David Elia, 75, vanished from the Fairbanks area with his last known date of contact recorded as September 13, 1987. A member of the American Indian or Alaska Native community, he was described as someone connected to the land; what happened to him in the Alaskan interior remains unresolved.

The most striking piece of evidence was his riverboat, found about 15 miles south of Tanana on the Yukon River. The boat was discovered circling with its engine running and no occupant aboard. An extensive search of the surrounding wilderness and river systems followed, but no trace of David was ever found.

The Alaska State Troopers eventually concluded that he had likely perished, though how he became separated from the boat — accident, medical emergency, or other cause — is unknown. Did anyone in the community or river traffic at the time notice the circling boat or see David before September 13, 1987?