Dustin A. Burnham, 27, disappeared from his workplace on the Ohio River in the early hours of December 10, 2013. A dredge deck hand living in Metropolis, Illinois, he was working aboard Dredge IV for Hunter Marine’s Sand & Gravel division when he walked onto barge MEM 611 at about 2:45 a.m. to check a draft reading. It was a cold, snowy night and the deck was icy; his life jacket was later found inside the break room on a chair next to his cell phone.

The pilot of the tug Patsy M saw Burnham in the water and disconnected to attempt a rescue, but he drifted roughly 20 yards downstream and then disappeared beneath the surface. Local authorities were notified around 4:00 a.m., prompting an extensive search of the Ohio River from mile 952 to 970; the Coast Guard and MSHA investigated. MSHA concluded management had not ensured safe working conditions, citing accumulated snow and ice and lack of enforcement of the life jacket policy. Burnham was never recovered and his family held a memorial service on January 11, 2014.

If anyone was working on Dredge IV or nearby that night and has information about what happened, please come forward.