On April 27, 1971, a 32-year-old man named Douglas Lawrence Simmons was working aboard the fishing vessel Arlene Gale in the waters of Onion Bay, near Raspberry Island and the city of Kodiak, Alaska. It was on this day that Douglas, who also went by the nicknames D.L. Simmons and XX Slim, vanished from the boat. The exact details surrounding how he was lost from the vessel remain scarce in public records. Douglas was a Caucasian male, standing at 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 175 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes. His disappearance prompted the Alaska State Troopers to open a missing person case, which has remained a source of unanswered questions for decades.
The circumstances of Douglas's disappearance are tied to the inherent dangers of the Alaskan fishing industry. The waters around Kodiak Island are known for their unforgiving nature, and life on a fishing vessel carries daily risks. The report of a man lost at sea is a tragic but not uncommon event in this region, where the weather and ocean conditions can change in an instant. For the family and friends of Douglas Simmons, the lack of specific information about what transpired on the F/V Arlene Gale has undoubtedly compounded their grief and longing for closure. The case, managed by the Alaska State Troopers Missing Persons Clearinghouse, stands as a testament to the perils faced by those who make their living on the sea.
The investigation into Douglas Simmons' disappearance is documented under agency case number A710092442 with the Alaska State Troopers. Over the years, his case has been entered into national databases for missing persons, including the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under case number MP66858. Despite these efforts, he has not been found. The passage of time has transformed this case from an active search to a long-standing cold case. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and tragic loss at sea, a scenario that has left a void of information. Without witnesses to the specific event or the recovery of any remains, the narrative of Douglas Simmons' last moments is left to the unforgiving waters of Onion Bay, a silent keeper of secrets.
Last Seen: Apr 27, 1971
