For seven years, the disappearance of Jessica Lawson, a 27-year-old traveler from Seattle, remained one of Alaska’s most haunting unsolved cases. Official reports concluded she was “missing, presumed drowned” in the Siska River—a dangerous, unpredictable waterway known for its powerful currents.
But time, ice, and riverbeds do not always keep their secrets.
In the spring of 2023, a historic thaw shifted the stones and silt of the Susitna River, uncovering evidence that reignited the mystery. What was once thought to be a tragic accident was revealed to be something far more complex.
A Dream Adventure Turns Into Silence
Jessica Lawson had long dreamed of exploring Alaska’s remote landscapes. In July 2016, she packed her gear, mapped her route through Delray Beach National Park, and promised her family she would return in five days.
Her last confirmed sighting came at a small gas station outside Talkeetna. Surveillance footage showed her filling her truck, chatting briefly with another driver, and then driving toward the park.
Two days later, rangers found her camp abandoned but intact—tent, sleeping bag, food, and equipment untouched. Her boots were still clean and dry at the entrance. Jessica herself was nowhere to be found.
Theories and Unanswered Questions
At first, investigators suspected an accident. The river’s icy waters could sweep away even the most prepared hikers. Others suggested wildlife encounters, but the undisturbed campsite made that less likely.
Attention soon turned to the gas station encounter. The video quality was too poor to identify the man or his truck. Despite aerial searches, search dogs, and weeks of volunteer efforts, no new leads emerged. With no physical evidence, the state closed the case as a presumed drowning.
For Jessica’s family, the mystery only deepened.
The River Gives Up Its Secret
Seven years later, the Susitna River flooded after record-breaking snowmelt. In its wake, two local fishermen noticed something unusual protruding from the gravel. Their call to authorities led to the discovery of human remains preserved by the river’s cold waters.
Forensic teams carefully recovered the evidence, eventually confirming the identity of Jessica Lawson. Items found nearby matched belongings she had listed in her travel gear.
The original accident theory no longer held. Investigators concluded her disappearance had been the result of deliberate foul play.
Reexamining the Evidence
With confirmation of a crime, Alaska State Troopers reexamined every lead from 2016. The blurry gas station video was sent to the FBI, where new software enhanced the images frame by frame. Analysts were able to partially recover a license plate number from the other vehicle in the footage.
The lead pointed to a Montana man named Brian Rhodes, who had been in Alaska at the time. He had a criminal record for prior assaults and had worked in temporary jobs across fishing and construction camps. Investigators believed his presence in Talkeetna and his brief interaction with Jessica were no coincidence.
A Suspect Without Trial
Unfortunately, by the time investigators traced Rhodes, he had already left the United States. Border records showed his truck crossing into Canada in 2017.
Canadian authorities later discovered that Rhodes had passed away in 2019. With the prime suspect deceased, the case could not proceed to trial. Though evidence strongly suggested his involvement, Alaska investigators had to close the file without prosecution.
Resolution Without Justice
For Jessica’s family, the official confirmation of homicide was both relief and heartbreak. The years of uncertainty had ended, but true justice would never be served.
An investigator summed it up plainly: “We know what happened. We will never know why.”
A Lingering Reminder
The Siska River still flows, its icy waters rushing over the stones where Jessica Lawson’s story remained hidden for years. Today, her case stands as a solemn reminder of Alaska’s vast wilderness, where mysteries can linger beneath the surface—and where, sometimes, the truth emerges too late.