Janelle Gerlitz Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Janelle

Gerlitz

12

White / Caucasian

Female

On a summer day in Alaska, June 16, 1989, twelve-year-old Janelle Lavern Gerlitz was on a flight returning from a bible camp in Port Alsworth. The plane, carrying Janelle and three other passengers, was flying over the waters of the Cook Inlet near Soldotna when the unthinkable happened. The aircraft is believed to have run out of fuel, leading to a crash into the inlet. Janelle, a young girl with brown hair, hazel eyes, and a mole on her left cheek, was wearing blue jeans, a grey sweater with pink and green stripes, and red tennis shoes. She also had several small scars on her left eye, thumb, and little finger. The tragic incident did not just involve Janelle; three other individuals were on the plane as well: Tara Wetzel, William Johnson, and Michele Green. In the aftermath of the crash, search and rescue efforts were launched in the hopes of finding survivors. Unfortunately, these efforts yielded very little. While a few items from the plane were recovered from the water, the passengers were never located. The vast and unforgiving nature of the Cook Inlet, combined with the circumstances of the crash, created an incredibly challenging search environment. The disappearance of Janelle Gerlitz, along with Tara Wetzel, William Johnson, and Michele Green, left a void in the lives of their families and friends. The Alaska State Troopers in Anchorage have been the primary investigating agency for this case. Due to the nature of the plane crash and the fact that none of the passengers were ever found, all four are presumed to be deceased. This case serves as a somber reminder of the unpredictability of life and the dangers that can be present in even the most scenic of landscapes. The lack of closure has undoubtedly been a heavy burden for the loved ones of those who were lost on that fateful day in 1989.

Jun 16, 1989

Soldotna

Alaska

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07/19/2026