Melvin Wick Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Melvin

Wick

41

White / Caucasian

Male

On the frigid waters of Alaska, February 14, 1985, marked the last time 41-year-old Melvin J. Wick was seen. He was a crewman aboard the fishing vessel, the F/V Alert, which was navigating the treacherous seas between Uganik Bay and Alitak Bay off Kodiak Island. The vessel, an 83-foot boat, found itself in the unforgiving grip of the Shelikof Straits, reportedly heading for the shelter of Bumble Bay as it took on ice. Along with Wick, four other souls were on board: Shawn Heaney, Ray Basel, Paul Rowe, and Sveinn Adalsteinsson. The tight-knit maritime community of Kodiak was left to face the harrowing uncertainty of their fate. The circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the F/V Alert and its five crew members are shrouded in the mystery of the sea. The vessel was reported missing, and despite what would have been an extensive search in the harsh Alaskan waters, no trace of the boat or the men has ever been found. The complete absence of debris, life rafts, or any personal effects has left families and investigators with a painful void and a case that has grown cold over the decades. The unforgiving nature of the Shelikof Strait, known for its volatile weather and icy conditions, is a likely contributor to the vessel's vanishing, but without any physical evidence, the exact cause remains a matter of speculation. The disappearance of Melvin Wick and his fellow crewmen stands as a somber testament to the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea. The case remains open with the Alaska State Troopers, a lingering reminder of five lives lost to the vast and powerful Alaskan waters. For the families of Melvin Wick, Shawn Heaney, Ray Basel, Paul Rowe, and Sveinn Adalsteinsson, the passage of time has not brought closure, only the enduring pain of not knowing what happened on that Valentine's Day in 1985. The collective loss is a story that has been echoed in the close-knit fishing communities of Alaska, where the sea both gives and tragically takes away. The case serves as a permanent record of the risks inherent in the maritime industry and the profound and lasting impact such tragedies have on the lives of those left behind.

Feb 14, 1985

Kodiak

Alaska

,

07/24/2026