AST > ABI > Cold Case

Cold Case Investigation Unit

The Cold Case Investigation Unit (CCIU) was formed in 2002. This unit’s primary function is to investigate unresolved homicide cases previously investigated by the Alaska State Troopers (AST) (and ultimately provide justice for those who have been murdered). The cases being reviewed and investigated by the CCIU date as far back as 1961.  Recognizing the time-consuming nature and complexity of many of these cases, the department initiated a program of hiring experienced investigators to work these cold cases. These investigators have been either retired troopers or former police officers. Since inception, the highly experienced and capable investigators who have been assigned to in this unit have also acted as a ready resource for mentoring less experienced personnel within AST.

The CCIU is housed within AST’s Alaska Bureau of Investigation and works closely with state prosecutors and police agencies across Alaska. Furthermore, these investigations, frequently lead to travel to the Lower 48 in order to gather evidence and conduct interviews. Coordination across jurisdictions is a key factor in successfully investigating these cases.

In addition to the cold cases from AST jurisdiction, the CCIU can assist and conduct investigations, upon request, from local police agencies. Over the years, this unit has gained increased respect within the Alaska law enforcement community and as a result, requests for assistance began to come in from various local police departments who do not have the resources necessary to carry out intense or complex investigations.

Recently, the CCIU has had several major successes. The two most recent being the arrest of Steven H. Downs for the 1993 murder and sexual assault of Sophie Sergie; and the arrest in connection to the 1978 murder and sexual assault of 16-year-old Shelley Connolly.
Press Release: Cold Case Sophie Sergie.pdf
Press Release: Cold Case Shelley Connolly.pdf

These cases demonstrate AST’s ongoing commitment to successfully resolving cold cases. Often advancements in forensic science provide for new and additional avenues for investigators to pursue which were previously unavailable to law enforcement. As forensic science continues to evolve and expand, we will utilize these advancements to provide justice for victims and their families---no matter how cold the case.

If anyone has information regarding any of the unresolved homicide cases, please contact the Alaska Bureau of Investigation (ABI) at 907-269-5611.

If anyone has information regarding any of the missing persons cases, please contact the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at 907-269-5038 or email dps.missing.persons@alaska.gov.


Unresolved Homicide List:
LAST NAME FIRST NAME CASE # DATE REPORTED LOCATION
Achayak Peter B18006470 6/21/1989 Palmer
Baldwin Alice I72-1712 5/29/1972 Fairbanks
Barbour Joseph 920011268 1/18/1980 Anchorage
Barrett Andrea 980015924 03/09/1998 Fairbanks
Baxter Terrie 940008006 02/02/1994 Palmer
Bekoalok Fredrick C78-20172 11/24/1978 Eagle River
Besh David 890028142 06/30/1980 Big Susitna River
Bingman Susan 020001724 01/06/2002 Ketchikan
Branda Connie 900027949 04/04/1982 Ketchikan
Brown Monte 8671202 10/09/1986 Tanana
Cagley Barbara 920059092 08/26/1992 Fairbanks
Carbine Thomas 8629333 07/15/1982 Kodiak
Charlie Janet I74-14617 08/24/1974 Fairbanks
Christie Julie 850085234 12/23/1985 Delta Junction
Clark Edward 890028146 01/28/1977 Anchorage
Covington Mary 030042836 04/29/1978 Fairbanks
Crane Sinka 990044526 07/05/1999 Sleetmute
         
