On May 24, 1997, 81-year-old William 'Buzz' Fred Matthews and his companion, Norman Paul, departed from Ketchikan, Alaska, in an 18-foot blue and white vessel named the 'Delight.' This would be the last time anyone would see Matthews alive. The following day, a cooler identified as belonging to the two men was discovered approximately 10 miles southwest of Sitka, between St. Lazaria and Biorka Island. The discovery of the cooler initiated a search for the two men and their vessel. The vast and often treacherous waters of the Alaskan coast held the key to their whereabouts, but the initial search would only deepen the mystery and sorrow surrounding their disappearance.
Later on the evening of May 25, the body of Norman Paul was located, tragically confirming that the vessel had encountered trouble. This discovery intensified the search efforts for William Matthews and the 'Delight.' Numerous searches were conducted by authorities and volunteers, combing the coastline and the waters of Sitka Sound. Despite these extensive efforts, which spanned a significant period and covered a wide area, there was no further sign of Matthews or the boat. The unforgiving Alaskan wilderness and the unpredictable nature of its seas presented immense challenges to the search parties, leaving them with more questions than answers.
The disappearance of William Matthews is a somber tale of a journey that ended in tragedy. The case remains a painful memory for the families and the community, a stark reminder of the power and peril of the Alaskan waters. While the recovery of Norman Paul's body provided a degree of closure for his loved ones, the fact that neither William Matthews nor the 'Delight' were ever found leaves an unresolved void. The investigation eventually concluded that the two men were lost when their skiff sank in Sitka Sound. The lack of any further wreckage or remains has led to a case that, for all intents and purposes, is closed, though the questions of what exactly happened on that fateful day in May 1997 and the final resting place of William Matthews remain unanswered.
Last Seen: May 24, 1997
