The person at the center of this case
John Branner Fowler, Jr.
Missing Person · Open - Presumed Deceased
38 years waiting · since 1987
Missing Person: John Branner Fowler, Jr
Justice for John Branner Fowler, Jr. — the trail went cold in 1987, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1What caused the boating accident and why did Fowler go overboard?
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evidence
Lead #2What specific debris was recovered and where is it now?
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witness
Lead #3Were there other people on the boat who witnessed the accident?
John Branner Fowler, Jr., a 43-year-old man, disappeared on November 1, 1987, during a boating accident approximately 9 miles southwest of Sitka, Alaska. Only an empty life raft and debris were recovered from the scene, and he is presumed deceased. The case remains officially open with the Alaska State Troopers, and details about the circumstances of the accident and why he went overboard are still unclear.
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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 #4Why was only an empty life raft found with no trace of the victim?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP67056. Missing person: John Branner Fowler, Jr.
Last known contact: 1987-11-01 in Ketchikan, Ketchikan Gateway, AK. Circumstances: John was last seen on 11/01/1987 during a boating accident 9 miles southwest of Sitka.
Per online resources, an empty life raft and some debris were all that was found. He is presumed to be deceased.
Demographics: 43 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 6 ft 1 in, 200 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | 870071168.
Timeline of Events
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1987-11-01
Boating Accident and Disappearance
John Branner Fowler, Jr. disappeared during a boating accident 9 miles southwest of Sitka, Alaska. An empty life raft and debris were found at the scene.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 1, 1987
Last Updated:June 12, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:November 1, 1987
Last Updated:June 12, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous