Apatiki was last seen in Nome, Alaska on October 5, 2004. He had traveled to Nome from St. Lawrence Island to visit his girlfriend, who was pregnant with his son. Apatiki planned to return to his home village a few days later. He has never been heard from again and few details are available in his case, but his family believe he met with foul play.

Approximately 20 Native Alaskan people have vanished or died under questionable circumstances in the Nome area since the 1960s. Authorites opened a probe into their deaths and disappearances, but they do not believe a serial predator was involved.