Mar 17, 2020
Jul 03, 2024
Delbert
Kelley
79
31
68 inches
155 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the spring of 1978, a group of five men set out on a boating trip from Hydaburg to Craig, Alaska, a journey that would tragically be their last. Among them was 31-year-old Delbert L. Kelley, a resident of Prince of Wales. He was joined by Verne Edenshaw Jr., Glenn Cook, Victor (Jay) Burgess, and William Hamilton Jr. The group was last seen on May 6, 1978, at the Waterfall Resort, which is located approximately 15 miles from their destination of Craig. The alarm was presumably raised when the men failed to arrive in Craig and could not be contacted, prompting a search of the waters they were known to have been traversing. The search for the five missing men yielded grim findings that pointed towards a boating accident. One of the two skiffs the group was traveling in was discovered submerged near Cruz Island in San Alberto Bay. The second skiff was found tied to a rock in Canoe Pass. These discoveries led to the heartbreaking presumption that all five men had drowned. Despite search efforts, none of the men's bodies were ever recovered, leaving their families with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss that has endured for decades. The official consensus from authorities is that the men were victims of a tragic accident at sea. The disappearance of Delbert Kelley and his four companions remains a somber event in the history of the Prince of Wales community. The case is a stark reminder of the unforgiving nature of the Alaskan waters and the inherent risks associated with maritime travel in the region. Without any survivors or definitive evidence to suggest otherwise, the narrative of a fatal boating accident is the only explanation that has been offered. The collective loss of these five men has left an indelible mark on their families and the community, a story of a journey that ended in tragedy amidst the remote and rugged beauty of the Alaskan coastline.
May 06, 1978
Prince of Wales
Alaska
Prince of Wales-Outer Ketchikan County
No
77422
Alaska State Troopers
Anchorage
Alaska
Anchorage Borough
99507
Malia Miller
Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager
5700 East Tudor Road, Alaska
9072695511
State
Law Enforcement
A78-1439
Alaska State Troopers
na
Brown
Brown
Brown
No
07/25/2026
Read full forum posts and contribute to this case discussion.
Unlock forum access — $3.97/month
