William Darter Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Mar 19, 2024

William

Darter

51

20

67 inches

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving waters of the North Pacific, a young man named William Ray Darter vanished, leaving behind a story marked by the sea's formidable power. At the age of 20, the brown-haired, brown-eyed man was working aboard the fishing vessel, Pacific Scout. On December 22, 1994, in a location approximately 308 miles south of Kodiak, Alaska, William was last seen. The day was like many others in the demanding life of a fisherman, filled with the hard work and inherent risks that come with the profession. William, standing at 5'7" and weighing around 140 pounds, was reportedly wearing practical and necessary gear for the conditions: orange rain gear and rubber boots. A small but distinct scar marked his left eyebrow, a silent detail in the larger picture of a young life. The circumstances surrounding William's disappearance are as stark as the Alaskan landscape. He went overboard from the Pacific Scout into the frigid ocean. The sheer distance from shore, over 300 miles, made any immediate rescue attempt a monumental challenge. The vastness of the ocean, coupled with the likely rough and cold conditions of a North Pacific December, painted a grim picture of his chances for survival. The event was a sudden and tragic turn in the midst of a routine fishing expedition, a stark reminder of the dangers faced by those who make their living on the sea. The report of him going overboard is the last known information about his whereabouts, a final, chilling moment in the narrative of his life. The official investigation into William Darter's disappearance was handled by the Alaska State Troopers. Given the circumstances, he is presumed to be deceased. The case remains a somber entry in the records of those lost to the sea, a common yet always tragic story in a state so defined by its relationship with the ocean. The lack of recovery has left his family and friends without the closure that a final farewell can bring. The overview of the case is a testament to the unpredictable and often perilous nature of life at sea, where a person can be present one moment and gone the next, swallowed by the immense and indifferent expanse of the ocean. William's story serves as a poignant reminder of the souls lost in the vast Alaskan waters.

Dec 22, 1994

Kodiak

Alaska

Kodiak Island Borough

No

77303

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

940082168

Alaska State Troopers

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/27/2026