The person at the center of this case
William Kent Watkins
Missing Person · Open
28 years waiting · since 1997
Missing Person: William Kent Watkins
Justice for William Kent Watkins — the trail went cold in 1997, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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vehicle
Lead #1What happened to the private vessel Loose Goose Too? Why was no wreckage ever found despite extensive searching?
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person
Lead #2Steven Scott Austin was traveling with Watkins—what details exist about their planned route and destination?
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evidence
Lead #3No trace of the vessel, equipment, or bodies was recovered—what could explain such a complete disappearance in a heavily-searched area?
William Kent Watkins, a 50-year-old man, disappeared on October 21, 1997, while aboard the private vessel Loose Goose Too in Alaska's Cook Inlet after purchasing fuel in Seldovia. He was traveling with Steven Scott Austin, and despite an extensive U.S. Coast Guard search of Kachemak Bay and lower Cook Inlet, no trace of the vessel or either man has ever been found. The circumstances of their disappearance remain unknown, and the case remains unsolved nearly three decades later.
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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.
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witness
Lead #4Were there any other vessels in the area on October 21, 1997 that might have witnessed the Loose Goose Too?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP67267. Missing person: William Kent Watkins.
Last known contact: 1997-10-21 in Soldotna, Kenai Peninsula, AK. Circumstances: William and Steven Scott Austin, MP#67224, were aboard the private vessel Loose Goose Too.
They purchased fuel in Seldovia on the afternoon of 10-21-1997. The USCG searched all of Kachemak Bay and the lower Cook Inlet, but no trace of the vessel or the two men were ever found.
Demographics: 50 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 10 in, 165 lbs, hair: Blond/Strawberry, eyes: Blue.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: Blue jeans Dress shirt; Eyewear: Glasses; Footwear: Unknown type of shoes. Investigating agency: Alaska State Troopers | 970073181 | 1997-10-26.
Timeline of Events
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1997-10-21
afternoonFuel Purchase in Seldovia
William Kent Watkins and Steven Scott Austin purchased fuel aboard the private vessel Loose Goose Too in Seldovia
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1997-10-21
Vessel and Crew Disappear
The Loose Goose Too and both men vanished in Cook Inlet area after leaving Seldovia
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1997-10-26
Coast Guard Search Initiated
USCG conducted extensive search of Kachemak Bay and lower Cook Inlet with no results
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:October 21, 1997 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:May 21, 2026
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Phone: 9072695511
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Case Information
Incident:October 21, 1997 at Invalid Date
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