Driggs Leland 070012021 02/12/2007 Fairbanks
Duncan Delwin 890028149 08/20/1978 Girdwood
Dunnagan Helen 890043454 09/16/1961 Sutton
Elrod Cynthia A28306888 08/24/1983 Juneau
Ernst Ronald 850029201 05/04/1985 Anchorage
Farrant Erika 890028147 08/07/1978 Anchorage
Goodwin Cassandra 890043514 09/16/1980 Cantwell
Goodmann Theodore 890028154 04/15/1983 Hope
Graham Gene 920042539 06/23/1992 Nenana
Greene Robert 890043450 09/15/1974 Kodiak
Hatcher Melvin E28405581 01/28/1976 Fairbanks
Heitchler Charles 890028142 12/27/1976 Wasilla
Henkel Cynthia 880028788 05/14/1988 Anchorage
Hess Herman C76-9704 05/23/1976 Anchorage
Hurd Brad 060095368 10/26/2006 Fairbanks
Hutchens Quincy 060095368 10/26/2006 Fairbanks
Jewett Robert 870075048 11/22/1987 Fairbanks
Jimmie Lue 030022709 03/07/1973 Nenana
Johnson Lucy 030022710 09/09/1973 Fort Yukon
Johnson Scott 090038968 05/15/2009 Wasilla
Kakaruk Edith 890043526 05/30/1978 Anchorage
Kisgen Shannon 060076150 08/24/2006 Fairbanks
Konyot Theodore AK13092406 12/9/2013 Palmer
Lollar Margaret 880023175 9/4/1984 Pt. McKenzie
Miller Linda C73-20970 07/23/1973 Anchorage
Moddemeyer Shirley 890028148 05/22/1978 Eagle River
Murray Glenn 8556140 08/17/1985 Wasilla
Oliver Brittani AK16086274 11/24/2016 Fairbanks
Oman Curtis 980015924 03/09/1998 Fairbanks
Pipien Adam 930029422 05/14/1993 Anchorage
Rebischke Sylvester 8662472 09/03/1986 Tyonek
Roberts Daniel 120044053 06/15/2012 Willow
Sibley Gerald 020001001 01/04/2002 Kenai
Smith Marquerita I82-12279 09/201982 Anchorage
Smith Robert C78-3810 02/27/1978 Anchorage
Sternhagen John 890043452 11/12/1970 Sutton
Suthammavong Loy 110121115 12/06/2011 Big Lake
Tagala Florence 890028143 01/14/1977 Kenai
Talbert Charles 980065291 09/26/1998 Seward
Tibbets Thomas I80-4427 05/04/1980 Delta Junction
Titus Doreen I78-0628 01/24/1978 Fairbanks
Uga Paul 890028151 06/14/1980 Houston
Van Zanten C Beth C71-0249 12/24/1971 Anchorage
Wafer Eileen 900027959 04/24/1990 Haines
Weber Vickie 040084627 10/27/2004 Kotzebue
White Jennifer 960020079 04/01/1996 Anchorage
White Oliver J77-00549 11/11/1977 Kotzebue
Wilhour Brenda 910078280 11/23/1991 Chitina
Young Joung 060107523 12/10/2006 Bethel
Zeiger Gary 890028139 11/27/1973 Anchorage
 
Missing Persons (Undetermined Cause*)
LAST NAME FIRST NAME CASE # DATE REPORTED LOCATION
Adili Dervish 060110115 8/13/1992 Tok
Allen David 50034740 4/7/2005 Soldotna
Andersen Cora C79002213 7/16/1979 Palmer
Ashworth Earl AK18057245 8/11/2018 Mile 56 Seward Hwy  
Bass Howard C814098 8/2/1981 Soldotna
Bealer Pamela AK18072470 10/5/2018 Juneau
Bealer Eric AK18072470 10/5/2018 Juneau
Beall George D75-2868 10/4/1975 Soldotna
Beaulieu Michael 090008222 1/29/2009 Dutch Harbor
Bellamy Nancy 940029580 3/27/1994 Soldotna
Bennett Richard 050073548 9/2/2005 Soldotna
Berryhill Kay 950014738 3/21/1995 Ketchikan
Borer David 890027876 4/25/1989 Talkeetna
         
