Michael Cook Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Feb 20, 2024

Michael

Cook

70

43

69 inches

160 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On November 5, 1998, a 43-year-old fisherman named Michael Rezo Cook was working aboard the fishing vessel Providence in the challenging waters of the Bering Sea. The vessel was located approximately 87 miles west-northwest of Port Moller, Alaska, when an unforeseen event led to Michael going into the water. At the time of the incident, he was wearing an orange Helly Hansen rain suit and black Xtratuf rubber boots, but he was not equipped with a life jacket or any other form of survival gear. The exact circumstances leading to him being in the water are not detailed in available public information. In a courageous and immediate response, a fellow crewman aboard the Providence jumped into the frigid sea in an attempt to rescue his fellow fisherman. The unforgiving conditions of the Bering Sea, however, proved to be a formidable obstacle. Before the crewman could reach him, Michael slipped beneath the surface of the water and out of sight. The chilling event prompted a swift and extensive search effort in the remote and icy waters, as all available resources were mobilized in the hope of finding him. Despite the dedicated search efforts that followed, Michael was never located. The vast and unpredictable nature of the Bering Sea offered no clues as to his whereabouts, and the search was eventually suspended. The Alaska State Troopers opened a case file on his disappearance, documenting the known details of that day. Michael was described as a Caucasian male, 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighing 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He had a scar on his left finger and several tattoos on his back, chest, right shoulder, and left breast. The case remains a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea, and a painful loss for the family and friends who were left with no answers.

Nov 05, 1998

Dillingham

Alaska

Dillingham Census Area

No

77887

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

980073891

1998-11-05

Alaska State Troopers

na

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/26/2026