William Tugman Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

William

Tugman

29

White / Caucasian

Male

On October 30, 1986, a 29-year-old man named William "Bill" James Tugman was aboard the fishing vessel Danube on a crabbing trip in the Gastineau Channel near Juneau, Alaska. He, along with the vessel's owner, William Scott Lewis, and another crewmember, Tom Kelly, vanished in what is known to be a boating accident. The three men, all from Juneau, were last seen in the vicinity of Marmion Island before their vessel disappeared. The exact circumstances leading to the incident remain unclear, but it marked the beginning of a long and sorrowful chapter for the families and the close-knit maritime community of Juneau. In the days that followed the disappearance of the F/V Danube, search and rescue efforts were launched in the vast and often treacherous waters of the Gastineau Channel. The searchers' hopes were met with grim discoveries as wreckage from the Danube began to wash ashore on the coastlines of Douglas and Admiralty Islands. Despite extensive searches of the area, there was no sign of William Tugman, William Scott Lewis, or Tom Kelly. The recovery of the vessel's debris confirmed the tragic loss of the boat, but the absence of the crew left their loved ones in a painful state of uncertainty. The exhaustive but unsuccessful search efforts eventually led authorities to the heartbreaking conclusion that all three men had perished in the accident. William Tugman, along with his fellow crew members, is presumed to have died at sea on that fateful October day. The case remains a somber reminder of the perils faced by those who make their living on the waters of Alaska. The disappearance of the F/V Danube and its crew is a significant event in the maritime history of Juneau, a community that has seen its share of tragedies claimed by the sea. The collective loss of these three men has left an indelible mark on the hearts of their families and the local community.

Oct 30, 1986

Juneau

Alaska

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07/03/2026