John Mitchell Spear was 43 when he was lost at sea on April 28, 1991. He was working aboard the F/V Berta J, a 38-foot longline halibut vessel, in waters south of Yakutat, Alaska, alongside fellow crewman Michael Lami. The Berta J sank about 50 nautical miles from shore and left very little evidence, and neither man nor the vessel was ever located.

At the time of his disappearance John was described as a white male, 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 200 pounds, with brown hair, hazel eyes, a scar on his left thigh and a tattoo on his upper left arm. The Alaska State Troopers hold the official report and the case remains open.

Did anyone work with these men or sail in that area at the end of April 1991 who can offer details about the Berta J’s final trip?