The person at the center of this case
Dennis Jay Olberding
Missing Person · Open
35 years waiting · since 1991
Missing Person: Dennis Jay Olberding
Justice for Dennis Jay Olberding — the trail went cold in 1991, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1Why was the Barbarossa lost? What caused the vessel to capsize in the Bering Sea?
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witness
Lead #2Were there any radio communications or observations from other vessels in the area that night?
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person
Lead #3Five other crewmen disappeared with Dennis: Donald Bright, George Brandenburg, Timothy Schmitt, Darrell Gross, and Brian McPherson. Were their families able to provide additional context about the voyage?
Dennis Jay Olberding, a 38-year-old crewman, went missing on February 10, 1991, when the 98-foot crab fishing vessel Barbarossa was lost in the Bering Sea approximately 30 miles west of St. George Island, Alaska. The Coast Guard received a distress call around 1:00 AM but never located the vessel, and it is presumed to have capsized and sank. Dennis disappeared along with five other crewmen, and the case remains unsolved after more than three decades.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Has any wreckage or debris from the Barbarossa ever been recovered from the Bering Sea?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP66824. Missing person: Dennis Jay Olberding.
Last known contact: 1991-02-10 in Dillingham, Dillingham, AK. Circumstances: Dennis was last seen on 02/10/1991 aboard the 98 foot steel crab fishing vessel, Barbarossa, which was lost in the Bering Sea about 30 miles west of St.
George Island. The Coast Guard received a distress call from the boat around 1:00am but searches did not locate the boat or the crewmen.
It is presumed that the boat capsized and sank. Dennis is missing with five other crewmen including Donald Bright (MP #66651), George Brandenburg (MP #67271), Timothy Schmitt (MP #67212), Darrell Gross (MP #66865), and Brian McPherson (MP #66996).
Demographics: 38 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 6 ft 0 in, 170 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | 910010518.
Timeline of Events
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1991-02-10
01:00Distress Call and Vessel Loss
The 98-foot steel crab fishing vessel Barbarossa transmitted a distress call around 1:00 AM from the Bering Sea, approximately 30 miles west of St. George Island. The vessel is presumed to have capsized and sank.
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1991-02-10
Last Known Contact
Dennis Jay Olberding was last seen aboard the Barbarossa on February 10, 1991.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:February 10, 1991 at 1:00 AM
Last Updated:September 18, 2026
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Phone: 9072695511
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Case Information
Incident:February 10, 1991 at 1:00 AM
Last Updated:September 18, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous