Search for missing woman continues 29 years after disappearing from Forest Fair

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - July 1 marks 29 years since Stephanie Juarez last saw her sister, Erin Marie Gilbert.

Gilbert was 24 at the time of her disappearance and last seen at the Girdwood Forest Fair while out on a date. Her date said she disappeared while he was looking for help after his vehicle wouldn’t start. Juarez said her family continues to search for answers nearly three decades later.

“It’s really like she vanished into thin air,” Juarez said.

According to Alaska State Troopers, Gilbert’s case remains open and is an active investigation.

“I am not able to share specific investigative techniques or what specific investigative actions have been taken so that I do not interfere with the ongoing investigation,” said Austin McDaniel, a spokesperson for the troopers.

Juarez and her family, who are in Washington state, have made many trips to Alaska to search for Gilbert and search every day online.

“When you have a missing person in your family, I don’t think you ever really get to that grieving point,” said Juarez.

Troopers encourage anyone with information related to Gilbert’s disappearance to call 907-352-5401 or submit an anonymous tip online.