In the late winter of 1996, a 33-year-old man named Carlos John Martinez vanished from Juneau, Alaska. He was last seen on March 23rd of that year. At the time of his disappearance, Carlos was a Caucasian male with black hair and brown eyes, stood at approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighed around 180 pounds. He had distinctive tattoos on his right shoulder and right arm. When he was last seen, it's believed he was wearing a blue Pelican seafood jacket, orange Helly Hansen rain gear, and either jeans or wool bibs. He was also thought to be wearing size 8.5 Xtra Tuffs boots and had fish gloves with him.
The circumstances surrounding Carlos's disappearance point to a tragic accident at sea. His 13-foot Boston Whaler was later found swamped near the inner part of Kruzof Island. This discovery led authorities and his loved ones to the heartbreaking conclusion that Carlos was likely lost to the turbulent waters. Despite this presumption, his body has never been recovered, leaving a painful void and an unresolved sense of closure for those who knew him. The Alaska State Troopers in Anchorage are the primary investigating agency for his case.
The official record of Carlos's disappearance was created years later, on March 17, 2020. The case remains a somber reminder of the unforgiving nature of the Alaskan wilderness and the sea. Without a body, the full story of what happened on that March day in 1996 may never be known. The overview of the case is one of a presumed accidental death at sea, with the recovery of his swamped boat being the only significant clue. The lack of further evidence or recovery of his remains has left his case open but inactive, a lingering mystery in the annals of missing persons in Alaska.
Last Seen: Mar 23, 1996
