Overview

Date Last Seen: September 5, 1978 (after being dropped off at home during the late evening of September 4, investigators list September 5 as the official missing date)

Location Last Seen: Family cabin off Scout Lake Road near Sterling, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Main Circumstances

• Scott, 13, and his 8-year-old half-sister Amy were left at home after their mother and aunt returned to a nearby bar.
• The children were seen visiting nearby neighbors before returning home.
• When the adults returned several hours later, both children had vanished.
• A pot of water was reportedly boiling on the stove, with macaroni and an opened can of tomatoes nearby, suggesting Scott had been preparing a late-night meal.
• No confirmed trace of either child has ever been found.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Scott Curtis Fandel Disappearance (1978): The Unsolved Alaska Mystery

On the night of September 4–5, 1978, 13-year-old Scott Curtis Fandel disappeared alongside his younger half-sister, Amy Lee Fandel, from their family’s remote cabin near Sterling, Alaska. More than four decades later, neither child has been found, and the case remains one of Alaska’s longest-running unsolved missing child investigations.

The disappearance has generated decades of speculation, but investigators have never identified a suspect or determined exactly what happened. Despite advances in forensic science and periodic reviews of the evidence, the case remains open.

Last Seen Summary

Date Last Seen: September 5, 1978 (after being dropped off at home during the late evening of September 4, investigators list September 5 as the official missing date)

Location Last Seen: Family cabin off Scout Lake Road near Sterling, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Main Circumstances

• Scott, 13, and his 8-year-old half-sister Amy were left at home after their mother and aunt returned to a nearby bar.
• The children were seen visiting nearby neighbors before returning home.
• When the adults returned several hours later, both children had vanished.
• A pot of water was reportedly boiling on the stove, with macaroni and an opened can of tomatoes nearby, suggesting Scott had been preparing a late-night meal.
• No confirmed trace of either child has ever been found.

What Happened to Scott Curtis Fandel?

Scott Curtis Fandel was born on January 23, 1965, and lived with his mother and younger half-sister Amy in a secluded cabin outside Sterling, Alaska.

On the evening of September 4, 1978, Scott, Amy, their mother Margaret, and their visiting aunt spent time at Good Time Charlie’s, a local restaurant and bar. Around 10:00 p.m., the children were driven back to their cabin while the adults returned to the establishment.

Neighbors later reported seeing Scott and Amy visit briefly before returning home. Another passerby reportedly observed the cabin lights on around 11:45 p.m., suggesting everything appeared normal at that time.

When Margaret and her sister arrived home between 2:00 and 3:00 a.m., the cabin was dark and the children were gone.

Inside, investigators found what appeared to be signs of interrupted activity. A pot of boiling water remained on the stove, with macaroni and an opened can of tomatoes nearby. Scott reportedly enjoyed making macaroni before bed, leading investigators to believe the children may have been interrupted unexpectedly.

There were no obvious signs of a struggle inside the cabin.

The Investigation

Alaska State Troopers immediately began searching the heavily wooded area surrounding the home.

Search teams used tracking dogs, aircraft, and volunteers to comb the surrounding wilderness, but no confirmed evidence of Scott or Amy was located.

Investigators eventually recovered spent shell casings outside the cabin. Authorities have never publicly confirmed whether they were connected to the disappearance.

Over the years, investigators explored multiple theories, including:

• Stranger abduction
• Family involvement
• Custody-related motives
• Opportunistic criminal activity

Despite extensive interviews and repeated reviews of the evidence, no theory has been proven.

Family Questions and Speculation

The case has long been complicated by conflicting statements and allegations among family members following the disappearance.

Scott’s biological father reportedly believed the children had been abducted, while investigators also examined the possibility that someone familiar with the family may have been involved. None of these theories has ever been substantiated with sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges.

As with many long-term missing child investigations, law enforcement has never publicly identified an official suspect.

Latest Investigation Information

The disappearance of Scott Curtis Fandel remains an active missing persons investigation with the Alaska State Troopers.

Scott continues to be listed in national missing persons databases, including NamUs and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). Age-progressed images have been released showing what he may look like as an adult. Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information—regardless of how insignificant it may seem—to contact investigators.

As of 2026:

• The case remains unsolved.
• Scott has never been located.
• No arrests have been made.
• Authorities continue to accept tips.