Sonja Ozenna Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Aug 11, 2020

Sonja

Ozenna

27

6

48 inches

63 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Female

On a spring day in May of 2005, six-year-old Sonja Grace Ozenna was with three other children, playing on the ice in front of the village of Diomede, Alaska. The remote island community, located in the Bering Strait, was a familiar playground for Sonja and her friends. However, the day took a tragic turn when the ice gave way, and Sonja fell through into the frigid water below. The other children could only watch as she disappeared from sight. A report was made to the Alaska State Troopers on May 21, 2005, initiating a search for the young girl. Immediate and extensive search efforts were launched in the wake of Sonja's disappearance. The community of Diomede, though small, came together to assist authorities in any way they could. The only physical evidence of the tragic incident that was found were Sonja's pink boots, which were recovered from the scene. Despite the thorough searches of the surrounding area and the icy waters, no other trace of Sonja was ever located. Authorities with the Alaska State Troopers ultimately concluded that her body had likely been washed out to sea by the strong currents of the Bering Strait, and she is presumed to be deceased. The disappearance of Sonja Ozenna left a lasting scar on the small island community of Diomede. The case is a heartbreaking reminder of the inherent dangers of the arctic environment, where the line between play and peril can be tragically thin. Though years have passed since that devastating day, the memory of the little girl with black hair and brown eyes endures. The official investigation, managed by the Alaska State Troopers Missing Persons Clearinghouse, remains open, a somber file in the state's records. The overview of the case is one of a sudden, accidental tragedy that swiftly became a recovery effort, but unfortunately, recovery was never possible, leaving a painful void for her family and all who knew her.

May 21, 2005

Nome

Alaska

Nome Census Area

No

77168

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

050038812

2005-05-21

Alaska State Troopers

8570

Black

Brown

Brown

07/20/2026