Fredrick Smart Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Fredrick

Smart

29

Male

In the vast and often unforgiving landscape of Alaska, the story of Fredrick Henry Smart adds a somber note to the many mysteries the state holds. A 29-year-old American Indian / Alaska Native man, Fredrick was a resident of Bethel, a regional hub in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. On an autumn day, October 13, 1987, he was last seen, and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance have left his loved ones with unanswered questions for decades. At the time he went missing, Fredrick was described as being 68 inches tall and weighing approximately 145 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. A notable characteristic was a scar on one of his feet from a bullet wound, though which foot was affected is unknown. His attire on that fateful day consisted of a denim jacket, a nylon blue jacket with "Francis Smart Marshall" inscribed on it, black rain gear, and black leather boots. The prevailing theory regarding Fredrick's disappearance is that he may have drowned near Sheldon Point, a community located at the mouth of the Yukon River on the Bering Sea coast. The details of how he came to be in that remote location and what led to the presumption of drowning are not widely available in public sources. The Alaska State Troopers in Anchorage are the primary agency investigating his case, which remains open. The remote and rugged nature of the Alaskan wilderness often complicates search and rescue efforts, and in many cases, individuals who go missing are tragically never found. The presumption of drowning suggests a possible boating or water-related incident, a common peril in a state with thousands of miles of coastline and countless rivers and lakes. Fredrick's case is a poignant reminder of the many individuals who have vanished in Alaska, their fates remaining unknown. His family and community have been left to grapple with the ambiguity and sorrow of their loss. As time passes, the hope of finding answers may fade, but the memory of Fredrick endures. The investigation by the Alaska State Troopers continues, a testament to the ongoing effort to bring closure to the families of the missing. The overview of this case underscores the harsh realities of life in remote Alaskan regions, where the beauty of the natural environment is matched by its potential for danger, and where the line between being present and being lost can be perilously thin.

Oct 13, 1987

Bethel

Alaska

,

07/19/2026