John Louis Heck, 29, disappeared from the 100-foot fishing vessel Surland on November 20, 1990, after being pulled overboard about 90 miles northwest of the entrance to Point Moeller, Alaska. He reportedly became entangled in a crab line and was dragged from the deck into the Bering Sea. He was wearing an orange rain suit, blue coveralls and rubber boots but was not wearing a personal flotation device or a survival suit.

Heck was a White/Caucasian male, 5 feet 9 inches and about 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, a pierced left ear and scars on one ankle and one elbow. Search and rescue teams conducted extensive efforts but he was never found. The Alaska State Troopers opened a missing persons case on November 21, 1990.

Anyone who worked on the Surland or was operating in that area on November 20, 1990 and has information about the incident is asked to come forward.