In the spring of 1993, a sense of quiet routine settled over the coastal community of Ketchikan, Alaska. It was in this setting that 37-year-old Daniel John Schalles was last seen on May 8th. A resident of this southeastern Alaskan town, Daniel was known to be wearing blue jeans, a Carhartt coat, and cowboy boots, typical attire for the rugged environment. He was a man with a number of distinctive tattoos on his left arm, shoulder, and upper arm, as well as various scars on his abdomen, right arm, chin, left knee, left wrist, and back. Little did anyone know that this ordinary day would become the starting point of a lasting and sorrowful mystery.
The circumstances surrounding Daniel's disappearance are deeply intertwined with the fate of his companion, Tony Myers. The two men were together on a skiff, navigating the waters near the east end of Gravina Island. It is believed that a boating accident occurred, leading to the small vessel capsizing and plunging both men into the frigid Alaskan waters. The exact details of what transpired on the water remain unknown, lost to the vast and unforgiving wilderness of the region. The theory that they drowned as a result of this accident is the primary explanation for their sudden vanishing.
In the wake of the presumed accident, extensive searches of the area were launched. Rescue teams scoured the coastline and the surrounding waters, hoping to find any trace of Daniel Schalles and Tony Myers. Despite their determined efforts, the searches were ultimately unsuccessful. Neither the men nor the skiff were ever located, leaving their families and the community with no closure. The case, now decades old, serves as a somber reminder of the inherent dangers of the sea and the suddenness with which lives can be altered. The Alaska State Troopers investigated the disappearance, but without any new leads or evidence, the case remains an unsolved and poignant chapter in the history of Ketchikan.
Last Seen: May 8, 1993
