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.
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Key leads to think about
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vehicle
Lead #1What caused the Barbarossa to capsize? Was it weather conditions, mechanical failure, or another factor?
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evidence
Lead #2Have any wreckage, debris, or remains from the Barbarossa ever been recovered from the Bering Sea?
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person
Lead #3Five other crew members—Donald Bright, George Brandenburg, Dennis Olberding, Darrell Gross, and Brian McPherson—disappeared with Timothy; are their cases still open?
Timothy Joseph Schmitt, a 30-year-old crewman, went missing 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 were unable to locate the vessel or any survivors; it is believed the boat capsized and sank with all six crew members aboard. Despite extensive search efforts, Timothy and five fellow crewmen remain unrecovered, leaving questions about the exact circumstances of the disaster and whether any evidence might still surface from the deep ocean.
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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.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4Why was the distress call made at 1:00 AM, and what information did it contain about the vessel's condition?
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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
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1991-02-10
01:00Distress call received
Coast Guard received distress call from the Barbarossa around 1:00 AM in the Bering Sea
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1991-02-10
Vessel presumed lost
The 98-foot steel crab fishing vessel Barbarossa capsized and sank with six crew members aboard; vessel and crew never located
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
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Phone: 9072695511
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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