Douglas Sheldon, Sr Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Jan 12, 2024

Douglas

Sheldon, Sr

96

69

70 inches

180 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

On a spring day in Kotzebue, Alaska, 69-year-old Douglas Sheldon, Sr. and his companion, Raymond Brown, set out on a seal hunting expedition. The two men left on the morning of May 20, 1999, traveling by snow machine across the vast and icy landscape of the Kotzebue Sound. Dressed in a parka to shield him from the harsh arctic conditions, Sheldon and Brown ventured into the wilderness, a familiar and vital part of life for many in the region. Their planned return came and went without any sign of the two hunters, prompting concern among family and friends. Two days after their departure, on May 22, 1999, they were officially reported as overdue, initiating a period of desperate uncertainty for their loved ones. With the report of the missing hunters, an extensive search was immediately launched by the Alaska State Troopers and concerned members of the community. The search parties scoured the expansive and unforgiving terrain of the Kotzebue Sound, a challenging environment where the weather can change in an instant and the landscape itself presents numerous dangers. As the search continued, a grim discovery was made: snow machine tracks were found leading directly to an open lead of water. This finding suggested a tragic accident, that the two men may have unknowingly driven their snow machine into a break in the ice, a perilous and often fatal event in the arctic. Despite the exhaustive efforts of the search teams, neither Douglas Sheldon, Sr. nor Raymond Brown were ever located. The disappearance of Douglas Sheldon, Sr. and Raymond Brown left a lasting void in their community. The official search efforts were eventually suspended, leaving their families with no answers and no closure. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance, particularly the discovery of the snow machine tracks ending at open water, strongly point to a tragic accident in the unpredictable environment of the Kotzebue Sound. The case serves as a somber reminder of the inherent risks associated with traditional hunting practices in the Arctic, where the line between sustenance and survival can be incredibly thin. The memory of the two men endures, a story of a routine hunting trip that ended in a heartbreaking and unresolved mystery, etched into the history of the region.

May 20, 1999

Kotzebue

Alaska

Northwest Arctic Borough

No

77578

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

990032038

1999-05-22

Alaska State Troopers

8755

Black

Brown

Brown

07/27/2026