Robert Ritchie Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Jul 16, 2024

Robert

Ritchie

50

24

71 inches

230 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the Alaskan spring of 1998, a 24-year-old man named Robert Paul Ritchie vanished into the unforgiving waters of the Shelikof Strait. On April 25th, he was aboard the 50-foot fiberglass fishing vessel, the Evanick, which had departed from Kodiak with the intention of reaching Togiak. The journey was a familiar one for many fishermen in the region, but the treacherous conditions of the strait proved to be overwhelming. The Evanick, along with Robert and his three fellow crew members, never reached its destination. The men aboard with him were the skipper, Carl VanValkenberg, Harry Modesette, and Shaun R. Gibson, all from Kodiak. The circumstances surrounding the Evanick's disappearance point to a sudden and catastrophic event. It is believed that the vessel rolled over and capsized in the tumultuous seas of the Shelikof Strait. Reports from the time indicate that high winds and 10-foot waves were present, creating a perilous environment for any vessel. One theory suggests that a skiff on the deck of the Evanick may have shifted, causing the boat to become unstable and ultimately overturn. Despite any search and rescue efforts that may have been launched, no survivors were ever found. The four men, including Robert Ritchie, are presumed to have perished in the frigid Alaskan waters. The disappearance of the Evanick and its crew serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those who make their living on the sea. The case is a tragedy that left families and a community grappling with the sudden loss of four of their own. Robert Ritchie, along with Carl VanValkenberg, Harry Modesette, and Shaun R. Gibson, are remembered as hardworking men who were lost to the unpredictable and powerful forces of nature. The incident is officially documented as a boating accident, with all four crew members considered to be deceased. This event is one of several maritime losses that occurred in Alaskan waters in 1998, highlighting the challenging and often hazardous conditions of the state's fishing industry.

Apr 25, 1998

Kodiak

Alaska

Kodiak Island Borough

No

77789

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

8782

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/03/2026