Marc Hill Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Feb 13, 2024

Marc

Hill

70

45

73 inches

180 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, the life of a fisherman is one of both profound beauty and inherent risk. For 45-year-old Marc S. Hill of Dillingham, Alaska, the sea was a way of life. On March 18, 1999, he was aboard the 96-foot fishing vessel, the Lin-J, working as a crabber. Along with him were four other crew members: Captain Blake Kinnear, Jason Conlon, John Mckerley, and Aaron Miller-Moylan. The crew was navigating the frigid waters approximately eight miles northwest of St. Paul Island, engaged in the demanding work that defines the Alaskan fishing industry. The day was marked by perilous conditions, a reality that fishermen in this region know all too well and must constantly guard against. The relentless Alaskan weather took a devastating turn as the Lin-J battled heavy sea icing. This dangerous phenomenon occurs when freezing spray and precipitation accumulate on a vessel's superstructure, adding immense weight and raising its center of gravity. The buildup can rapidly compromise a ship's stability, making it dangerously top-heavy and vulnerable to capsizing, especially in rough seas. For the crew of the Lin-J, this treacherous accumulation of ice proved catastrophic. The vessel, overwhelmed by the added weight and harsh conditions, succumbed to the power of the sea and sank. In the remote and icy expanse of the Bering Sea, the chances of survival were tragically slim. In the aftermath of the sinking, search and rescue efforts were undertaken, but no sign of the Lin-J or its crew was found. Marc Hill, along with his four crewmates, was lost to the sea. He is presumed to have drowned in the incident. The case is a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers faced by those who make their living on the water, particularly in the challenging environment of Alaska. The disappearance of Marc Hill and the entire crew of the Lin-J is a somber event in maritime history, an incident caused not by a single mistake, but by the overwhelming and unpredictable force of nature. The loss of these five men serves as a poignant testament to the perils of the sea and the courage of those who navigate it.

Mar 18, 1999

Dillingham

Alaska

Dillingham Census Area

No

77606

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

990016884

Alaska State Troopers

8759

Brown

Green

Green

06/25/2026