Overview

Date last seen: January 20, 1997
Location last seen: Mountain View neighborhood, Anchorage, Alaska

Main Circumstances

• Gary Lynn Allison disappeared after being dropped off in Anchorage’s Mountain View neighborhood.
• He had reportedly been behaving unusually on the day he vanished.
• During a phone call with his wife, he mentioned having made a “new friend.”
• He has never been seen or heard from again.
• Investigators believe his disappearance is suspicious and suspect he may have been the victim of foul play.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Gary Lynn Allison Disappearance (1997): Anchorage Cold Case Remains Unsolved

Brief Summary

Date last seen: January 20, 1997
Location last seen: Mountain View neighborhood, Anchorage, Alaska

Main Circumstances

• Gary Lynn Allison disappeared after being dropped off in Anchorage’s Mountain View neighborhood.
• He had reportedly been behaving unusually on the day he vanished.
• During a phone call with his wife, he mentioned having made a “new friend.”
• He has never been seen or heard from again.
• Investigators believe his disappearance is suspicious and suspect he may have been the victim of foul play.

The Disappearance of Gary Lynn Allison

Gary Lynn Allison was 42 years old when he disappeared from Anchorage, Alaska, on January 20, 1997. Nearly three decades later, his disappearance remains one of Alaska’s unresolved missing person cases.

Allison was last seen in the Mountain View area of Anchorage after a friend drove him there from his residence. Before disappearing, his wife spoke with him by telephone and later told investigators that he seemed to be acting unusually. During the conversation, Allison reportedly mentioned that he had made a “new friend,” though he did not provide additional details.

That conversation would be the last confirmed contact anyone had with him.

After being dropped off, Allison vanished without leaving any known trace. There has never been confirmed activity on his behalf, nor has anyone publicly reported seeing him after that day.

Authorities have long considered the circumstances suspicious. Although investigators have released very little information publicly regarding potential suspects or investigative leads, law enforcement believes Allison may have met with foul play. His case remains classified as an endangered missing person.

Description

At the time of his disappearance, Gary Allison was described as:

• 42 years old
• White male
• Approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall
• Approximately 175 pounds
• Brown hair
• Blue eyes

He also had several distinctive identifying features, including:

• A port-wine stain birthmark on his right cheek
• A scar on his right arm
• Three tattoos on his arms

He may have worn a beard, mustache, or goatee, and his hair was shoulder length when he disappeared.

Investigation

Despite years passing since Allison disappeared, investigators have never announced any arrests or publicly identified persons of interest.

His disappearance continues to be listed in national missing person databases, allowing investigators to compare his case with unidentified human remains discovered across the United States.

Authorities continue to classify the case as an active missing person investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Anchorage Police Department.

Latest Investigation Information

As of 2026:

Investigators still believe the disappearance occurred under suspicious circumstances and that foul play is a possibility.

Gary Lynn Allison remains listed as a missing person in national databases.

The Anchorage Police Department continues to investigate the case.

No public announcements have been made regarding new suspects, arrests, or a recovery.