The person at the center of this case
Timothy Joseph Schmitt
Missing Person · Open
35 years waiting · since 1991
Missing Person: Timothy Joseph Schmitt
Justice for Timothy Joseph Schmitt — the trail went cold in 1991, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1What caused the Barbarossa to capsize? Were there weather conditions, mechanical failure, or other factors documented?
👤
person
Lead #2Five other crew members were lost with Timothy: Donald Bright, George Brandenburg, Dennis Olberding, Darrell Gross, and Brian McPherson. Were their cases similarly documented?
📍
location
Lead #3Why was the Coast Guard unable to locate the vessel despite receiving a distress call? What search efforts were conducted?
Timothy Joseph Schmitt, a 30-year-old crewman, disappeared on February 10, 1991, when the 98-foot crab fishing vessel Barbarossa sank 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 was unable to locate the vessel or any of its six crew members before it capsized. The circumstances of the sinking and the exact fate of the crew remain unknown, making this a significant maritime mystery nearly three decades old.
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.
💡
clue
Lead #4Were any remains, debris, or wreckage from the Barbarossa ever recovered from the Bering Sea?
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 MP67212. Missing person: Timothy Joseph Schmitt.
Last known contact: 1991-02-10 in Dillingham, Dillingham, AK. Circumstances: Timothy 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. Timothy is missing with five other crewmen including Donald Bright (MP #66651), George Brandenburg (MP #67271), Dennis Olberding (MP #66824), Darrell Gross (MP #66865), and Brian McPherson (MP #66996).
Demographics: 30 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 160 lbs, hair: Blond/Strawberry, eyes: Green.
Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | 910010518.
Timeline of Events
👤
1991-02-10
01:00Distress Call and Vessel Loss
The 98-foot steel crab fishing vessel Barbarossa sent a distress call around 1:00 AM from the Bering Sea approximately 30 miles west of St. George Island. The vessel subsequently capsized and sank with six crew members aboard.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:February 10, 1991 at 1:00 AM
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:February 10, 1991 at 1:00 AM
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