A Family Voyage Turns Tragic

On June 4, 1996, Dianna Lynn Meyer, aged 49, and her 17-year-old daughter Christine vanished under suspicious circumstances while aboard their family's 50-foot yacht, the Marjo, in Salisbury Sound, approximately 30 miles northwest of Ketchikan, Alaska. The family, including Dianna's husband, Robert James "Bob" Meyer, was en route to Sitka when the incident occurred. Robert later reported that he had awakened his wife and daughter around 12:30 a.m. due to the smell of smoke. After retrieving their two dogs from inside the boat, he claimed that Dianna and Christine were missing upon his return. Robert then used the outboard skiff they were towing to search for them but ultimately proceeded alone to Sitka. 

The Burning of the Marjo

The U.S. Coast Guard located the Marjo, but it was engulfed in flames and sank shortly thereafter. Investigators discovered fuel containers, one containing diesel fuel, on the vessel. Additionally, a .38 caliber shell casing and a smear of blood, later identified as Dianna's, were found on the family's skiff. The wreckage of the Marjo was located at a depth of over 500 feet, making it inaccessible to scuba divers. Attempts to raise the wreckage resulted in it breaking apart, though several significant parts, including the engines and a daybed, were recovered. Notably, these items were almost unburned, suggesting the fire may have started from the top down, contradicting Robert's account....Read More