Andrew Jackson Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Jan 12, 2024

Andrew

Jackson

71

43

74 inches

200 lbs

American Indian / Alaska Native

Male

In the early summer of June 1998, a sense of unease began to settle over the small community of Hoonah, Alaska, when 43-year-old Andrew Samuel Jackson, along with two companions, Lawrence Gray and Larry Sanders, failed to return from a boating trip. The three men had set out from Hoonah in an open skiff, their destination being the scenic waters of Glacier Bay. They were expected to arrive in Juneau on June 7, 1998, but as the days passed with no sign of them or their vessel, concern grew among their friends and family. A relative of one of the men officially reported them missing, prompting the Alaska State Troopers and the Coast Guard to initiate a search. Andrew, known to some as Andy, was an American Indian/Alaska Native man, standing at approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing around 200 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of his departure, he was believed to be wearing maroon sweatpants or dark blue jeans, a t-shirt, a black jacket, and brown rubber boots. The search for the three men and their skiff was extensive, covering the vast and often treacherous waters between Hoonah and Juneau. Despite the dedicated efforts of search and rescue teams, no trace of the open skiff or any of its occupants was found. The hope of finding them alive began to dwindle with each passing day. The best-case scenario, as voiced by a Coast Guard spokesman at the time, was that the men had gone ashore on one of the many islands in the area to hunt and were simply unaware of the ongoing search. Tragically, this glimmer of hope was extinguished on June 27, 1998, when the body of Larry Sanders was discovered. This somber discovery confirmed the grave reality of the situation, leaving the families of Andrew Jackson and Lawrence Gray to grapple with the painful uncertainty of their loved ones' fates. The disappearance of Andrew Jackson and Lawrence Gray remains an unresolved case, a poignant example of the perils that can befall even experienced boaters in the unforgiving Alaskan wilderness. The vastness of the landscape and the unpredictable nature of the sea have left few clues for investigators to follow. The discovery of Larry Sanders' body provided a tragic but definitive answer for his family, yet for the families of Andrew and Lawrence, the years have passed without closure. The circumstances surrounding the incident—what caused their skiff to vanish and what ultimately led to the death of one and the disappearance of the other two—are still unknown. The case serves as a somber reminder of the many individuals who have vanished in Alaska's expansive and often perilous environment.

Jun 05, 1998

Hoonah

Alaska

Hoonah–Angoon Census Area

No

77740

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

980037146

1998-06-09

Alaska State Troopers

na

Black

Brown

Brown

No

07/24/2026