BREEFLY

 

Juneau 

Polio. Invoulgatlng poulblo murder: Juneau Police are investi-
gating a poulblc murdet at the Mountains-lei? Apartments. :1 senior
citizen complex on West l2th Street

The body of 73-year-old John Jack Sr. was found Manda) morn-
ing by a Mountainwew employee

Police Captain Randy March said "the Circumstances Surmund-
mg the death not being consistent With either a sumde or natural
death. the case 15 being investigated as a hommde 

Police declined to comment runner until the results are released
from an autopsy



 

UNEAU EMPIRE

October 18, 1988

 

Autopsy ordered in
death of 73-year-old

By ED SCHOENFELD


A noted forensic pathologist is
being ?own to Juneau to perform
an autopsy on the body of a 73.
year-old man found murdered at
the Mountain View Apartments
Monday morning.

Dr. William Brady is scheduled
to perfornr medical examina-
tion beginning Friday morning to
determine the cause of death of
John L. Jack Sr.

Jack's body was discovered by
a Mountain View employee in his
apartment in the West 12th Street
senior citizen housing complex at
10:10 am. Monday. said Juneau
Police Deparunent Capt. Randy
March.

In a prepared release issued
Tuesday. the department only said
"the circumstances surrounding
the death not being consistent with
either a suicide or natural death.
the case is being investigated as a
homicide."

Today. however. March said
there is no question Jack was
killed. ?it is a murder investiga~
tion." he said.

March said police will not re
lease the cause of death until after
the autopsy. "At this stage. we are
not in any position to make a deter-
mination." he said. "That decision
is made by a pathologist."

Juneau Coroner Richard
Siangco said he ordered the autop
sy to be done by Brady. a noted pa-
thologist who was medical examin-
er in Portland. Ore. for about so
years.

Siangco said the decision to
brin Brad toJuneau rather than
fly south was made for

racticai reasons. ?We have a
miclde in Juneau and it's best to
have the pathologist here in Ju-
neau where the investigators are
here and they can ask questiom.?
he said.

Siangco said bringing Brady to
Juneau also allows him to examine
the crime scene. which can provide
important information needed for
a criminal investigation.

As a athologlst. Brady is fa.
miliar to ocai law enforcement of-
ficials. He performed the autopsy
on Richard Johnson. a zomonth-

Pica? turn to Autopsy, Page 8

 

 

 

Autopsy. ..

Continued from Page 1
old boy who died from an infection
caused by a blow to his abdomen in
March 1986. Brady's testimony
was a crucial part of the case
against the boy's mother. Natalie
iris Pinkerton. who was convicted
of criminally negligent homicide
about a year after the death for
failing to provide medical care
that might have saved her son's
life. Her conviction is on appeal.

The mother's boyfriend. Peter
D. Paulo. was accused of striking
the blow. lie pleaded out to a crim-
inally negligent homicide charge
and is currently serving a five-
year jail term for his conviction.

Police are refusing to reveal de~
tails of Jack's murder. such as the
condition of the body when it was
found and when he was last seen
alive. March said such details are
being kept secret so their blic
knowledge will not im on-
going lnvestigation of case.

Meanwhile. that investigation is
continuing with interviews of
Mountain View Apartment resi-
dean and employees and others
who might have information about
the case. -

-duced -- seconddegree

"We've got people assigned to
different aspects of the investiga-
tion since the discovery of the
body." March said.

it has been almost tu - years
Since a murder was comn.itted in
Juneau.

Sometime on or about Nov. 9,
i986. 50-year-old George Robert
?Bob" Williamson. a newspaper
delivery man for the Juneau Em-
pire. was shot and killed at about
38-mile Glacier Highway.

Although Williamson uas re-
ported missmg in Noverrber. it
was not known that a muriter was
committed until the Jan-.
uary. when his body was found.
parti. buried in the snow near
Cowee Creek.

James. David Herrin. William-
son business partner. was eveno'
tuaily arrested and charged with
the murder. He was also charged
with stealing money from William-
sons home and with tampering
With the gun thought to be used in
the murder.

. 0n the_day his trial was to be-
gin. Herrin pleaded out to a re-
urder
charge and all other charge were
dropped. lie is currently ser: ing a
30-year prison term.

 

JUNEAU EMPI RE

October 20,

1988

 

 

 

olice? seeking .
in Mauntain?View_m?fder??

