Alaska Wildlife Troopers received a report on March 6, 2025, that a side-by-side ATV with five adults aboard broke through the ice on the Susitna River around 8:45 a.m. Three people were able to get out of the water, but two were reported to have gone under the ice in the current.
Troopers responded to the area with DPS Helo-9 and a DPS fixed wing plane to search for the two missing people at the last known location, downstream to the mouth of the Susitna River. Search efforts were ongoing, including DPS aircraft and aircraft from the Civil Air Patrol. Ice in the area was unstable and search efforts other than by aircraft were not possible at the time. The three people who made it safely out of the water walked to a nearby work camp and were later picked up by chartered helicopter. They declined medical assistance.
On March 8, 2025, after two days of searching and no new updates, Alaska Wildlife Troopers are transitioning to a reactive search. Next of kin for both families have been notified. The two missing persons are identified as Sean Kendall, 42 years old, from Anchorage and Skye Rench, 32 years old, from Wasilla.
On May 22, 2025, a private pilot contacted the Alaska State Troopers after locating a deceased person on the Susitna River near the mouth. A DPS helicopter was dispatched to the area on May 22nd and, with the assistance of an Alaska Dive, Rescue, and Recovery Team member, recovered the body of the deceased adult male and transported the man’s body to the Wasilla Airport. Troopers then coordinated the transportation of the body to the State Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsy and positive identification. On May 23, 2025, the State Medical Examiner’s Office positively identified the man as 32-year-old Wasilla resident Skye Rench. Next of kin have been notified.
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