8 Victims, 1 Boat, No Answers: The Shocking Alaskan Murder Mystery You’ve Never Heard Of | True Crime

Mr. O
3 min readNov 16, 2023
The fishing vessel “Investor”

In the tranquil fishing town of Craig in Southeast Alaska, a tragedy unfolded in September 1982 that would leave an indelible mark on the community and the state. The fishing vessel “Investor” was discovered ablaze, a grim harbinger of a heinous crime that had taken place. This case, involving the murder of eight individuals on board, stands as one of Alaska’s most chilling and enduring mysteries.

The “Investor,” owned by Mark Coulthurst of Blaine, Washington, was a fixture in the lucrative fishing industry. Aboard were Mark, his wife Irene, their two young children, and four deckhands. Their presence in Craig was routine, as they participated in the fishing season. However, when the vessel was found burning near the harbor, it was immediately clear that something horrific had occurred. The fire had been set deliberately, and the investigation soon uncovered that all eight aboard had been murdered before the boat was set ablaze.

Mark and Irene Coulthurst

The Coulthurst family, along with their crew, were well-known and respected in the fishing community. Mark Coulthurst, a seasoned fisherman, was admired for…

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Mr. O

The world, even the smallest parts of it, is filled with things you don’t know.