On June 17, 1983, 29-year-old Preston L. Fowler was dip netting on the Copper River about 5 miles south of Chitina when he fell into the glacier-fed water from the river’s west bank. He was wearing a long sleeve brown and green plaid shirt and green chest waders at the time. Search efforts were started but he was never found.

The Copper River’s cold temperatures, strong currents and remote, rugged surroundings are noted in the case as factors that complicated recovery. The Alaska State Troopers documented the incident, and with no body recovered the case remains an unresolved disappearance tied to an apparent accidental river immersion.

If anyone was in the Chitina area that June day or has information about river activity near that stretch of the Copper River, please share what you know.