The person at the center of this case
John Atherton Dieterich
Missing Person · Open
36 years waiting · since 1990
Missing Person: John Atherton Dieterich
Justice for John Atherton Dieterich — the trail went cold in 1990, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1What were the circumstances that led to the capsizing of the Aleutian Enterprise?
👤
person
Lead #2Were any of the eight missing crew members ever recovered or identified?
📍
location
Lead #3What was the exact location of the vessel when it went down, and were any bodies recovered from the wreckage?
John Atherton Dieterich, a 31-year-old crew member, went missing on March 22, 1990, when the 162-foot fishing trawler Aleutian Enterprise capsized and sank in the Bering Sea near Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Eight crew members were lost in the disaster, and Dieterich's remains have never been recovered. The case remains open as a maritime tragedy with ongoing investigative interest from the Alaska State Troopers.
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👁️
witness
Lead #4Were there any other vessels in the area that witnessed the disaster or assisted in search efforts?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP67278. Missing person: John Atherton Dieterich.
Last known contact: 1990-03-22 in Dutch Harbor, Aleutians West, AK. Circumstances: John was last seen on 03/22/1990 when the 162 foot fishing trawler, Aleutian Enterprise, capsized and sank in the Bering Sea with the crewmen aboard.
He is missing with Nelo Marciel (MP #67109), Joseph Alaimo (MP #66746), Matthew Schneider (MP #66931), Jeffrey Houston (MP #66905), Javier Valenzuela (MP #66739), David Jefferies (MP #66724), Robert McCord (MP #66701), and Robert Davis Jr (MP #67158). Demographics: 31 years, Male, American Indian / Alaska Native.
Physical description: 6 ft 0 in, 165 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Blue. Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | 900020277 | 1990-03-22.
Timeline of Events
👤
1990-03-22
Aleutian Enterprise Capsizes
The 162-foot fishing trawler Aleutian Enterprise capsized and sank in the Bering Sea with eight crew members aboard, including John Atherton Dieterich.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:March 22, 1990
Last Updated:May 21, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:March 22, 1990
Last Updated:May 21, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous