Harry Modesette Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Jul 16, 2024

Harry

Modesette

63

35

73 inches

195 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On April 25, 1998, a 35-year-old man named Harry Jackson Modesette was aboard the fishing vessel Evanick, which departed from Kodiak, Alaska. The vessel, a 50-foot fiberglass herring fishing boat, was on its way to Togiak with three other crew members: skipper Carl Vanvalkenberg, Robert P. Ritchie, and Shaun R. Gibson, all from Kodiak. The journey was intended to be a routine trip for the seasoned fishermen, but the unpredictable waters of the Shelikof Strait held a different fate in store for the crew. The men and their vessel were unprepared for the perilous conditions they were about to face in the notoriously rough Alaskan seas. As the Evanick navigated the Shelikof Straits, it encountered turbulent seas. A skiff that was secured on the deck of the vessel shifted due to the rough water, which caused the Evanick to roll over and capsize. The sudden and violent nature of the event left no time for a distress call, and the four crew members were lost to the sea. The incident was a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who make their living on the waters of Alaska. The disappearance of Harry Modesette and his fellow crewmen is a heart-wrenching story of lives lost at sea. All four men are presumed to have died in the boating accident. The case is a somber testament to the power of the ocean and the risks inherent in the fishing industry. The loss of the F/V Evanick and its crew, including Harry Modesette, Carl Vanvalkenberg, Robert P. Ritchie, and Shaun R. Gibson, remains a painful memory for the community of Kodiak, a town deeply connected to the sea. The event serves as an overview of the unpredictable and often unforgiving nature of maritime life in Alaska.

Apr 25, 1998

Kodiak

Alaska

Kodiak Island Borough

No

77704

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

980004051

1998-04-25

Alaska State Troopers

8781

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/26/2026