Wasilla man found dead

MAT-SU — One man is missing and another has been found dead after both went missing in remote corners of the state.

On Wednesday, Alaska State Troopers found the body of John Gamble, 47, of Wasilla, 1.3 miles from where his pickup was found stuck in the mud on a trail near Dollar Creek.

“It was afternoon when they first spotted it, but then they had to get to it and identify it and then try to notify next of kin,” AST spokeswoman Megan Peters said.

All of that had been accomplished by Thursday morning when troopers released a press release that Gamble had been found. Peters said there were no signs of trauma or foul play.

Gamble’s red and white GMC pickup was found July 15. Also at the scene were “personal items that would normally be carried with an individual,” troopers report. Troopers and search volunteers, including search dogs, combed the area on foot and on ATVs. Troopers also brought in a helicopter.

Gamble and some friends had gone to a Petersville-area mining camp in early July. His friends left after July 2, but Gamble stayed behind. Eleven days elapsed before he was reported missing. Then he didn’t show up to work on Monday as he’d planned.

Meanwhile in Healy, Alaska Railroad welder Rob Gage, 33, has gone missing. His family reports that Gage has been working railroad bridges and living in a trailer on railroad property all summer.

His was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot in a heavily wooded ravine early Friday morning, Alaska State Troopers report.

They say coworkers noticed Gage was unusually quiet at work on Friday and didn’t show up for work on Saturday. He was scheduled to be off work Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

He also didn’t check in with his family for days, which is atypical for the Gages, who keep in touch daily. Wherever he went, he left his cellphone behind.

Gage’s family has set up a Facebook page to help coordinate search efforts. Troopers have joined in the search, finding his truck near the Parks Highway near Mile 275. Searchers are in the area and flying over in planes. Co-workers were worried enough to begin the search, traveling nearby trails to look for Gage.

He is described as 6 foot 2 inches tall with a stocky build, brown hair and eyes. He often wears a stocking cap. Anyone with information is asked to call Healy troopers at 683-2232.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.