Carl Nicolai Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Carl

Nicolai

29

Male

In the autumn of 1986, a 29-year-old man named Carl W. Nicolai disappeared from the area of Bethel, Alaska. An American Indian/Alaska Native male, Carl was last seen on October 15, 1986, on the Qweek River, which is located near the community of Kwethluk. At the time he went missing, he was wearing an Alaska National Guard camouflage uniform and black combat boots. Standing at five feet seven inches and weighing around 180 pounds, Carl had black hair and brown eyes. A scar on one of his left fingers was a distinguishing physical feature. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance led authorities to presume he had drowned. The details of what led to Carl being on the Qweek River that day remain limited in publicly available information. His case is documented as a missing person, and the Alaska State Troopers are the investigating agency. For years, his family and community have lived with the uncertainty of his fate. The case was officially entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) on March 17, 2020, many years after he was last seen. This entry serves as a centralized point of information, ensuring that the details of his case are accessible to law enforcement agencies and the public across the country. The disappearance of Carl Nicolai is one of many long-unsolved missing persons cases in Alaska. His profile remains active, a poignant reminder of a life interrupted and a family left without answers. The vast and often unforgiving wilderness of Alaska presents unique challenges in search and recovery efforts, and for many families, this means an agonizingly long wait for any news. The official presumption is that Carl drowned, but without a recovery, the case remains open. The investigation continues in the hope that one day, new information will emerge to provide a definitive answer and bring closure to those who have waited for decades.

Oct 15, 1986

Bethel

Alaska

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07/18/2026