Mickey Aus Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Mickey

Aus

35

White / Caucasian

Male

In the harsh and unforgiving waters of the Gulf of Alaska, a story of loss and mystery began to unfold. It was February 27, 1990, when 35-year-old Mickey Allen Aus, a man with brown hair and blue eyes, was last seen. He, along with two other men, Tracy Hill and David Strom, embarked on a journey aboard a vessel, charting a course from the shores of Blaine, Washington, to the remote fishing community of King Cove, Alaska. Their voyage, however, would be tragically cut short, leaving behind a wake of unanswered questions and enduring grief for their families. The vast and treacherous expanse of the northern sea would become the final, silent witness to the events that transpired, swallowing whole the vessel and the men aboard, and offering few clues as to their ultimate fate. The alarm was raised when the vessel failed to reach its destination, prompting a search and rescue operation in the tumultuous Gulf of Alaska. The conditions that greeted the search parties were nothing short of harrowing; ferocious winds howled at speeds of 60 knots, churning the sea into a chaotic frenzy with waves swelling to heights of up to 27 feet. These extreme weather conditions severely hampered the search efforts, turning the already daunting task of locating the missing vessel and its crew into a near-impossible one. Despite the valiant efforts of the rescuers, the vastness of the ocean offered little solace. The search yielded only scant and heartbreaking evidence of the disaster that had occurred. A life raft, a beacon of hope in such circumstances, was discovered, but it was empty. Along with the raft, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and a single survival suit were also found, floating amidst the debris field. These few recovered items were located approximately 70 miles southeast of Cordova, near the desolate coastline of Cape Suckling, a testament to the power of the sea and the fragility of life upon it. The discovery of the life raft and other debris, without any sign of the three men, led to the sorrowful conclusion that Mickey Aus, Tracy Hill, and David Strom had been lost to the unforgiving sea. The official investigation, conducted by the Alaska State Troopers, pieced together the narrative of a vessel succumbing to the overwhelming forces of nature. The absence of survivors and the minimal debris painted a grim picture of a sudden and catastrophic event that left no opportunity for escape. The case remains a poignant reminder of the inherent dangers of maritime travel in the wild and unpredictable waters of Alaska. The narrative of Mickey Allen Aus's disappearance is one of a journey that ended in tragedy, a comprehensive search effort thwarted by the very elements that claimed the vessel, and an outcome that brought no closure, only the enduring ache of loss for the families of the three men who vanished into the vast and indifferent expanse of the ocean.

Feb 27, 1990

Glennallen

Alaska

,

06/29/2026