 


ml mun non 
The Juneau police are appealing to the public for
help in solving the murder of the 73-year-old man
found dead in his Mountain View apartment Oct. 17.

Police say they have no suspects. no weapon and
no motive in the case.

John L. Jack. Sr. was last seen alive Friday. Oct.
it at a downtown restaurant. His body was found the
following Monday morning by an employee at the
Mountain View Apartments. a senior citizens complex
on iZth Street.

Police sa results of the autopsy indicate Jack was
probably kil ed on was severely beaten be-
fore he was killed. but the autops reveals the assault
was not directly responsible for death. Police. con.
cemed about jeopardizing their investigation. are
withholding the exact cause of ack?s death.

"We?re asking people to come forth who have
knowledge of the victim?s habits. routines. recent visi-
tors or activities on Friday. No matter how trivial or
inconsequential those details may seem." said Juneau
Police Capt. Randy March.

March said police suspect the beating and murder
took place in Jack's apartment. but neighbors say
they did not hear any suspicious activity or sound
from his residence.

There Is a key and buzzer security system for the
complex. but March said. ?it's only as good as the

 

residents themselves are tn enforcing it."

No one has been ruled out as a possible suspect.
March said.

. March said he has spoken twice with a collection of
residents at the building. "i told them we were contin-
uing to work on the case and do not have a suspect at
this time." he said. ?i tried to reinforce security With
them. told them to make sure they keep their rooms
locked and don?t let in anyone they don't know. We
just don't know who committed this crime. 

John L. Jack Sr. moved to Juneau tn 1982. Known
by friends and family as Johnnie. the 73-year-old re-
tired commerciai erman was a former mayor 0?
Angoon. His wife lives in St. Ann's Nursing Home.

"From everything l've seen and heard so far. John
Jack appeared to be a highly respected and liked per-
son." March said.

Three investigators from the Juneau Police De-
partment have been assigned full-time to the homicide
case. March said officers have 5 nt more than 200
hours. so far. investigating. The iaska State Troop-
ers and the Alaska State Crime Laboratory have also
been involved in the case. Evidence from the scene
has been sent to the crime lab and to the laboratories
of the Federal Bureau of investigation In Quantico.
Va.. for analysis. . .

The autopsy was performed Friday by Dr. William
Brady. a noted forensic pathologist who has previous-
ly consulted on homicide cases in Junmu.

 

JUNEAU EMPIRE

October 26, 1988

cently recelv



Icailedtbepollce with
- - ?Due to hel ml Information re-

0

le who have
rrnatlon.

. Hue-"men Murders. mos

we?re now fairly

fingerprints, a major break in the
casehascome from

refocus on crime scene
in?

March 14,

1989

i1
?am

tlonwillt?ls?vo?he 

rovide new leads.
allant investlg



EAU EMPIRE



with people there. We want to see if
we can trace that evidence back to

evidence we'
Mountalnvi

to
crime laboratory had been
and will

asks State



rints discovered at
{ecliniciam from the

he did say hundreds of la

identify the evidence. but

re taking back to the
ewApartm
th
Al

?in the Jack case. we have some
trator." he said. Kalwara

entstodlscuss

scene by

tent linger-

two.

Dec.
'are striking similarities be

Oct
wife'

. 17. Police

the Mountainview senl

stabbed to death in his apartment in

Jack. 73. was found beaten and
erate
said.

a jewelry we
by the murderer.
home. Robbery was a
the motive: his safe
and other valuables.

po
do not be

The

,co
pects in either case. Aithou

Police have no weapons or sus-

say cash
conference last week did gen-
new developments.

or complex

ilce have said all alo
lleve they are linked.

will?
ng they

was stolen.

rentl
cas

re apparently taken

Gallant. also 78. was shot to death
30 in his West Ninth Street
gh there

tween the

Kalwara

andhis

i

 

MurdErST

Continued from Page 1
certain more than one person was in-
volved in the Gallant homicide,?
Kalwara said.

Because of the size and weight of

Gallant's missing safe 3 feet tall?solve these crimes," he said. .- -.- 

and killed two elderi

their homes late 1
Marshalln

day-lo

Juneau

chief

police solve homicides. The item on
their agenda: ?gure out who robbed

John Jack

police Lt. 
investi

The meeting here was initiated by

approach in law enf

that is becoming in

lar across the count
It?s a firs

ic investigation is a relativel

ng session focusing on a specif-

them together for a
ry.
tfor Juneau.

