Alexie Nose, 36, was among seven people who went missing after leaving Quinhagak, Alaska, on October 20, 2020, for a seal hunt. The party departed in a 20-foot aluminum skiff, traveled from Quinhagak to Bethel to pick up additional members, and was last seen near the mouth of the Eek River on Eek Island. When they failed to return, they were reported overdue to the Alaska State Troopers on October 21, 2020.

An extensive multi-agency search followed. Local searchers from Quinhagak and Eek, Bethel Search and Rescue, the Alaska State Troopers and the U.S. Coast Guard searched by boat and air, including a DPS Cessna Caravan and a USCG C-130. Cold weather, falling temperatures, and ice formation made conditions hazardous. Some debris — gas tanks, a bucket, a glove and a personal flotation device — was recovered but could not be confirmed as belonging to the missing party.

Official search operations by the Coast Guard and State Troopers were suspended after four days; local searches continued for a time but the search was put on hold indefinitely at the end of October 2020 with plans to resume in spring only if new evidence surfaced. Many in the community believe the group suffered a fatal accident and drowned, but no definitive evidence has been publicly confirmed and the fate of Alexie Nose and the six others remains unresolved.

Did anyone in the area have contact with the group before October 20, 2020, or information about their planned route?