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Last updated July 25, 2023Similar to any state, Alaska murders are more common than most might initially believe. According to the CDC, Alaska’s homicide rate is 10.8, meaning that nearly 11 people are murdered per 100,000 in Alaska alone. Due to its treacherous landscape and very low population, there are not many murders in northern Alaska. There are, however, more murders in Anchorage, Alaska, and murders in Juneau, Alaska, which can be expected due to their populations. South central Alaska murders are more common than in other locations in the state, because the majority of Alaska’s population lives in this area, surrounding Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) releases Uniform Crime Reports (UCRs) every year which contain verified numbers and statistics regarding crime in every state and city in the United States, including murders in Alaska by year. Although we do not yet have a report of murders in Alaska 2021, according to the Uniform Crime Report, in 2019 there were a total of 69 murders in Alaska, making the homicide rate 9.4 per 100,000 residents.
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has an Alaska cold cases investigation unit which focuses solely on the many unsolved Alaska murders. Juneau, the second largest city in Alaska, is located in the southeastern handle of the state. Some unsolved murders in Juneau, Alaska, or east Alaska unsolved murders, include the 1988 murder of Johnny Jack, and the 2005 disappearance of David Post George.
Other unsolved murders in Alaska originate from the largest city by population in Alaska, Anchorage. These Anchorage, Alaska, unsolved murders include the 1965 murder of Yvonne Shock, 1991 murder of Shawna Evon, 1992 murder of Teresa Stirling, 1994 murder of John Michael Martin, and the 1995 murder of Sophie Marar, among many others.
The third largest city in Alaska, Fairbanks, has its own seemingly unending list of some of the biggest unsolved murders in Alaska. This list includes the 1983 double murder of Jerry Elrod and Kathy Morris, the 1986 murder of Carl Arndt, the 1992 murder of Jerry Baker, and the 2002 murder of Mohogany Davis, among many others.
Although there are many cold cases in Alaska that have yet to be solved, it’s important to recognize and acknowledge the Alaska murders solved in recent years. Some Alaska cold cases solved in recent years include the 1996 sexual assault and murder of 17-year-old Jessica Baggen, the 1993 sexual assault and murder of Sophie Sergie, and the 1978 sexual assault and murder of Shelly Connolly.
More than 200,000 unsolved cases have gone cold since 1980, and murder clearance rates continue to drop. With equity for BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and other underserved victims not prioritized in the true crime community—together we can do better.
A simple Google search of “list of murders in Alaska,” “all murders in Alaska,” or “list of Alaska murders” will show you some of the most infamous Alaska murders, famous murders in Alaska, and some of the most notorious Alaska criminals. To sum it up, most famous Alaska murders were committed by serial killers. Israel Keyes’s 2012 abduction and murder of 18-year-old Samantha Koenig is a crime that is covered very often in many different true crime podcasts, including Crime Junkie and The Voiceless, among many others which cover the life and crimes of Israel Keyes. Another serial killer responsible for other famous Alaska murders is Robert Hansen. Robert Hansen is known to have killed at least 17 individuals, but is believed to have killed up to 21, from 1973 to 1983.
Surprisingly, the overall crime rate in Alaska, as well as the homicide rate in Alaska, are very high, despite the state’s relatively small population. So, what exactly are the statistics, and why is Alaska’s crime rate so high? According to the CDC, Alaska murders rate is 10.8, meaning that nearly 11 people are murdered per 100,000 in Alaska alone. In order to understand this shockingly high number, we must consider the murder rates for the largest cities in Alaska. As Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage’s homicide rate in 2018 was 8.9 per 100,000 residents. The crime rate in Juneau, Alaska, which includes violent and property crime, is around 58.6 per 1,000 residents.
Breaking these numbers down even more, we can look at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Uniform Crime Report (UCR). Although we do not yet know the statistics for how many murders in Alaska 2021, how many murders in Juneau, Alaska, 2021, how many homicides in Juneau, Alaska, 2021, or how many homicides in Alaska 2021, we do have the published report and official data from 2019. In Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, there were 32 murders in 2019; in Juneau, Alaska, there were 3 murders in 2019; and in Fairbanks, Alaska, there were 3 murders in 2019.
