William Thomas Childress, known as Bill, was 42 when he went missing on May 28, 1980, while traveling by boat near Point Baker on Prince of Wales Island in southeastern Alaska. An experienced boater, he was last seen navigating the passage toward La Boucher Bay. He failed to arrive at his destination, prompting a search by the local community and the Alaska State Troopers.

Searchers later recovered Childress’s boat floating and overturned, but there was no sign of him. The overturned vessel and the cold, turbulent waters of the Inside Passage suggest a maritime accident, but no remains or additional evidence were found to establish exactly what happened. The Alaska State Troopers continue to list him as a missing person.

If anyone has memories of Bill, was on the water that day, or has information about travel between Point Baker and La Boucher Bay in late May 1980, please come forward.