A Routine Task Turns Tragic

On November 28, 1990, John Slagill and Terrance "Sam" Batchelder, crew members aboard the fishing vessel Red Jacket, embarked on a routine mission that would end in mystery. Anchored near Finch Cove on Seguam Island in Alaska's Aleutian chain, the vessel required fresh water. Slagill and Batchelder set out in a 12-foot inflatable skiff to locate a freshwater stream on the island. Equipped with survival gear, including a flare gun, binoculars, a .22 rifle, fishing equipment, first aid kit, matches, lighters, a space blanket, knife, flashlights, paddles, outboard fuel, and life vests, they were prepared for the task ahead. 

The Disappearance

From the Red Jacket, the crew observed Slagill and Batchelder reach the shore and begin their search. As night fell, a snowstorm obscured visibility. By morning, the skiff and the two men had vanished. The only traces left were footprints in the snow, a single glove, a plastic sack, and drag marks indicating the skiff had been relaunched. ...Read More