John Heck Missing Person Case

Mar 17, 2020

Feb 20, 2024

John

Heck

64

29

69 inches

150 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

On November 20, 1990, a tragic accident occurred in the waters off the coast of Alaska, leading to the disappearance of 29-year-old John Louis Heck. At the time, he was working aboard the 100-foot fishing vessel, the Surland. The vessel was located approximately 90 miles northwest of the entrance to Point Moeller when the incident took place. John, a resident of Dillingham, Alaska, was reportedly pulled overboard into the frigid waters. The circumstances of his disappearance were sudden and harrowing; he became entangled in a crab line and was dragged from the deck of the ship. He was wearing an orange rain suit, blue coveralls, and rubber boots at the time, but unfortunately, was not equipped with a personal flotation device or a survival suit. John was a White/Caucasian male, standing at 5'9" and weighing around 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He had a few distinguishing physical features, including a pierced left ear and scars on one of his ankles and one of his elbows. The unforgiving environment of the Bering Sea, known for its cold temperatures and rough conditions, made the situation immediately perilous. The crew of the Surland would have been faced with a sudden and desperate emergency, attempting to locate and rescue their fellow crewman in the vast and challenging expanse of the open ocean. Following the incident, extensive search efforts were launched in an attempt to locate John Heck. However, despite the diligent work of search and rescue teams, he was never found. The Alaska State Troopers opened a case on November 21, 1990, the day after he was last seen. The case, which remains unresolved, is a painful reminder of the dangers faced by those who work in the commercial fishing industry in Alaska. John's disappearance is a story of a young man lost at sea, a life cut short in a moment of unforeseen danger. The overview of the case is one of a sudden accident, a desperate but ultimately unsuccessful search, and the lasting uncertainty that comes with a person lost to the vastness of the ocean.

Nov 20, 1990

Dillingham

Alaska

Dillingham Census Area

No

77387

Alaska State Troopers

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage Borough

99507

Malia Miller

Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska

9072695511

State

Law Enforcement

900077267

1990-11-21

Alaska State Troopers

8934

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/29/2026