Nick Zaukar Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

May 15, 2024

Nick

Zaukar

67

44

68 inches

150 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the remote and challenging terrain of the Alaskan interior, a journey home turned into a lasting mystery on December 15, 2000. Nick Alfred Zaukar, a 44-year-old American Indian or Alaska Native man, was traveling on the Holitna River, making his way back to the community of Sleetmute from Bethel, Alaska. At the time, Nick was a man of medium build, standing at 5 feet 8 inches and weighing around 150 pounds. He had black hair, brown eyes, and a noticeable scar on his forehead. His trip along the frozen river was a common mode of travel in that part of the world during the winter months, but on this particular evening, the familiar route became the site of a sudden and alarming event. The last moments anyone saw of Nick Zaukar were fleeting and distressing. Witnesses who were also on the river reported seeing the taillights of his vehicle ahead of them. Suddenly, they watched as the lights veered off course and disappeared into an expanse of open water, where the vehicle broke through the fragile ice. The remote location and the treacherous, icy conditions of the Holitna River would have made any immediate rescue attempt incredibly difficult and dangerous. The Alaska State Troopers were alerted to the incident the next day, officially opening an investigation into the disappearance of Nick Zaukar. In the years that have passed, no sign of Nick Zaukar has been found. Based on the chilling accounts of the witnesses who saw his vehicle's lights disappear into the water, authorities have presumed that he drowned in the frigid river. The case serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers of traveling in the Alaskan wilderness, where conditions can change in an instant and help can be far away. The overview of this case is that of a tragic accident; a man traveling home to his community, whose journey was cut short when he and his vehicle plunged through the ice into the dark waters of the Holitna River, leaving behind unanswered questions for his family and community.

Dec 15, 2000

Bethel

Alaska

Bethel Census Area

No

77370

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

000083414

2000-12-16

Alaska State Troopers

8728

Black

Brown

Brown

06/27/2026