As of this year, the largest city in Alaska, Anchorage, had a population of well over 282,000 residents. Due to its moderately large population, there are more murders in the big city than in many other cities in Alaska. Anchorage murders are, most of the time, quickly solved by local and state law enforcement agencies, but there are exceptions. Once a case is solved, the next step for pursuing justice is the Anchorage murders trial, where the prosecutor shows not only Anchorage murders evidence, but also Anchorage murders crime scene photos, an identical process to many, if not every, other state in the United States. If the trial is successful, then the perpetrator is convicted of the crime.
Surprisingly, the overall crime rate in Alaska as well as the homicide rate in Alaska are very high, regardless of the state’s relatively low population when compared to other states in the United States. According to the CDC, Alaska’s overall homicide rate is 10.8, meaning that nearly 11 people are murdered per 100,000 in Alaska alone. In order to understand this surprisingly high number, we must first consider the homicide rates for the largest cities in Alaska. As Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage’s homicide rate in 2018 was 8.9 per 100,000 residents. Juneau, the second largest city in Alaska, has a much smaller population than Anchorage, with only around 32,000 residents as of this year. The homicide rate in Juneau, Alaska, in 2018 was around 3.13 per 100,000 residents.
In 2019, according to the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report, there were 3 murders in Juneau, Alaska. Juneau, Alaska, murders are not as common as one might think, despite it being the second most populated city in Alaska, and the state of Alaska has a high homicide rate as a whole. Finding one of many Juneau murders over time, whether solved or unsolved, is easy with local law enforcement’s resources. Depending on what you might be looking for, you may be able to find Juneau murders DNA, Juneau murders discussion, Juneau murders crime scene photos, Juneau, Alaska, murders autopsy photos, or Juneau murders pictures. Although photos regarding crimes are often not released to the public, especially if the case has not been solved, there are plenty of resources, including news articles and law enforcement press releases available to the public in order for you to learn more information regarding a specific murder in Juneau or any other city in Alaska.
Although Alaska’s entire population is only 731,545 as of 2019, which is smaller than the total population of Rhode Island, Alaska has had more than its fair share of serial killers over the years. Some Alaska serial killers include Robert Hansen, who killed almost 20 young women over the course of 10 years; Thomas Richard Bunday, who killed 4 women and an 11-year-old girl from 1979 to 1981; and James Dale Richie, who is known to have killed up to 5 people prior to his arrest.
Although these only include a few Alaska killers, the most famous Alaska serial killer is, without a doubt, Israel Keyes. Keyes, who lived in Alaska, is known to have killed only one individual in Alaska; however, he is believed to have killed 8 individuals in Alaska, Vermont, New York, and Washington, and he is suspected of killing more than 8. Israel Keyes is prominent on every list of serial killers in Alaska or Alaska serial killer list.
Crime in Alaska, specifically Alaska homicide, is shockingly high in larger cities with higher populations, such as Anchorage or Juneau, which can be expected. Although at first glance, crimes in Alaska are not statistically more significant than other states, it is very important to remember that the total population of Alaska is much smaller than that of Rhode Island, the smallest state in the United States. Like in any area, Alaska true crimes are not hard to come by. However, Alaska has had much more than its fair share of serial killers over the years.
Some of the most prolific Alaska serial killers include Robert Hansen, who killed almost 20 young women over the course of 10 years; Thomas Richard Bunday, who killed 4 women and an 11-year-old girl from 1979 to 1981; and James Dale Richie, who is known to have killed up to 5 people prior to his arrest. The most infamous true crime stories in Alaska notoriously can be and have been linked back to serial killers. Israel Keyes, who lived in Alaska, is known to have killed only one individual in Alaska; however, he is believed to have killed 8 individuals in Alaska, Vermont, New York, and Washington, and he is suspected of killing more than 8.