UPDATE: Body of missing boater located in Whittier waters

The body of a missing boater – also the brother of a Chugiak lawmaker – was located in Whittier waters, on Wednesday afternoon. The victim was reported missing over the weekend, after he failed to return from a crabbing trip. U.S. Coast Guard previously spent over 35 hours searching for the victim and his skiff, until they ultimately suspended the search.

Days later, the victim was located – tangled in the skiff's lines.

Channel 2 News spoke with family member Michael Stoltze, and he confirmed that the victim was Karl Stoltze, of Anchorage. Karl was Michael's third eldest brother, as well as a brother to former state senator Bill Stoltze.

"There's always been accidents deploying and retrieving gear – it's one of the most dangerous aspects of fishing," said Michael. "It's not uncommon to have problems with that."

According to Michael, after the U.S. Coast Guard and volunteers could not locate Karl along the mountainside of Passage Canal, they expanded the search to Black Point Bay. However, Michael said one place they didn't check were the crab pots.

"The coast guard said that they didn't have the authority, or the legal liability, to deal with someone else's pots without permission," Michael told Channel 2. "...We need a rescue boat in Whittier."

While the USCG could not check on the pots, Michael said the Whittier Harbor Master and volunteers could – and did. He said he expresses gratitude for everyone involved in the search effort.

"They [USCG] said my brother would only survive 7.6 hours, and they searched for him for over 40 hours," said Michael. "I am forever grateful to the Coast Guard for not giving up... They treated my brother like he was their brother."

The U.S.Coast Guard has suspended its search for a missing boater near Whittier.

Multiple crews searched a 10 square-mile area in Passage Canal and Whittier Harbor for more than 35 hours to locate the missing person, according to a release sent Sunday night.

"We search for every missing person as if we are searching for one of our own," said Michael McNeil, command duty officer for Sector Anchorage. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the missing boater during this difficult time."

The Coast Guard and volunteers are actively searching for a reportedly overdue 16-foot red skiff with one person on board.

According to a release, the Whittier harbor master alerted watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Anchorage of the possible overdue boat Saturday afternoon.

"The vessel reportedly made a trip to tend crab pots just north of Whittier and normally returns before approximately 1 p.m."

The search area includes Passage Canal near Whittier. The crew of the Krystalsea, a boat with volunteers on board spotted signs of debris "…on the north side of the canal and found an ice chest possibly belonging to the owner of the overdue vessel," a release from the Coast Guard stated.

"We are saturating an 8 square-mile search area in Passage Canal and Whittier Harbor with multiple boat and helicopter crews," said Cory Cichoracki, command duty officer for Sector Anchorage.