Nicholas Mayer Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Feb 15, 2024

Nicholas

Mayer

52

31

67 inches

170 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the late autumn of 2004, a sense of profound loss and uncertainty befell the community of Juneau, Alaska, with the disappearance of 31-year-old Nicholas "Nick" Arthur Mayer. On November 20th, a day that began with the promise of a hunting and crabbing expedition, Nick and his childhood best friend, James "Jim" Metlicka, set out from Juneau in Metlicka's 26-foot cabin cruiser, the "Julie K". Their destination was the waters near Horse and Colt Islands, a familiar area for the two experienced boaters. The day, however, took a tragic turn, and what was meant to be a routine outing ended in a mystery that has lingered for years. Nick, a father of two boys who worked in construction, was last seen wearing a sweatshirt, jeans, and rubber boots. The alarm was raised later that day when the "Julie K" was discovered capsized near Horse Island, approximately 12 miles west of Juneau. The sight of the overturned vessel immediately launched a search and rescue operation, spearheaded by the U.S. Coast Guard. Responders who reached the boat found a somber scene. Inside the cabin were the two men's dogs, both deceased. Several personal flotation devices, a float coat, and an immersion suit were also found, but there was no sign of Nick or Jim. The families of the missing men believe that the events unfolded so rapidly that neither had the chance to use any of the survival gear. The boat was found about 600 yards from the shore of Horse Island, leading to speculation that they may have encountered trouble, perhaps while pulling up a crab pot in what could have been choppy waters. Intensive search efforts were conducted in the days that followed the discovery of the capsized boat. The Coast Guard deployed a helicopter and a boat, utilizing night-vision gear to scan the dark waters, while search-and-rescue dogs and their handlers scoured the shorelines of Horse and Colt Islands. Despite these exhaustive efforts, no evidence was found to suggest that either man had made it to shore. The official search by the Coast Guard was suspended after a few days, as the likelihood of survival in the cold Alaskan waters was deemed low. However, the families and friends of Nick and Jim, clinging to hope, continued the search with the help of private planes, dozens of boats, and even divers. In a further effort to locate the men, a private search was conducted in December of that year with specialized underwater equipment, but this too was unsuccessful in providing any answers. The case of Nicholas Mayer is a heart-wrenching tale of a day that began with friendship and adventure and ended in tragedy and enduring questions. Presumed to have drowned in a boating accident, the absence of his recovery has left a void for his loved ones. The official and private searches, though extensive, yielded no trace of him or his friend, leaving their final moments a mystery held by the cold waters of Alaska.

Nov 20, 2004

Juneau

Alaska

Juneau Borough

No

77460

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

040090741

2004-11-21

Alaska State Troopers

8589

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/20/2026