Deaths

Darren Hootch, 39, was sentenced for manslaughter and felony burglary after Brian Agwiak was found beaten to death in his home on Jan. 2, 2021. Another man, Rudolf Waska, received a nearly identical sentence in the case.

Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica reporter Kyle Hopkins recently wrote about Whitman’s murder and Paul’s release. He said the incident speaks to wider issues within Alaska’s justice system.

Justine Paul was accused of killing his girlfriend, Eunice Whitman. In Alaska’s slow-motion criminal justice system, he was kept behind bars even as the evidence against him fell apart.

In early November, 47-year-old Pius Teeluk was sentenced in Bethel court to 20 years in prison with 6 years suspended after pleading guilty to one count of manslaughter for the death of his girlfriend, Marie Unok.

According to Alaska State Troopers, 16-year-old Kennedy Teganlakla had been attempting to hydroplane the snowmachine over open water – known as skipping – when the accident occurred.

According to the state, John Japhet entered the home of an ex-girlfriend in Bethel and stabbed 32-year-old Paul John in the chest. Court documents say John was sleeping in a bed with the former girlfriend when he was stabbed.

A minor has been charged as an adult for allegedly shooting their family member, 57-year old Gene Chaney Jr., who was pronounced dead in the early morning hours of Nov. 1.

Stephanie Agathluk, 49, has been charged with second-degree murder for the death of Michael Andrews Jr., 54, in Emmonak in April. Another man faces multiple felony charges for allegedly helping Agathluk to cover up the death.

Kasigluk resident Adrianna Tinker, 33, died after a boat she was in struck a submerged object in the Napakiak Slough on Sept. 16. The boat's operator survived uninjured, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Naneng’s former boyfriend, 24-year-old Edward Atcherian, has been charged with second-degree murder for Naneng’s death and is currently being held at the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center in Bethel.