Wayne Marvin Captain was 22 when he disappeared during a winter snowmachine trip in Alaska. On December 18, 1987, he and a companion left Ruby bound for Galena and were traveling across the Yukon River when their snowmachine broke through an area of open water about four miles west of Ruby. The machine was later recovered roughly 30 feet from where its tracks stopped at the water’s edge.

Searchers located the companion deceased, and the Alaska State Troopers conducted an investigation. For 24 days teams dragged the open-water area of the river but never recovered Wayne. He is described as an American Indian/Alaska Native male, 5 feet 4 inches, about 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, last seen in a tan down jacket and green flight pants.

Does anyone have information about travel on that stretch of the Yukon River in December 1987 or memories that might help explain what happened that day?