AK AK - Frank Minano Jr., 69, Fairbanks, 17 Aug 2020

[PommyMommy]

Nenana man still missing, family asking for help

Frank Minano Jr. was reported missing on August 17th. Family members say he was lost in the woods on Standard Creek Road near Old Nenana Highway by the ‘Monument'.

• He took shelter in a cabin in that area on the evening of Monday August 17th.
• He was last seen wearing a black and white flannel shirt, black pants, gray and white tennis shoes, and a black ball cap that has the word ‘Alaska’ on it.
• He is approximately 5′10″, weighing between 140-150lbs.
• Frank is a traditional educator and mentor on culture, hunting, subsistence living, and respecting the land.
• He is an outdoorsman, veteran, and retired union sheet metal worker.

 

[Penny4YourThoughts]

Frank Minano Jr.
Old fb acct

 

[rainynights]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) / #MP73163

Frank Harding Minano

Date of Last Contact: August 17, 2020
Missing From: Fairbanks, Alaska

Demographics
Missing Age: 69 Years
Current Age: 70 Years
First Name: Frank
Middle Name: Harding
Last Name: Minano
Sex: Male
Height: 5' 10" (70 Inches)
Weight: 165 lbs
Race / Ethnicity: American Indian / Alaska Native
Tribe Enrollment / Affiliation: Unknown

Last Known Location
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
County: Fairbanks North Star Borough
Missing From Tribal Land: No
Primary Residence on Tribal Land: No

Circumstances of Disappearance: Frank was returning to Nenana from Fairbanks when he stopped to look for firewood somewhere between Ester and Nenana. His vehicle was located unoccupied on Standard Creek Road near Old Nenana Hwy. Several searches have been conducted, but Frank has not been located.

Physical Description
Hair Color: Black
Left Eye Color: Brown
Right Eye Color: Brown

Clothing and Accessories
He typically wears a plaid shirt, jeans and an “Alaska” ball cap. Exact clothing description is unknown.

Contacts / Investigating Agencies

Alaska State Troopers
Main Phone: (907) 269-5511
Agency Case Number: AK20057486
Date Reported: August 17, 2020

Malia Miller, Missing Persons Clearinghouse Manager

 

[CastlesBurning]

Vigil focuses on missing Alaska Natives

 

[CuriousAce]

Vigil focuses on missing Alaska Natives

**Missing Person Located**
Please note: The information below is shared directly from the ALASKA STATE TROOPERS Daily Dispatch report:
Location: Salcha
Type: Missing Person located
Dispatch Text:
Update: On 1/27/21 at approximately 1030 hours, after receiving a tip regarding the possible location of a missing juvenile, an Alaska State Trooper responded to a residence in Salcha and located Jonathan Nakarak, who was reported missing in May of 2020. Nakarak was found to be in good health and safe. He did not report any suspicious or concerning circumstances. Nakarak has been removed from the missing persons clearinghouse.
The Alaska State Troopers would like to thank the anonymous tipster who notified AST after recognizing Nakarak from local media coverage regarding missing persons cases. Missing persons information is readily available on the Department of Public Safety’s website at Missing Person - SAR - AST - Alaska Department of Public Safety. Missing persons bulletins can be viewed at MPBulletin - Missing Person - SAR - Alaska Department of Public Safety. Anyone with any information regarding a missing person is asked to contact the Alaska State Troopers or their local law enforcement to provide a tip. It is imperative that all missing persons are located and accounted for.
Original information: Jonathan Nakarak, 17, was last seen on 05-23-2020 around 1648 hours in the area of Chena Lakes Boat Launch. He was last seen wearing a New York Yankees camouflage baseball hat, dark blue Adidas jacket, gray shorts, black shoes, and a black backpack. Anyone having contact or information regarding Nakarak is asked to contact Alaska State Troopers in Fairbanks at 907-451-5100 and reference incident AK20034727.
Posted on 1/28/2021 10:35:00 AM by DPS\mapeters

 

[Rollsballs]

Any Alaskans out there know what type of ground conditions they are dealing with at this time ? walking around looking for dead firewood trees with out a snowmobile makes me think the snow was not to deep. ?

 

[Unsolved]

Frank is mentioned in this article that shows a large search is planned "for spring" (organizers say they plan on alerting the public through radio, social media, television, and the newspaper when a date is chosen), plus there are efforts to put together a large reward:

Community Volunteer Coordinator Peter Captain Jr. said they are planning a giant city-wide search for all those missing in the Interior.

“Timing is crucial; right now, things are going to start melting, things are going to start re-appearing, and people are going to start checking old sheds and that they didn’t touch all winter,” Captain explained.

Captain has been in contact with many local organizations and the United States Army for help on the effort. He said they have been working with a professional search organization to plan the event. The search is expected to be a full weekend long and enlist the help of thousands of volunteers.

