Youth mortality

The Bethel Police Department received a report of a missing 15-year-old juvenile female on 03/15/2021 at approximately 1:00pm. At approximately 6:00pm the family of the missing juvenile believed they had located her body on the tundra west of BIA Road. Bethel Search and Rescue and police were dispatched to the scene.

The missing 15-year-old juvenile female of Bethel was found to be deceased by Bethel Search and Rescue and police, and they recovered her body from the tundra. The circumstances surrounding this incident are currently under investigation, though it is suspected that cold exposure was the predominant factor in her death. The girl’s remains will be sent to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage to determine the cause of death.

If anyone has any information regarding this incident, please contact the Bethel Police Department at (907) 543-3781. The members of the Bethel Police and Bethel Search and Rescue offer our condolences to her family and friends.