Roy Skavnes Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Mar 13, 2024

Roy

Skavnes

70

37

74 inches

190 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On September 1, 1992, a tragic event unfolded in the waters off the coast of Alaska, leading to the disappearance of 37-year-old Roy Perry Skavnes. He was last seen near Nome, a city situated on the southern Seward Peninsula coast on Norton Sound of the Bering Sea. On that fateful day, Skavnes was aboard a skiff that encountered perilous conditions in the heavy surf. The small vessel ultimately lost propulsion, leaving it at the mercy of the turbulent sea. The circumstances surrounding this incident point to a sudden and unforeseen maritime accident. The skiff capsized off the coast of Gambell, a community on St. Lawrence Island, located southeast of Cape Navareen. At the time of his disappearance, Roy Skavnes was reportedly wearing an orange regatta duck suit. The incident was classified as a man-overboard situation, and despite any search and rescue efforts that may have been launched, he was not located. The unforgiving nature of the Bering Sea, known for its cold temperatures and powerful currents, presented immense challenges to any rescue operation. Due to the circumstances of the skiff capsizing in such rough seas, authorities have presumed that Roy Skavnes drowned. His case is a somber reminder of the inherent dangers faced by those who make their living or travel on the waters of Alaska. The vast and often unpredictable environment of the region has been the scene of many maritime tragedies. The overview of this case is that of a sudden and unfortunate accident at sea, where a loss of power in severe weather led to a vessel capsizing and the subsequent loss of a life to the powerful and unforgiving waters.

Sep 01, 1992

Nome

Alaska

Nome Census Area

No

77684

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

920060884

Alaska State Troopers

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/26/2026