Overview

Last Seen: June 20, 2026, at approximately noon
Location: Willow, Alaska; family information indicates Sapp lived along the Kashwitna River
Age: 85 at the time he disappeared
Known As: Donald “Butch” Sapp
Case: AK26060015
Status: Missing; no publicly documented resolution located as of August 21, 2026

Main circumstances: Neighbors reportedly last saw Sapp at noon on June 20. Five days later, Alaska State Troopers were asked to conduct a welfare check at his Willow residence. Troopers and volunteer search teams searched the property but did not find him. A family-related social-media post states that Sapp lived on the Kashwitna River, adding important geographical context to the disappearance.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Donald “Butch” Sapp Missing in Alaska: What Is Known About the 2026 Willow Case

Donald “Butch” Sapp, an 85-year-old Alaska man associated with the Willow and Wasilla area, disappeared in June 2026, prompting a search by the Alaska State Troopers and volunteer search teams. Sapp was last reported seen by neighbors around noon on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

The case is being handled under Alaska State Troopers case AK26060015.

Very Brief Case Summary

Last Seen: June 20, 2026, at approximately noon
Location: Willow, Alaska; family information indicates Sapp lived along the Kashwitna River
Age: 85 at the time he disappeared
Known As: Donald “Butch” Sapp
Case: AK26060015
Status: Missing; no publicly documented resolution located as of August 21, 2026

Main circumstances: Neighbors reportedly last saw Sapp at noon on June 20. Five days later, Alaska State Troopers were asked to conduct a welfare check at his Willow residence. Troopers and volunteer search teams searched the property but did not find him. A family-related social-media post states that Sapp lived on the Kashwitna River, adding important geographical context to the disappearance.

Donald “Butch” Sapp Disappears Near Willow, Alaska

According to the Alaska State Troopers, Sapp’s neighbors last saw him at approximately noon on Saturday, June 20, 2026. There is no publicly released indication from authorities that he was seen again after that point.

The circumstances surrounding the days between his last confirmed sighting and the subsequent welfare check have not been extensively detailed in the public Trooper release. Authorities have not publicly described a known destination, planned trip, confirmed vehicle movement, or verified later sighting.

That lack of publicly available information leaves a significant question at the center of the case: what happened to Sapp after neighbors saw him on June 20?

Welfare Check Leads to Missing-Person Investigation

On June 25, 2026—five days after Sapp’s reported last sighting—the Alaska State Troopers were asked to conduct a welfare check at a residence in Willow.

Sapp was not located.

Troopers subsequently reported that they and volunteer search teams conducted a thorough search of the property. Despite those efforts, searchers were unable to find the 85-year-old man.

The Alaska State Troopers publicly classified the incident as a missing-person case under reference number AK26060015.

Kashwitna River Connection

Additional context appeared through social media. A post shared through the LinkedIn account of Kristan Cole describes missing Donald Sapp as her father and says he is known as “Butch Sapp.”

The post also states that he lived on the Kashwitna River.

That detail is significant because it provides greater context for the environment surrounding his disappearance than the initial Trooper bulletin, which lists the case location simply as Willow.

Information originating from family or social-media posts should be distinguished from information formally confirmed by investigators. However, family posts can be particularly valuable in missing-person investigations because relatives may provide details about routines, property locations, habits, clothing, vehicles, or other circumstances that have not appeared in short law-enforcement bulletins.

What Investigators Have Publicly Confirmed

The publicly released information from the Alaska State Troopers establishes several important facts.

Sapp was 85 years old when he disappeared. His neighbors reportedly saw him at approximately noon on June 20. Authorities were asked to conduct a welfare check on June 25. Troopers and volunteer search teams searched the property but did not locate him.

Authorities then appealed directly to the public for information about Sapp’s whereabouts.

The Troopers asked anyone who sees Sapp or has information concerning his location to contact them at 907-352-5401.

Latest Publicly Available Investigation Information

As of August 21, 2026, the original Alaska State Troopers missing-person dispatch remains the principal official public account I located concerning Sapp’s disappearance.

I did not locate a subsequent publicly indexed Alaska State Troopers announcement reporting that Sapp had been found, confirming his death, announcing an arrest, identifying a suspect, or reclassifying the disappearance as a homicide.

For that reason, the circumstances should not be characterized publicly as a homicide based on the currently available information.

The absence of a newer publicly searchable announcement does not necessarily mean investigative activity has stopped. Missing-person investigations can continue without frequent public updates, particularly when authorities have no new information they are prepared to release.

Questions That Remain Unanswered

Several important questions remain unanswered in publicly available records.

It has not been publicly explained what prompted the welfare-check request on June 25, who initially requested it, or whether anything unusual was discovered at Sapp’s residence.

Authorities have also not publicly detailed whether Sapp’s vehicles and personal belongings were accounted for, whether searches extended substantially beyond his property, whether the Kashwitna River or surrounding waterways were searched, or whether investigators obtained surveillance footage, phone records, financial activity, or other evidence that could establish his movements after June 20.

No publicly released information located for this article identifies a suspect or states that investigators have evidence of foul play.

Public Assistance Remains Important

Donald “Butch” Sapp’s disappearance involves a narrow but critical window beginning with his reported last sighting around noon on June 20, 2026.

Anyone who saw Sapp around Willow, the Kashwitna River area, or elsewhere during or after that period—or who has information that could help establish his movements—is encouraged to provide that information directly to law enforcement.

Even information that initially appears insignificant can help investigators reconstruct a missing person’s final confirmed movements.

Alaska State Troopers: 907-352-5401
Case Reference: AK26060015