Daniel Burnham Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Mar 14, 2024

Daniel

Burnham

72

46

73 inches

185 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the spring of 1998, a journey by sea in Alaska turned into a tragedy that would leave a family with unanswered questions for years to come. On May 5, 1998, 46-year-old Daniel Howard Burnham was traveling in a small boat, known as a skiff, from Skagway to Haines. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being 6'1" tall, weighing 185 pounds, with graying hair and blue eyes. He was reportedly wearing dark jeans and a dark or light jacket. The waters of the Lynn Canal, a notoriously unpredictable and often treacherous channel, separated the two towns. For reasons that remain unclear, the skiff capsized during the voyage, plunging its occupants into the frigid Alaskan waters. The unforgiving conditions of the channel quickly led to a desperate situation. While the bodies of two other individuals who were on the skiff with Daniel were eventually recovered, he was never found. The vastness of the water and the challenging search conditions likely hampered the efforts of those looking for him. The incident was reported to the Alaska State Troopers on May 6, 1998, sparking an official investigation into his disappearance. Despite the search and recovery efforts, the sea held onto its secrets, and Daniel Burnham was gone without a trace. The official conclusion of the investigation is that Daniel is presumed to have drowned in the boating accident. His case is a somber reminder of the power and danger of the Alaskan wilderness and the unforgiving nature of its waters. The disappearance of Daniel Burnham left a void in the lives of his loved ones, a story without a final chapter. The overview of this case is one of a routine trip that ended in unforeseen tragedy, a narrative that underscores the inherent risks of maritime travel in the beautiful but formidable landscapes of southeast Alaska. His disappearance is a story of loss at sea, where the absence of a final resting place compounds the grief for those left behind to wonder and remember.

May 05, 1998

Skagway

Alaska

Skagway Borough

No

77649

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

980029023

1998-05-06

Alaska State Troopers

8780

Gray or Partially Gray

Blue

Blue

07/05/2026