William Lewis Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

William

Lewis

35

White / Caucasian

Male

On October 30, 1986, a then 35-year-old William "Scott" Lewis was aboard the fishing vessel Danube in the Gastineau Channel near Juneau, Alaska. Along with his two crewmembers, Tom Kelly and William "Bill" Tugman, Lewis was on a crabbing trip when a boating accident occurred near Marmion Island. The troller Danube disappeared, and all three men were reported missing. The circumstances surrounding the incident remain connected to the perils of the Alaskan waters they were navigating. Following the disappearance of the F/V Danube, search and rescue efforts were launched in the vast and often treacherous waters of the Gastineau Channel. Despite the extensive searches, neither William Lewis, Tom Kelly, nor William Tugman were ever found. Tragically, the only signs of the vessel were pieces of wreckage that were later discovered on the shores of Douglas and Admiralty Islands. The discovery of the debris confirmed the fate of the Danube, but the exact details of what happened on that late October day remain unknown. The disappearance of William Lewis, Tom Kelly, and William Tugman is a somber reminder of the dangers faced by those who make their living on the sea. The case remains open, but all three men are presumed to have died in the accident. Without the recovery of the vessel or the men, their families have been left without definitive answers, a common and heartbreaking reality for many maritime incidents in Alaska. The incident is a significant event in the maritime history of the Juneau area, highlighting the unforgiving nature of the Alaskan wilderness and the profound loss experienced by the local community.

Oct 30, 1986

Juneau

Alaska

,

07/05/2026