$25k reward, massive citywide search planned for Fairbanks’ missing persons

 

[lindamichelle1]

https://www.travelchannel.com/inter...plained-disappearances-in-the-alaska-triangle

An article from September about unexplained Disappearances in the Alaska Triangle that mentions Frank
Frank Minano
Frank Minano, 69, was reported missing from Nenana on August 17, 2020. Nanana, located about 60 miles west of Fairbanks, is in the heart of the Alaska Triangle. His family told authorities that they believe he became lost in the woods, but reporting from NBC 11 in Fairbanks described Minano as “a traditional educator and mentor on culture, hunting, subsistence living, and respecting the land.” Authorities believe Minano took shelter in a nearby cabin the first night he was missing, but after more than a year, there is still no sign of Minano.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Frank Harding Minano Jr. – The Charley Project

Minano, circa 2020; Minano in the clothes he was wearing on the day of his disappearance

• Missing Since: 08/17/2020
• Missing From: Fairbanks, Alaska
• Classification: Lost/Injured Missing
• Sex: Male
• Race: Native American
• Date of Birth: 09/05/1950 (71)
• Age: 69 years old
• Height and Weight: 5'10, 165 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry Description: A black and white flannel button-down shirt on top of another shirt, dark-colored pants, gray and white shoes (possible New Balance brand), and a black baseball cap with the word "ALASKA" in white lettering on the front. A photo of Minano wearing those clothes is posted with this case summary.
• Distinguishing Characteristics: Native American male. Black hair, brown eyes.

Details of Disappearance
Minano was last seen on August 17, 2020. He was traveling from Fairbanks, Alaska to Nenana, Alaska when he stopped between Ester and Nenana to look for firewood. He has never been heard from again.

After his disappearance, his vehicle was found abandoned on Standard Creek Road near Old Nenana Highway. Two and a half miles down the road, a cabin had been broken into and a fire started inside. Minano's car keys were found at the cabin.

According to Minano's family, he was a traditional Native educator and mentor on culture, hunting and subsistence living, and an accomplished outdoorsman. His case remains unsolved.

Investigating Agency

• Alaska State Troopers 907-269-5511

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for Frank as we approach the second anniversary of his disappearance...

Missing Person / NamUs #MP73163

 

[PommyMommy]

OCT 14, 2022

'We are working on this': Troopers get significant tip in 2020 Interior missing-persons case

Troopers Capt. Eric Spitzer says this week's break advances one of four cases of Alaska Native people reported missing in the Fairbanks area two years ago.

alaskapublic.org

Alaska State Troopers are investigating new information in one of four cases of Alaska Native people who were reported missing in the Fairbanks area during 2020.

Troopers Capt. Eric Spitzer, commander of AST’s Interior Alaska detachment, mentioned the break during a Thursday meeting held by the Fairbanks Native Association and the Tanana Chiefs Conference.

The gathering at the Chief David Salmon Tribal Hall brought together local Native, city and law enforcement representatives to update the community on the cases of Frank Minano, Debbie Nictune and Doren Sanford, who went missing in August 2020, and Willis Derendoff who disappeared three months later in November 2020. ...

[...]

“I am bubbling over with things that I want to say to you right now,” Spitzer said. “But in the interest of transparency — there’s transparency, and then there’s preserving the integrity of investigation. I will tell you this: In the near future there’s going to be some legal movement on a case. I can’t tell you which case, but I’m telling you that we are working on this. We are going to hold those people responsible who are accountable.”

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

AUG 17, 2023

The Fairbanks missing: Frank Minano, an honorable man

It was important for Frank Minano Jr. to live an honorable life.

www.newsminer.com

It was important for Frank Minano Jr. to live an honorable life.

He could be depended upon to get moose for Nenana potlatches or make moose soup. He always left places better than when he found them. He provided food for people, usually wild meat or berries that he got himself. He always took care of the graves on Toghotthele Hill.

Volunteers needed as search continues for Frank Minano

Another search will be held on Saturday, three years after Frank Minano Jr. of Nenana disappeared off the Old Nenana Highway in 2020. The Nenana Native Association is leading the

www.newsminer.com

The worst part of having a missing family member is not knowing what happened.

That’s why another search will be held on Saturday, three years after Frank Minano Jr. of Nenana disappeared off the Old Nenana Highway in 2020. The Nenana Native Association is leading the effort and asking volunteer searchers to participate.

 

[Pennysmom1]

https://www.tananachiefs.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Frank-Minano-Still-Missing-Flyer.pdf

Aug 16, 2023

Frank Minano

Frank Minano of Nenana, seen here driving a young nephew on the four-wheeler, has been missing since August 2020. The Nenana Native Association is leading a search on Saturday, Aug.

www.newsminer.com

June 18, 2022

“We’re just living on prayers now”- Fairbanks holds a rally for the missing persons.

Fairbanks holds Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Rally

www.webcenterfairbanks.com

<<Frank Minano’s cousin took to the podium and said “Frankie” wouldn’t just disappear. “So every June 17th, I think about Frankie, because it was August 17, 2020, he went missing,” she said. “So exactly 22 months at 6 p.m. today, up until then, he was walking, he was breathing, he was enjoying life.”

She said there was surveillance footage that showed Minano at Fred Myers the day of his disappearance.

She went on to say Minano was retired and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and spending time with his two young grandchildren. She said she went to talk to an elder about why we cannot dream about her cousin.

“When you’re not found, and you’re not buried properly with your family members, you’re not at rest. That is why say rest in peace. He’s not at peace. He is waiting for us to find him,” she said.>>

 

[Pennysmom1]

Frank Minano Jr, Missing from Alaska since 2020.

A blog about the many missing, murdered, and unidentified Native/Indigenous/Aboriginal women of the United States and Canada. Say Their Names!

www.justicefornativepeople.com

<<He stopped to look for firewood between Ester and Nenana. His car was later found unoccupied on Standard Creek Road near Old Nenana Highway. A cabin about 2 miles down the road was broken into and a fire had been started. Frank's vehicle keys were found in this cabin. Frank has not been seen or heard from since and he remains missing.>>