Left and Center: Virgil circa, 1986
Right: Age Progressed to age 38
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: June 11, 1986
Missing From: Pelican, Skagway Yakutat Angoon County, Alaska
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: December 26, 1968
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 5’7″ and 140 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Male, Brown hair, Blue eyes, Virgil has a 12 inch surgical scar on the left side of his body and a chicken pox scar on his forehead, his ears are square shaped and he makes a distinctive noise when he breaths, Virgil May use the aliases Wayne Wade/Wayne Virgil and often goes by his middle name “Wade”
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A green/gray plaid flannel shirt and green rain gear
NCMEC Number: 601916
Details of Disappearance
Virgil Tackett was last seen in Pelican, Alaska on June 11th 1986. He was last sighted on a 14 foot skiff near Chichagof Island near the Alaskan Panhandle. He had departed from Pelican, Alaska earlier in the day and was accompanied by a coworker and a dog.
The coworker stated that he and Virgil had been exploring nearby islands before Virgil departed and left his coworker and the dog on a small Island. When Virgil never returned, his coworker flagged down another boater and got back to the mainland. Virgil was never seen or heard from again.
A short time afterwards, Virgil’s skiff was found near Chichagof Island and it had been ground into the sand. The motor of the boat was still in gear. There was no sign of Virgil. Investigators believe that he might have fallen from the skiff and into the water, he was not wearing a life jacket at the time of his disappearance and may have drowned.
Despite the drowning theory, investigators received multiple sightings of Virgil. Some places him in different parts of Alaska, such as the cities of Juneau, Hoonah, and Sitka. The most recent sighting reported was in 1998 when someone said they saw Virgil on Montreal Street and Charles Street in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The sightings have never been confirmed.
At the time of his disappearance, Virgil was an accomplished outdoorsmen who was taking a trip in Alaska at the time of his disappearance and was only 3 weeks into his trip. He planned to get a job on a crab fishing boat but instead ended up working at a cannery. He had planned to spend his earnings on future church activities, he was a devoted Mormon at the time of his disappearance. He was also a boy scout at the time.
Virgils disappearance remains unsolved. It’s possible that he’s suffering from partial or total amnesia and may not have any recollection of his past. He has not been located.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Alaska State Troopers 907-465-4000
Source Information