Left: Mitchell circa, 1986
Right: Age Progressed to age 45
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: January 25, 1986
Missing From: Anacortes, Skagit County, Washington
Classification: Lost, Injured Missing
Date Of Birth: January 18, 1969
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 5’10” and 150 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Male, Brown hair, Hazel eyes, Mitchell has an orthopedic nail implanted in his right knee as a result of previously breaking it, he also has a surgical scar on the same knee, he has precisely broken his hand and his nickname is “Mitch”
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A bright yellow colored sweatshirt, jeans, white sneakers, Mitchell was last known to be wearing a red baseball cap
NCMEC Number: 1207302
Details of Disappearance
Mitchell was last seen in Anacortes, Washington with his two friends, Keith Humenik and Anthony Beirnes, on January 25th 1986. They went out on the ocean on a homemade 10 foot aluminum white skiff. The three of them were last seen near Fidalgo Island. They were only meant to be gone for about an hour but none of them ever returned to shore and were never seen or heard from again.
The boys did not take any equipment with them like camping gear. They were intending to head for Young Island. It’s unknown if they were going fishing or possibly exploring.
After the boys were reported missing, searchers found one of the skiffs oars on the southern side of Burrows island and this would be the only trace of the boys that would ever be found. Keith, Anthony, and Mitchell are believed to have drowned. The United States Coast Guard searched for the boys until January 29th.
Several of Mitchell’s family members were also fisherman at the time of his disappearance. His older brother Mark drowned in a fishing accident near Aleutian Islands in Alaska about three months before Mitchell went missing. all The boys were all juniors in high school at the time of their disappearances. Their cases remain unsolved.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Skagit County Sheriffs Office 360-336-9450
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children