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Welcome to the wild north, where the harsh wilderness and the rugged terrain can bring out the worst in people. Alaska is a state that has seen its fair share of gruesome crimes and unsolved mysteries. Here are five of the most shocking true crime cases from Alaska that will leave you with chills.
- The Frozen Ground Murders: Robert Hansen was a serial killer who operated in Alaska during the 1970s and early 1980s. He would kidnap women, fly them out to remote areas, and then hunt them down like animals. He was eventually caught and sentenced to 461 years in prison.
- The Kenai Peninsula Murders: In 1982, a group of friends were camping on the Kenai Peninsula when they were brutally murdered. The case went unsolved for years until a woman named Mechele Linehan was charged with the crime. Her trial made national headlines and resulted in a conviction and a 99-year prison sentence.
- The Anchorage Hotel Murders: In 1986, two women were brutally murdered in a hotel room in Anchorage. The case went cold until 2016 when a man named Jerry Active was charged with the crimes. He was convicted and sentenced to 329 years in prison.
- The Murder of Sophie Sergie: In 1993, Sophie Sergie was found murdered in a dormitory bathroom at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The case went unsolved for years until DNA evidence linked a man named Steven Downs to the crime. He was eventually arrested and charged with the murder in 2019.
- The Grizzly Murders: In 2005, a bear hunter named Manley West was killed by a grizzly bear in Alaska. A few days later, two campers were found dead in their tents, also victims of a grizzly attack. The case made national news and sparked a debate about hunting practices and wildlife conservation in Alaska.
These are just a few of the many shocking true crime cases from Alaska. If you’re a fan of true crime stories, these cases will definitely give you a taste of the wildness and danger that can come with life in Alaska.
Join us here every Tuesday on Clusterado for our Weekly True Crime Series: 5 True Crime stories in each state.
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