Boris McLuke, Sr. Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Feb 16, 2024

Boris

McLuke, Sr.

65

38

68 inches

150 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the quiet of a late autumn day in Kotzebue, Alaska, a sense of unease began to settle as Boris McLuke, Sr., a 38-year-old man, failed to return from a journey he embarked on. On November 12, 1998, he was last seen leaving the coastal town on a borrowed snow machine. His destination was the small community of Sheshalik, a place he was traveling to in order to attend a funeral. The route he intended to take stretched across the frozen expanse of the Kotzebue Sound, a familiar path for many in the region. However, the conditions on that particular day were fraught with peril. Reports from the time indicated the presence of open water and thin ice along the trail to Sheshalik, a treacherous combination for any traveler, no matter how experienced. When he never reached his destination and did not return to Kotzebue, the alarm was raised, marking the beginning of a long and sorrowful mystery for his family and community. As the days turned into weeks and the harsh Alaskan winter set in, the hope of finding Boris McLuke, Sr. began to fade, replaced by a somber acceptance of the dangers of the Arctic landscape. He was an American Indian/Alaska Native man, standing at five feet eight inches tall and weighing around 150 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes, and a scar on his right arm served as a distinguishing feature. At the time he was last seen, he was appropriately dressed for the cold, wearing a black jacket, black ski pants, and a gray hooded sweatshirt. These details, while providing a picture of the man, offered little solace in the face of his continued absence. The Alaska State Troopers opened an investigation into his disappearance, but the vast and unforgiving terrain, coupled with the hazardous ice conditions, presented immense challenges to any search and rescue efforts. The disappearance of Boris McLuke, Sr. remains an open and unresolved case, a painful reminder of the fragility of life in the far north. Despite the passage of time, the lack of answers leaves a void in the hearts of those who knew him. His journey to a funeral tragically became the beginning of his own story of being missing. The circumstances surrounding his last known movements, the dangerous ice conditions, and the fact that he was traveling alone on a borrowed snow machine, all contribute to the prevailing theory that he may have tragically fallen through the ice. This overview of the case underscores the profound and lasting impact of his disappearance, a story that is not just about one man, but also about the enduring grief and uncertainty that his loved ones have carried for years.

Nov 12, 1998

Kotzebue

Alaska

Northwest Arctic Borough

No

77368

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

980075172

1998-11-12

Alaska State Troopers

8763

Black

Brown

Brown

07/17/2026