A Routine Journey Turns Into a Mystery

On November 12, 1998, Boris McLuke, Sr., a 38-year-old Alaska Native man from Kotzebue, embarked on a snow machine trip to attend a funeral in Sheshalik, a small settlement northwest of Kotzebue. Traveling across the Kotzebue Sound, a route he likely knew well, Boris never arrived at his destination and was never seen again. His disappearance remains one of the enduring cold cases in Alaska’s Northwest Arctic Borough.

Perilous Conditions on the Kotzebue Sound

At the time of Boris's disappearance, the Kotzebue Sound presented hazardous conditions. Reports indicated open water and thin ice along the trail to Sheshalik, making travel treacherous for snow machine users. Such environmental factors are not uncommon in the region, where fluctuating temperatures can create unpredictable ice conditions, posing significant risks to travelers. ...Read More