Circumstances of Disappearance
Wade, an accomplished outdoorsman, Boy Scout and ardent Mormon, was 17 when he left his Highland County home for Alaska's panhandle. He intended to spend three months fishing the icy Gulf waters for salmon, halibut and crab and working in a processing plant. He wanted to put his earnings toward future church activities, but he never got beyond his third week. According to a 16-year-old co-worker, the boys spent an afternoon exploring islands near the village of Pelican. The other boy claimed Wade took off in a 14-foot skiff but failed to return. After scouring the area for a day, Alaska State Troopers listed Wade as missing - with the strong presumption that he'd drowned.
A witness may have seen Tackett in Kingston, Ontario Canada in March of 1998; the sighting took place on Montreal and Charles Streets. Whether the person was indeed Tackett is unknown. Other witnesses have reported spotting Tackett in the Alaskan cities of Juneau, Hoona and Sitka. He may be suffering from partial or total amnesia.