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Alaska Cold Cases

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Alaska Murders

Similar 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.


Unsolved Alaska Murders

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.


Joseph Smedley
Joseph SmedleySuspicious Death, 2015
Asha Degree
Asha DegreeMissing, 2000

Consider this

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.

Famous Alaska Murders

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.


Homicide Rate in Alaska

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.

Anchorage, Alaska Murders

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.


Juneau, Alaska Murders

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.


Alaska Serial Killers

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.


Crimes in Alaska

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.

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Additional Alaska Cold Cases

Clinton AbarcaMichael AcovakMarvin AdairAi AdamsDervish AdiliAlbert AgathlukSonia Agosto SalgadoLawrence Ahmaogak, JrRalph Aiken, Jr.Fred AkelkokAugustine AkitalinokTravis AlexieMary AlexieCrim AlexieWassilie AlexieDavid AllenDavid AllenWilma AllenMarco AllettoJason AllgoodRonald AlspaughFrank Alstrom IIIAndrea AltieryCora AndersenJohn AndersonGlenda AndrewSteven AndrewsEric ApatikiBernabe AraujoEarl Ashworth, IIIAisa AumoeualogoSteven AustinRoy AyagalriaMichael AyojiakCurtis AyulukJoseph BalderasRoy BanhartRonald BarrRichard BarteeTheodore BavillaEric BealerPamela BealerHenry Beatus, JrMichael BeaulieuNicholas BegichNancy BellamyAntionette BernhardtKay BerryhillAnthony BertoglioAnthony BissacoRoderick Blanket, Jr.Scott BlomKaitlyn BlomFredrick BockDamon BondsMagdelena BorkoskiShawn BouchardRichard BoyceLance BrabhamCharles BrennanAnna BresemanJames BrewerRandal BrewingtonJohn BrewsterRoland BriggsRoland BriggsDonald BrightBradford BroachAaron BroderickJeri BrommelsJoseph BrooksClarence Brush JrGabrielle BryanSeth BryantSharon BuisColin BunessMilton BunyanVictor Burgess Jr.Samuel ButlerRichard ButtsEdward CantrellWayne CaptainJames CarnegieCameron CarterSheila CellaFrancis CharlesEmanual CharliagaAngela ChingliakCharlie ChocknokEphin ChulinGreg ClarkRaymond ClarkRobert CollierJason ConlonJames ConnellJimmie ConradJack ConrightMichael CookHeather CookJay CookeAlejamvro CortezJohn CourageScott CovillePatrick CoyleJames Crawford IIKeith CrinerCathleen CurrieJohn CushmanStanley Custer, JrEli Darien, Sr.William DarterCarolyn DavidsonJohn DavidsonFred DavisSandra DavisRobert DavisWilliam DayTracy DayMatthew DeanPatrick DearthGerald DeBerryManuel De EstradaSelin DegerGabriel DemmertClaude DemoskiBertha DemoskiLeo Demoski, Jr.Bereket DemsasDavid Densmore, JrJoseph DevlinJack DickeyEugene DiethelmMichael DivertyKaino DixonLorence DobsonSamuel DonajkowskiKevin DouglasRobert Driskill, JrSabine DuellmannArthur Dull, JrWilliam DundasWallace DunnKelly DunnMichael DunneThomas DunyMartin Ebona, IIIEric EderSusan EdmondsonJohn EdwardsGary EdwardsGuy EdwardsRaymond EdwardsStanley EftestadKerry EganKenneth EldredDavid EliaJay EllisMegan EmerickHarold EnzlerShakti EpplingKenneth ErlewineAlejandro EspinoKaren EvanFrank EvansAnthony EvansNorman FainSeth FairbanksAmy FandelScott FandelLeslie FargherFred FaulhaberDarryl FawcettManuel Fernandez-FarisKenneth FischerPhilip FisherValeriano Flores-MataDouglas FosterAlan FosterPreston FowlerAngela FoxglovePeter FranckMichael FranklinAllen FredericksDennis FryeMichael FurinJaime GallegosJames GarnerCharles GayDavid GeorgeRobert GeorgeSusan GeraciShaun GibsonErin Marie GilbertLorraine GinnisJohn GodfreyAaron GoinManuel GomezMarion GonangnanJose GonzalezGreg Gonzalez IIIRyan GoodAlvin GoodlatawJohn GouldCasey GrahamLael GrantJames GrayLawrence GrayMichele GreenKristopher GregoryIgnatius Gregory Sr.Gust Griechen IVRussell GulinoAlbert Hagen, Jr.Darlene HallJael HamblenKai HamikGary HamiltonAlfred HamiltonRoger HannonBessie HansenDalton HansonLawrence HansonJames HarbinDaniel HassJeffrey HathawayWalter HawkJohn HeckAllan HectorJoyce HefnerkleinJurgen HeiserBrian HelmuthLaura HendersonLoreese HennaginAndrew HenryArchie Henry JrMichael HollandGlenn HooverRobert HorneEmmanuel HosierLanny HotrumFrederick HowardJames HutchisonHee ImLancelot ImmerganAlex Inga, Jr.Alex Inga, Sr.Pavel IvanovBarbara JacksonClifford JacksonIda JacometRandy Jameson1980 Anchorage Borough Jane DoeMichael JaussaudTodd JensenNoah JessupAllen JimmyXia JinIngvar Johansen, IIITom