Butts Richard AK18082479 11/16/2018 Soldotna
Chulin Ephin 72-1009 11/13/1972 Soldotna
Conright Jack 110049032 5/28/2011 Soldotna
Coville Scott 88-2349 4/12/1988 Sitka
Culp Roger 840002224 4/28/1984 Fairbanks
Davis Sandra C74012529 8/29/1974 Anchorage
Day William I78002461 9/15/1975 Fairbanks
Duellmann Sabine 980030502 3/18/1998 Anchorage
Easland Roxane 800039609 4/7/2015 Anchorage
Enzler Harold 940029580 3/27/1994 Soldotna
Evon Stella 090099174 9/26/1996 Bethel 
Fandel Scott D783303 9/5/1978 Soldotna
Fandel Amy D783303 9/5/1978 Soldotna
Filaia Joseph 950001504 10/4/1985 Fairbanks
Flores-Mata Valeriano 40060848 7/31/2004 Dillingham
Franklin Michael 970025760 11/23/1977 Anchorage
Geoit Robert 090092169 11/24/1981 Cordova
Giamanco Jr Joseph C82004873 9/15/1982 Soldotna
Gilbert Erin 950041316 7/1/1995 Girdwood
Ginnis Lorraine AK18072321 10/4/2018 Fort Yukon
Goodlataw Alvin 77-279 2/6/1977 Glennallen
Gould John 060025605 4/24/1971 King Cove
Griechen Gust, IV AK17032261 4/27/2017 Dillingham
Hagen Albert, Jr. 840002224 5/17/1984 Fairbanks
Hamilton Alfred AK16066759 9/7/2016 Anchorage
Hanson Lawrence A18301982 7/18/1982 Juneau
Harbaugh Steven 990056909 8/21/1999 Nenana
Hawk Walter AK16052988 7/13/2016 Bethel 
Hefnerklein Joyce 840002224 5/17/1984 Fairbanks
Henry Johnathon 100031671 4/17/2010 Fairbanks
Hobbs Delbert 010031172 8/20/1966 Anchorage
Hosier Emmanuel AK12218658 7/8/2012 Delta Junction
Hutchison James AK16075327 10/4/2016 Fairbanks
Jackson Barbara I80-4427 9/1/1979 Fairbanks
Jacomet Ida 75-25395 10/7/1975 Fairbanks
Jensen Ralph 940035648 1/1/1982 Fairbanks
Johnston Frank D80-5104 9/30/1980 Soldotna
Keithahn Paul AK14072961 9/15/2014 Juneau
Kellogg Carman 880004524 1/19/1988 Anchorage
Kelly Kristopher 040040515 5/17/2004 Fairbanks
Kelly Robert 040040515 5/17/2004 Fairbanks
Kephart Bradley 900076019 7/12/1990 Palmer
Keys Avi 50088726 5/16/2005 Fairbanks
Kittelson Howard C75007433 5/14/1975 Anchorage
Klein Marshall 840002224 5/17/1984 Fairbanks
Kochendorfer Alfred 000074334 10/27/2000 Palmer
Koezuna John 100121056 12/20/2010 Nome
Kostenko Vladimir AK18090660 10/1/2018 Palmer
Lane Leonard 950064317 7/4/1995 Fairbanks
Lavelle Francis 8549598 7/7/1985 Talkeetna
Lott Levi F-78-2809 5/26/1978 Bethel 
Maldonado Marjorie 930060635 9/13/1993 Fairbanks
Mark Robert 940016411 9/1/1993 Bethel 
Martin Joe 920067679 9/28/1992 Nome
Mason Richard 840026210 8/24/1984 Dillingham
McDonald Scott 900072826 10/31/1990 Soldotna
McKenna Dave 930050109 7/28/1993 Talkeetna
Mcmillin Maryellen 980077097 11/22/1998 Fairbanks
Meyer Christine 960036399 6/4/1996 Ketchikan
Meyer Dianna 960036399 6/4/1996 Ketchikan
Milam Mary 910009140 1/22/1991 Palmer
Molina Valenzuela Natalia AK16066702 9/8/2016 Juneau
Monteroso Rezan AK18055402 8/2/2018 Juneau
Moses Samuel AK18047194 7/5/2018 Emmonak
Nadeau Hugh 030022711 4/1/1974 Fairbanks
Oman Shanna AK19037617 6/9/2019 Fairbanks
Palmer Michael  990035723 6/4/1999 Palmer
Palmer Charles 100029713 4/10/2010 Talkeetna
Parsons William, Jr. C7821521 8/28/1965 Anchorage
Peterson Brandon AK15100236 12/13/2015 Wrangell
Plagge Curtis 110120560 12/5/2011 Soldotna
Pontious Shawn AK13018390 3/18/2013 Soldotna
Probert Ronald E28317408 12/11/1976 Fairbanks
Reynolds Charles AK12224477 12/6/2011 Fairbanks
Rodriguez Miguel 07-66602 8/4/2007 Ketchikan
Sattleen Michael 840026210 8/23/1984 Dillingham
Seibold Thomas AK12249585 11/14/2012 Kotzebue
Shaw Earston 890003716 1/13/1989 Ketchikan
Sifsof Valerie AK12219013 7/8/2012 Seward
Smith Frank 920056191 8/8/1992 Ketchikan
Spurling Travis 110043738 5/13/2011 Fairbanks
St. John Cynthia 950015292 2/27/1995 Fairbanks
Stompro Keith AK13095037 12/14/2013 Fairbanks
Thill Mary 75-1356 7/7/1975 Soldotna
Thoms Norman 830003157 12/29/1982 Fairbanks
Thompson Robert 930035247 6/7/1993 Northway
Ungott Gilbert 70078267 9/8/2007 Nome
Vogt Brien 940035468 4/8/1984 Fairbanks
Ward Richard 050033343 5/4/2005 Kodiak
Washington Jondalar 980034968 5/29/1998 Nome
Weller Curtiss 010018010 3/23/2001 Anchorage
White Jonnie 980040237 7/19/1998 Kodiak
Williams Michael 880064471 10/5/1988 Bethel 
Winslow Katherine 980027092 10/15/1997 Ketchikan
Wipert John 090056452 6/18/2009 Northway
Wyatt Kurtis 040088626 5/2/1981 Bristol Bay

 
*This list consists of persons who have been reported missing to the Department of Public Safety under undetermined circumstances.  Persons who went missing in boating, flying, hunting, or other known activities or circumstances are not included in this list.
 

 

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