INFORMATION RELEASE

Juneau, Alaska – July 31, 2025 – The Juneau Police Department, in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Public Safety and the State Medical Examiner’s Office, has confirmed the identification of human remains recovered in 2004 as those of Darryl Bruce Fawcett, who was reported missing in December of 1999.

At the time of the original report, Mr. Fawcett was described as experiencing homelessness and had not been in contact with his family since September of that year. Family members became concerned after checks mailed to him were returned uncashed. There were also reports that Darryl may have traveled to Yakutat, Alaska, in late 1999 or early 2000. The Yakutat Police Department confirmed he had briefly been in the area but had not been seen since his departure.

On March 13, 2004, a diver in the Gastineau Channel near Merchant’s Wharf discovered human remains approximately 83 feet below the surface. The remains were recovered and submitted to the State Medical Examiner’s Office but could not be identified with the technology available at that time.

On July 21, 2025, the Alaska Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory implemented a new DNA analysis method capable of extracting profiles from bones and teeth, significantly advancing efforts to identify long-unidentified remains.

Utilizing this new technology, the Department of Public Safety confirmed on July 31, 2025, that the remains recovered in 2004 were those of Darryl Fawcett.

The Alaska State Troopers have notified Mr. Fawcett’s next of kin.

The Juneau Police Department would like to thank all agencies involved for their continued dedication and advancement in forensic technology, which made this identification possible.