The person at the center of this case
Vern Stephen Pratt
Missing Person · Unsolved
64 years waiting · since 1961
Missing Person: Vern Stephen Pratt
Justice for Vern Stephen Pratt — the trail went cold in 1961, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1What happened to Vern between 10:30 p.m. on November 6th and 9:00 a.m. on November 7th? Did he leave the vehicle on his own or was he removed?
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witness
Lead #2Were there other witnesses to the hit-and-run accident or to Vern's presence in the ditch that night?
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location
Lead #3Why was Vern in a ditch near the Portage Bar, and was this location related to the hit-and-run incident or a separate event?
Vern Stephen Pratt, a 22-year-old Alaska Native man, disappeared in Anchorage on November 6-7, 1961, after being involved in a hit-and-run accident. A witness found him intoxicated and asleep in his vehicle in a ditch near the Portage Bar on the evening of November 6th, but when the witness returned the next morning around 9:00 a.m., Vern was gone. Despite more than six decades passing, the circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear—whether he left voluntarily, suffered an accident, or met foul play.
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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 #4Given his intoxicated state and the vehicle's location, could Vern have wandered away and become lost or injured in the Anchorage area?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP91379. Missing person: Vern Stephen Pratt.
Last known contact: 1961-11-06 in Anchorage, Anchorage, AK. Circumstances: Vern was involved in a hit and run accident in Anchorage on the evening of 11/06/1961.
A witness reported that Vern was seen in his vehicle in the ditch near the Portage Bar on 11/06/1961 between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. on 11/06/1961.
He appeared to be intoxicated and laid down in the front seat of his vehicle and apparently went to sleep. At approximately 9:00 a.m.
on 11/07/1961, the witness saw the vehicle still in the ditch, but Vern was no longer in it. Demographics: 22 years, Male, American Indian / Alaska Native.
Physical description: 5 ft 10 in, 155 lbs, hair: Black, eyes: Black. Clothing and accessories: Accessories: Tie; Clothing: Charcoal colored slacks White shirt Light gray wool jacket with knit collar and knit cuffs; Footwear: Low cut black shoes.
Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | AK22053972 | 1961-11-08.
Timeline of Events
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1961-11-06
22:00-22:30Last seen in vehicle
Witness observed Vern intoxicated in his vehicle in a ditch near Portage Bar, appearing to be asleep in the front seat
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1961-11-07
09:00Vehicle found empty
Witness returned to the location and found the vehicle still in the ditch, but Vern was no longer present
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1961-11-08
Case reported
Alaska State Troopers opened investigation case AK22053972
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 6, 1961 at 8:30 PM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:November 6, 1961 at 8:30 PM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 9072695511
You can remain anonymous