Jason Ozenna Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Feb 13, 2024

Jason

Ozenna

48

22

66 inches

135 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the late summer of 1998, a group of six individuals, including 22-year-old Jason Ozenna, embarked on a boat journey from Wales to Little Diomede, Alaska. This trip, across the often-treacherous waters of the Bering Strait, would tragically be their last. Jason, a young man of American Indian or Alaska Native descent, was traveling with four other adults and one child. He was described as being 5'6" tall and weighing around 135 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. On August 27, 1998, all contact was lost with the vessel and its six occupants, leaving their families and community in a state of profound uncertainty. Jason was reportedly wearing a royal blue hooded sweatshirt with "Little Diomede" on the back, a dark blue shirt, black Levi jeans, a light blue jean jacket, and black boots. The others accompanying Jason on this ill-fated voyage were Melvin Edward Kayouktuk, 45, Kevin Omiak, 7, Gene L. Ozenna, 41, Mary J. Milligrock, and Emery Omiak. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain largely unknown, as no wreckage of the boat or any of the passengers has ever been found. The tight-knit communities of Wales and Little Diomede, connected by family ties and a shared maritime way of life, were left to grapple with the immense loss of six of their own. The journey between the two locations is a familiar one for residents, but the Bering Strait is notorious for its unpredictable and often severe weather conditions, which can change in an instant. The disappearance of Jason Ozenna and his five companions represents a lingering tragedy for their loved ones and the region. With no physical evidence to provide answers, the case has remained open for decades, a painful reminder of the perils of the sea and the fragility of life in the Arctic. The lack of resolution has left a void in the community, with the memory of the six individuals kept alive by those who knew them. This case serves as an overview of the profound and lasting impact that such an event can have on small, isolated communities, where the loss of even one person is deeply felt, and the disappearance of six is a devastating blow.

Aug 27, 1998

Nome

Alaska

Nome Census Area

No

77269

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

980058186

Alaska State Troopers

8768

Black

Brown

Brown

06/28/2026