It wasn’t unusual for 27-year-old Warren Jones to take long walks by himself outside of Nightmute, a village on Nelson Island. So, on the night of July 2 when he was seen on the hill behind the village, residents weren’t immediately concerned. However, when he didn’t return to town by the following day, local searchers began looking for him.
Eventually, a search and rescue team from nearby Toksook Bay was called for assistance and they sent out 2 boats and 4 four-wheelers to help in the search effort. A civil air patrol was also started.
Alaska State Troopers were contacted July 3 about the missing person. Trooper spokesperson Beth Ipsen says that Jones has been known to take long walks outside of the village by himself.
A civil air pilot eventually located Jones about 12 miles west of the village. The pilot was able to guide boat searchers to his location. Jones was found in fair condition and transported back to the village.
Ipsen says it is unknown why he hadn’t returned to the village on his own.
