The person at the center of this case
Gaye Gardner McDowell
Missing Person · Unsolved
18 years waiting · since 2007
Missing Person: Gaye Gardner McDowell
Justice for Gaye Gardner McDowell — the trail went cold in 2007, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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vehicle
Lead #1What caused the LifeGuard helicopter to crash in Prince William Sound?
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evidence
Lead #2What condition was the debris in and what did it reveal about the aircraft?
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person
Lead #3Were the other two passengers, Lance Brabham and Cameron Carter, ever located?
Gaye Gardner McDowell, a 60-year-old woman, went missing on December 3, 2007, when a LifeGuard helicopter she was aboard disappeared in Prince William Sound near Whittier, Alaska. Debris was found in Passage Canal across from the Whittier Ferry Terminal, but an extensive 7-day search recovered no survivors. Two other passengers, Lance Brabham and Cameron Carter, also remain missing from the incident.
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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.
📍
location
Lead #4Why was no wreckage recovered despite the extensive search effort?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP50771. Missing person: Gaye Gardner McDowell.
Last known contact: 2007-12-03 in Whittier, Chugach, AK. Circumstances: Gaye McDowell was reported missing Monday, Dec.
3, 2007, when the LifeGuard helicopter she was on was reported missing in Prince William Sound near Whittier, AK. Debris located across from Whittier Ferry Terminal in Passage Canal.
An extensive 7 day search found no survivors. Also missing are Lance Brabham and Cameron Carter.
Demographics: 60 years, Female, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 2 in, 170 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | 070101275 | 2007-12-03.
Timeline of Events
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2007-12-03
Helicopter Missing
LifeGuard helicopter reported missing in Prince William Sound near Whittier, AK with Gaye McDowell and two other passengers aboard
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2007-12-03
Debris Located
Debris from the helicopter found across from Whittier Ferry Terminal in Passage Canal
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2007-12-10
Search Concluded
Extensive 7-day search completed with no survivors found
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 3, 2007
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
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Phone: 9072695511
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Case Information
Incident:December 3, 2007
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous