embarked on a boat journey from Koyuk to Unalakleet, Alaska, a trip that should have been a routine passage across the waters of the Norton Sound. He was not alone; his girlfriend, 48-year-old Debra Kimoktoak, and their two dogs were with him in the 18-foot skiff. They were last in contact on September 23, 2012. When the couple failed to arrive at their destination as planned, they were reported overdue on September 25, sparking immediate concern and initiating a search. The vast and often unforgiving Alaskan wilderness, particularly its waterways, presents significant challenges, and the community held its breath, hoping for the safe return of the two boaters and their canine companions. The search for David and Debra began with an aerial survey by the Alaska State Troopers and a Village Public Safety Officer. It was during this initial search that the first sign of trouble was spotted: their overturned 18-foot boat was found beached along the shore. The skiff's outboard motor was still attached by its tether, a somber detail in the unfolding tragedy. There was no sign of David or Debra at the site of the wrecked boat. As search efforts intensified, the grim discoveries continued. The bodies of both of their dogs were found to have drifted ashore in the same area. Then, on a Friday, a helicopter pilot for Bering Air spotted what was later confirmed to be Debra Kimoktoak's body washed ashore approximately 30 miles south of Unalakleet. Her remains were recovered by Alaska State Troopers and sent to the State Medical Examiner's office in Anchorage for an autopsy. Despite the devastating loss of his girlfriend and their dogs, the search for David Slwooko continued with a sense of urgency and hope. Local searchers and Troopers scoured the area over the weekend following the discovery of Debra's body. Nine aluminum skiffs combed the shoreline, while a state trooper searched the coastline by helicopter. However, their exhaustive efforts yielded no new leads, and eventually, the official search was suspended pending any new information. The case of David Slwooko is a heartbreaking reminder of the perils of travel in the Alaskan wilderness. The discovery of the overturned boat and the tragic loss of his girlfriend and their pets paint a grim picture of their final journey. Although the active search has been called off, the case remains an open wound for the community, a story of a journey that ended in tragedy and a man who has yet to be found.

Sep 23, 2012

Koyuk

Alaska

Nome Census Area

No

77727

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

AK12238413

2012-09-25

Alaska State Troopers

na

Black

Brown

Brown

06/30/2026