Six people have been indicted in an alleged child disappearance case that stretches back nearly two years.
John Mathis Sr., John Mathis Jr., and four others were charged in Craig court on March 14 in the alleged disappearance of two juveniles, 13 and 15 years old, from Prince of Wales Island.
The whereabouts of either Mathis is unknown, according to District Attorney Stephen West. But West, who is overseeing the case, says there is reason to believe Mathis Senior has fled the country. Warrants have been issued for both.
According to court documents, the boys, who are related to the Mathises, were missing between June 2011 and February 2012.
Three of the others indicted currently reside in Ohio – District Attorney West says that a decision has not yet been made on whether to extradite those individuals to Alaska for prosecution.
John Mathis Sr. also is wanted on an outstanding warrant issued in February for three counts of alleged sexual assault on a minor. Court documents indicate that Mathis is the parent, step-parent or guardian of that child, who is now 37. At the time of the alleged crimes, the victim was under 18.
