Shanelle Shellikoff Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Sep 23, 2022

Shanelle

Shellikoff

34

15

56 inches

100 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Female

In the remote fishing community of False Pass, Alaska, the summer of 2007 took a tragic turn with the disappearance of 15-year-old Shanelle Mary Shellikoff. An Anchorage resident, Shanelle was visiting relatives in the Alaska Peninsula town for the summer. On July 25, 2007, in the early morning hours, the promising young student vanished into the frigid waters of Isanotski Strait. At the time of her disappearance, Shanelle, an American Indian/Alaska Native female with brown hair and brown eyes, was approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighed 100 pounds. She was last seen wearing blue jeans, a red and white shirt, and a dark sweater. The circumstances leading to Shanelle's disappearance paint a somber picture of a youthful misadventure with devastating consequences. In the pre-dawn hours, around 3 a.m., Shanelle and her 14-year-old cousin were on a cannery dock. The two had reportedly snuck out to drink a bottle of alcohol they had previously hidden. According to reports from the Alaska State Troopers, while on the dock, Shanelle leaned over the edge to look at the water and accidentally fell in. The tide was going out at the time, and the currents in that area are known to be strong. Her cousin's attempts to find help were unsuccessful; she then became ill and lost consciousness for several hours. By the time she awoke and alerted her mother to the situation, a significant amount of time had passed. Immediate and subsequent searches of the area were conducted, but tragically, they were unsuccessful in locating any sign of Shanelle. Given the strong currents and the time that had elapsed, authorities presumed she was lost at sea. The Alaska State Troopers investigated the incident and stated that no foul play was suspected. Shanelle was an honor student at East High School in Anchorage and a member of the National Honor Society, remembered by her family for her kind and gentle spirit, her heartwarming smile, and her helpful nature. The case is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers that can accompany a moment of teenage indiscretion. While she is presumed to have drowned, her body has never been recovered, leaving her family with a profound and lasting sense of loss. The official investigation has concluded that her disappearance was a tragic accident.

Jul 25, 2007

False Pass

Alaska

Aleutians East Borough

No

77179

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

070062814

2007-07-25

Alaska State Troopers

na

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/21/2026