William Watkins Missing Person Case

In the vast and often unforgiving wilderness of Alaska, the story of William Kent Watkins is one that underscores the profound and lingering uncertainty that can shroud a missing person case. On October 21, 1997, a day that began like any other, 50-year-old William, a resident of Soldotna, found himself at the precipice of a mystery that would endure for decades. He, along with 42-year-old Steven Scott Austin, was aboard a private vessel named the 'Loose Goose Too.' The last confirmed sighting of the two men occurred in the afternoon when they stopped to purchase fuel in Seldovia, a small community across Kachemak Bay from Homer. After that transaction, William, Steven, and their boat seemingly vanished into the expansive and notoriously unpredictable waters of the lower Cook Inlet.

The hours following their departure from Seldovia stretched into a disquieting silence. When William and Steven failed to return or make contact, concern mounted, and a formal report was filed with the Alaska State Troopers. This initiated an extensive search and rescue operation spearheaded by the United States Coast Guard. Search crews meticulously scoured the vast expanse of Kachemak Bay and the lower Cook Inlet, battling challenging Alaskan weather and the sheer scale of the search area. Despite their determined efforts, no trace of the 'Loose Goose Too' or its two occupants was ever discovered. The boat, along with William and Steven, appeared to have been swallowed by the sea, leaving behind no debris, no final communication, and no clues as to what transpired on that autumn day.

The complete absence of evidence has left the families of William Watkins and Steven Austin in a state of perpetual ambiguity. Without a wreck to examine or remains to recover, investigators have been unable to definitively determine the cause of their disappearance. Theories range from a sudden and catastrophic boating accident, to becoming lost and succumbing to the harsh marine environment, but with no physical evidence, these remain speculative. The case officially remains an unsolved missing persons investigation, a cold case held in the files of the Alaska State Troopers. It serves as a somber reminder of the power of the Alaskan wilderness and the enduring pain experienced by those left behind, who continue to hope for answers that the vast, silent waters have yet to reveal.
Last Seen: Oct 21, 1997

Missing Person / NamUs