In the cold, unforgiving waters of the Bering Sea, a story of loss and enduring mystery began to unfold in the early days of January 1992. Sean Kelly McWethy, a 24-year-old man from Soldotna, Alaska, was aboard the F/V St. George, a 94-foot crab fishing vessel. He, along with five other crew members, departed from Dutch Harbor on January 2, 1992, heading for the lucrative but dangerous crab grounds. The last contact with the vessel was on January 4th.
At the time of his disappearance, McWethy had black hair, brown eyes, a birthmark on his back, and a scar on his lower lip.
The St. George and its crew were reported missing after they failed to make contact. An extensive search was launched in the vast and icy expanse of the Bering Sea. The only trace of the vessel ever found was its empty life raft, discovered on January 5, 1992, approximately 152 nautical miles north of Unimak Pass. Despite the numerous and exhaustive search efforts, neither the wreckage of the F/V St. George nor any of its six crew members were ever located, leaving their families with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss.
The tragedy claimed the lives of the entire crew. Along with Sean McWethy, the other men lost to the sea were skipper David Parkes, Terry James, and Brian Schouten, all from Blaine, Washington; Kevin Clark of Ferndale, Washington; and George Dahl of Bellingham, Washington. The case remains a painful memory for the families and the close-knit fishing community. The disappearance of the F/V St. George serves as a stark reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the tempestuous Alaskan waters. Decades later, the fate of Sean McWethy and his fellow crewmen remains an unsolved mystery, their vessel believed to be resting somewhere on the floor of the Bering Sea.Last Seen: Jan 4, 1992
