James Metlicka, 30, vanished after a November 20, 2004 outing from Juneau in his 26-foot cabin cruiser Julie K. He and his lifelong friend Nicholas Mayer, also 30, had gone crabbing and deer hunting; the last known position was near Horse and Colt Islands about 12 miles west of Juneau. The Julie K was found capsized near Horse Island with both men’s dogs dead inside the overturned cabin. A float coat, an immersion suit, and multiple personal flotation devices were recovered, and the Alaska State Troopers reported no evidence that either man reached shore.

The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an intensive search with helicopter, boat, and search-and-rescue dogs before suspending efforts after days of searching. Families and private teams continued with boats, private planes, divers, and a specialized underwater team from Idaho, but no sign of Metlicka or Mayer was found. The friends are presumed drowned in a boating accident, yet neither body has been recovered and key questions about what happened remain open.

Did anyone in the Juneau area know James or Nick’s usual routes, equipment, or plans that day?