Shaun Gibson Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Jul 16, 2024

Shaun

Gibson

46

20

68 inches

145 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving waters of Alaska, the sea has long been a source of livelihood and, at times, profound loss. For the family and friends of Shaun Raymond Gibson, this reality became heartbreakingly clear in the spring of 1998. On April 25th of that year, the 20-year-old was a crew member aboard the fishing vessel Evanick, which was en route from Kodiak to Togiak. The journey was a familiar one for the crew, but on this particular day, the unpredictable nature of the sea would lead to a devastating turn of events. The vessel overturned, casting its crew into the frigid Alaskan waters and leaving behind a wake of unanswered questions and enduring grief for those who awaited their return. The circumstances surrounding the capsizing of the Evanick point to a sudden and catastrophic event. According to reports, the 50-foot fiberglass herring fishing vessel rolled over in the Shelikof Strait. It is believed that a skiff on the deck of the Evanick shifted, causing the vessel to become unstable and ultimately overturn. This sudden shift would have left little to no time for the crew to react or send out a distress signal. Along with Shaun Gibson, three other crew members were lost in the incident: skipper Carl VanValkenberg, Robert P. Ritchie, and Harry J. Modesette. All four men were from Kodiak, a community deeply intertwined with the fishing industry and all too familiar with its inherent dangers. The loss of the Evanick and its entire crew sent ripples of sorrow through the close-knit town. In the aftermath of the vessel's disappearance, search and rescue efforts were launched, but the vastness of the Alaskan waters and the harsh conditions offered little hope of finding survivors. The men were never found, and they are now presumed to be deceased. The case of Shaun Gibson and his fellow crewmates serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea. It is a story of a young life cut tragically short and of a community bound together by a shared sense of loss. The disappearance of the Evanick is a permanent scar on the maritime history of Kodiak, a testament to the power of the ocean and the bravery of those who navigate its waters. The case is a narrative of a routine voyage that turned into a tragedy, leaving behind a legacy of loss and remembrance for the four souls who were lost to the sea.

Apr 25, 1998

Kodiak

Alaska

Kodiak Island Borough

No

77324

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

na

Brown

Blue

Blue

06/26/2026