Jondalar Joseph Washington was 17 when he disappeared from his family’s home in the rural community of St. Michael, Alaska. He was last seen on May 19, 1998 carrying a 20 gauge Winchester pump-action shotgun, a blue tarp, and a camouflage tarp. He is described as 5 feet 0 inches to 5 feet 7 inches tall, about 110 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a scar on his left hand. At the time he was reportedly wearing a blue sweatshirt, a blue jacket, dark blue or black cotton pants, and a blue cap.

Classmates said he spoke of walking to Unalakleet after school, a roughly 60-mile coastal trek that at that season could involve crossing pan ice that later melted. The Alaska State Troopers were notified on May 21, 1998, and opened an investigation; he remains listed as a missing person and in national missing-person databases. Few details or verifiable leads have emerged since his disappearance, leaving many unanswered questions for his family and community.

If anyone knew Jondalar, saw him around St. Michael in May 1998, or has information about his planned travel toward Unalakleet, please come forward.