Robert Paul Ritchie was 24 when he vanished from the 50-foot fiberglass fishing vessel Evanick in Alaskan waters on April 25, 1998. The Evanick departed Kodiak bound for Togiak and never reached its destination; the skipper Carl VanValkenberg and crewmen Harry Modesette and Shaun R. Gibson were aboard with him.

The prevailing account is that the Evanick rolled over and capsized suddenly, possibly after a skiff on deck shifted, and no survivors were recovered. The four men are officially documented as deceased and the event is recorded as a boating accident.

Anyone who knew Robert Ritchie or the others, or who has information about the Evanick’s final voyage, is asked to come forward.