Richard Legary Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Richard

Legary

37

White / Caucasian

Male

On January 29, 1989, a then 37-year-old Richard Paul Legary was serving as the skipper aboard the 98-foot steel crab fishing vessel, the 'Vestfjord'. The vessel, which was traveling from Seattle to Dutch Harbor, Alaska, found itself caught in a severe storm approximately 30 miles south of the Trinity Islands, just west of Kodiak Island. The crew sent out a mayday, reporting that the vessel was sinking due to the immense weight of accumulating ice. At the time of the distress call, the area was being battered by hurricane-force winds of up to 70 mph and 30-foot seas, which severely hampered search and rescue efforts. The 'Vestfjord' and its six crew members were lost to the sea that day. In addition to Richard Legary, the others aboard were Kevin Melnick, 28, Richard "Ricky" Kristovich, 37, Doug Harding, 35, of Seattle, Bill Hodgins, 33, of Anchorage, and a passenger, Daniel McDonald. Despite the efforts of search and rescue teams, including aircraft and the Coast Guard cutter Sedge, the vessel was never located. The severe weather conditions made the search incredibly challenging, and ultimately, the unforgiving waters of the Gulf of Alaska claimed the 'Vestfjord' and those aboard. The Alaska State Troopers investigated the tragic incident, and Richard Legary, along with the other missing crewmen, remains officially listed as a missing person. While two of the crew members were eventually found deceased, their identities are not specified in available records. The case serves as a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea, especially in the notoriously treacherous Alaskan waters. The disappearance of Richard Legary and the rest of the crew of the 'Vestfjord' is a heart-wrenching story of lives lost to the immense and unpredictable power of nature.

Jan 29, 1989

Dillingham

Alaska

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07/29/2026