John1989 Anchorage County John Doe1968 Matanuska-Susitna Burough John Doe1979 North Star County John Doe2001 Dillingham County John Doe2001 Anchorage Boroughs John Doe1992 Denali Burough John DoeTheresa JohnnyEric JohnsonGeorge JohnsonArthur Johnson, Jr.Karen JohnstonPaul JohnstonCharles JonesLarry JonesPercy Joseph Jr.George KandrisChristopher KaningokMelody KassahnNekita KatelnikoffAngela KayuqtuqIsaac KayutakPaul KeithahnKristopher KellyRobert Kelly SrSamantha KentVongsa KeoboualaphaBlake KepleyAvi KeysWesley KielczewskiGilbert KilbuckKenneth KivlinAnton Kochergin, JrLloyd KoenigJohn KoezunaAlexie KopukLoren KosaMoses Kosbruk, JrVladimir KostenkoRaleigh KowunnaRobert KrugerLaura KuckesJustina KunayakErik KveumRonald LamontWilliam Lamont, Sr.Leonard LaneKurt LangerMargaret LangstonJudson LanierBob LarsenJacob LarsonWalter LaugheadRhody LaundersCraig LaysonMarc LeclercBlaine LeeMichael LeMaitreWilliam Leonard Sr.Gary LewisThomas LewisJames Lewis, JrHarold LightWilliam Lisbourne Jr.Joseph LittwinJohn LomackKyle LongerbeamLevi LottDavid LovelandHenry LukeJosias LunaNick LupieMichael LydaTheodore LynchBethany LynnAndrew MacarArvin MackKevin MaclinJames Madsen, JrAlvin Maillelle, JrMarjorie MaldonadoRachel MallardNelo MarcielMichael MarkRobert MarkAaron MarrsJoe MartinChase MartinezBlaise MascarenhasToshiaki MashikoWilliam MatthewsBrendan MattingleyBilly MaudFaisal MawariMoses MaxieThomas MaxwellJohn MayfieldSheila McBroomPaul MccordRobert McCordGaye McDowellRobert McElliottDave McKennaJohn MckerleyEphrem McKindyMason McLeodBoris McLuke, Sr.Maryellen McMillinPeter McNealPatrick MeganackAngel MendezHarry MerriamMichael Metli, JrChristine MeyerDianna MeyerMary MilligrockRichard MillsJesse MillsJames MillsKevin MitchellSusan MitterEnrique MolinaNatalia Molina ValenzuelaRezan MonterosoMarjorie MooreMichael MoranJohn MorganStacie MorseAnnabelle MoserAdam MosesGordon MosesSamuel MosesSierra MullinLaura MurphyJames MurphyJoseph Murphy, JrBrian MurrayKevin MurrayGerald MyersTony MyersJim NapokaDavid NathanRobert NeakokRicky NebertEdward NeeleyLeon NelsonHiroko NemotoRaymond NetzerMark NewmanNghia NguyenJoseph Nick, IIIEmmett NollnerLeonard NowpakahokScott NylandKevin O'BrienClinton O'ConnorRenee OdegaardEric OdegaardShigeo OgawaLawrence O'GradyMitsuo OkazakiKevin O'KeefeFanny OlannaAlbert Olick, Jr.Robert OlsonShanna OmanRichard OmelakEmery OmiakNathan OneyJustino OpollChristopher OrcuttMichael OsbornLeif OsmarGary OstlerChristopher OstlerDeandre OutwaterGene OzennaJason OzennaMichael PalmerCharles Palmer, VKimberly ParkerDavid ParkesLinda ParrishWilliam Parsons Jr.Elias PenaBrandon PetersonNicolas PettittBrandon PhillipsJay PipkinHarry PitkaWayne PitkaGary PittCurtis PlaggeThor PlumleeSean PoffenbargerCharles PondShawn PontiousMichael PrietoMax PrinceRonald ProbertDennis PungowiyiRonald RameyMyron RapaczChad RawlsUstinia ReutovCharles ReynoldsFranklin RichardJudy RiddellRobert RitchieBarry RitterMichael RitterMichael RobersonMiguel RodriguezJamie RogerioKenneth RossDouglas RoweVicki Rowe-SimonsenRoger RuckerErnest SaccheusGarrett SaccheusThomas SaccheusVirginia SaccoMatthew SchroederKent SchroeterDpifanio SedanoDarrik SeiboldThomas SeiboldArans SerramiaEli SharclaneAbraham SharpHarry SheldonWilliam SheldonAnthony ShelpStanton SheltonValerie SifsofGerald SilverRobert SimonsenMichael SiscoLinda SkeekReginald Skeek, Jr.David SlwookoTroy SmartFredrick SmartDaniel SmithGeorge Smith, SrThomas SnyderKristin SnyderEstrella SosadelossantosJohn SparksSeth SpradlinJohn SquiresGary StallingsTimothy StaplesJulia StettingerKeith StomproSheridan StringerCory SuchmanNaomi SugiuraStephen SwartoutFrederick SwensonMary SylvestreVirgil TackettPeter TangNorman TaylorDemetri Tcheripanoff, Jr.Gary TerryMark ThibaultMary ThillWalter ThomasCharles ThompsonNorman ThomsKent TilmanKenneth TisonJoseph TomaganukPhuong TranFelton TrevinoScott TribleCordell TurnageRobert UisokGilbert UngottRobin VansickelCarl VanvalkenbergDonald Venes Jr.Eric VerseefTracie VicentRaymond VinclerGreg VonschweinitzRenee WadeJondalar WashingtonTheordore WaskyJohn WatermanOle WatsonJames WeberRobin WebsterCurtiss WellerCharles WellnerDennis WestlockMichael WheelerSherri WhiteJonnie WhiteMelvin WickLatroye WilliamsMichael WilliamsOscar WillieLoridee WilsonJames WilsonKatherine WinslowJohn WipertEdward WiseRalph WolenGuy WoodwardTony WrightDaniel WrightRichard Wright Jr.Narendra YadavLouis YatesMatthew YoungAllan YoungRobert YoungerChong YuSu YunSilberia YundtCarlos ZabalaIsaac ZacharofNick ZaukarEvan Zaukar