Carl Vanvalkenberg Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Jul 16, 2024

Carl

Vanvalkenberg

71

43

77 inches

215 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving waters of Alaska, the story of Carl Vanvalkenberg is one of many that speaks to the perils of the sea. On April 25, 1998, the 43-year-old man, a seasoned fisherman, was aboard the fishing vessel Evanick, which departed from Kodiak, Alaska. The boat, with its crew, was en route to the fishing grounds of Togiak, a journey that would tragically be its last. The disappearance of Carl Vanvalkenberg and his fellow crew members serves as a somber reminder of the risks faced by those who make their living on the ocean. The Evanick, a 50-foot fiberglass herring fishing vessel, encountered treacherous conditions in the Shelikof Straits. It is believed that a skiff stored on the deck shifted, causing the vessel to roll over and succumb to the turbulent seas. Along with Carl Vanvalkenberg, three other crew members were lost: Robert P. Ritchie, Shaun R. Gibson, and Harry J. Modesette. The incident left behind families and a community to grapple with the sudden and profound loss. Vanvalkenberg was an adventurous spirit, a former University of Washington football player who had been drawn to the challenges of the sea for 17 years. He was a husband and a father, with a child on the way at the time of his disappearance. The search for the Evanick and its crew was extensive, but ultimately, the vessel and the men aboard were never found. They are all presumed to be deceased, victims of a boating accident that underscores the unpredictable nature of the Alaskan waters. The case remains a painful memory for the families and the close-knit fishing community of Kodiak. The collective loss of four lives in a single incident sent ripples of grief throughout the region. The story of Carl Vanvalkenberg and the crew of the Evanick is a poignant narrative of adventure, risk, and the enduring power of the sea, highlighting the human cost of one of Alaska's most vital industries.

Apr 25, 1998

Kodiak

Alaska

Kodiak Island Borough

No

77764

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

Brown

Brown

07/19/2026