On a September day in 1989, 25-year-old Daniel Lester Jones, also known as Dan, disappeared into the waters near Sitka, Alaska. He and his companion, Daniel Novcaski, had been out on a boating trip near St. Lazaria Island when they encountered trouble. The two men were reported missing by the wife of one of the men when they failed to return as expected. The initial search for the two men was complicated by foggy conditions, which hampered the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard search and rescue unit from Sitka. The incident was part of a series of maritime losses that plagued Alaskan waters that year.
Not long after the search began, Daniel Jones' 13-foot Boston Whaler was discovered. The small boat was found anchored just offshore from St. Lazaria Island, curiously containing provisions such as food, gas, and even some halibut they had apparently caught. This discovery led investigators to believe that the two men had left the smaller boat behind and continued their fishing excursion in Daniel Novcaski's larger 17-foot fiberglass vessel. Some reports from the time describe a 16-foot halibut skiff with two men aboard capsizing in the vicinity of the island, which is approximately 10 miles west of Sitka.
Despite the discovery of the smaller boat and the intensive search efforts that followed, neither Daniel Jones nor Daniel Novcaski were ever seen again. The larger boat they were believed to be on was never located. The vast and often treacherous waters of Alaska likely claimed the vessel and its occupants, leaving behind unanswered questions for their families and community. The case serves as a somber reminder of the unforgiving nature of the sea, particularly in a year marked by numerous maritime tragedies in the region. Although they are presumed to be deceased, the bodies of Daniel Jones and Daniel Novcaski have never been recovered, leaving their final moments a mystery held by the ocean.
Last Seen: Sep 9, 1989