Juneau men in
ast year.

orcement

teve Kalwara.
gator in the murders of
Sr. and Harold Gallant.

creasingly popu-

new
one

techniq

ey're engaged in an

top homicide
ue to assist local

folders and
cold cofi?

Barricaded by notebooks; manila

innovative

investigators. th

local
Some of the state'

longer night.

already been a 

vened in a makeshift classroom
above the Juneau police station. it's

plastic cups stained with
ee. a dozen men are con-

By ANNABEL LUND
man-sunr-






ong day; it will be a

 

the evidence and sometimes one per-
son will see something others have
overlooked. it helps police narrow
down their emphasis and gives them
a new perspective. 1 am really im-
pressed with the professional way
the JPD is ensuring no stone has
been left unturned in an effort to

feet wide and weighing several VICAP is a computerized center
hundredpounds - there was already employing a team of who

one rson was involved.

group also offeredseveral
suggestions about new forensic tech-
niques to apply in the Juneau murder
cases. he said. .

?We're optimistic that the en-
dence will be providing us with fur-
ther leads. The Juneau Police De-
partment is using every resource
available to us to nab these people."
he said.

The new approach to homicide in-
vestigation is effective and e?icxent.
said FBI Special Agent Don
McMuilin of the Violent Crime Ap-
prehension Program in Quantico.

a.

?We think of it as a brain trust.
Everyone gets together to discuss

speculation early-on4hatmore4han_trace homicides and missing as -

and tmidentified bodies to be
.victims of homicide. The information
is cataloged so law enforcement per-
sonnei can plug their unsolved cases

into the network. discovering links or
similarities to other crimes across
the country. The Jack and Gallant
murders have already been fed into
thed computers, McMullin
sal .

Juneau investigators are still
waitinga to hear what information
crime boratories in Anchorage and
Washington. D.C., can contribute
from an analysis of the physical evi-
dence discovered at the murder
scenes.

?This process of gathering talent
and expertise. drawing in every pos-

sible resource, is a critical part of
crime analysis. There are no short
cuts to a homicide investigation and
the JPD has been very thorough."
said.

The local police have fielded sev-
eral hundred phone calls from people
who have offered information about

.the two killings ?but we still feel -

there are more people out there with
information who are reluctant to
talk.._We medic heamet-hemx..-
Kalwara said. .

Included in the meeting were
Sgts. Robin LownandRoy Holland of
the local trooper detachment, Sgt.
Jim McCann of the troopers' Fair-
banks General lnvestigatlve Unit,
Tom Stearns of the troopers Crimi-
nal investigative Unit. Sgt. Mike
Grimes of the Anchora Police De-
partment. FBI Speci Agent Don
Crabtree of Juneau. District Attor-
ney Richard Svobodny and
McMullin.

Local police picked up the tab for
the homicide expert from the An-
chorage Police Department. Ex-
penses for the other participants
were absorbed by their respective
agencies.

 

Joint effort

?3


TO-solve?

n;

aims at two

111


1 uva

A year later,? pelice
'still seeking clues in
gelderly man?s death

By ANNABEL LUND


One year ago today. Juneau po-
- lice discovered the body of a 73-year-
old man who had been brutally mur-
dered in his Mountainview Apart-
ment. The homicide is still unsolved.

?We know there?s someone out
there who knows something about
this and at this point we're counting
on them to speak up. even if they
want to do so anonymously." said
chief homicide investigator for the
Juneau Police Dept. Lt. Steve
Kalwara.

John L. Jack Sr. was last seen
alive Friday. Oct. 14. 1988, in a down-
town restaurant. His body was found
the following Monday morning by an
employee at the Mountainview
Apartments. a senior citizens? com-
plex on 12th Street.

Ruults of the autopsy indicate
Jack was probably killed on Friday.
gillce say. He was severely beaten

fore he was stabbed to death. Rob-
bery was apparently the motive. but
police have no suspects and no weap-
on ln the case.

Kalwara said the beating and
murder took place in Jack?s apart-
ment. although neighbors say they
did not hear an suspicious activity
or sound from residence. There
was no sign of forced entry. A pair of
black Stadia tennis shoes. covered
with blood and hair similar to Jack's.
was discovered at the scene. Investi-

gators believe the shoes 
murderer

and that the killer may
have left Jack?s apartment barefoot.
Jack moved to Juneau in 1982.
Known friends and family as
Johnnie. 73-year-old retired com-
mercial fisherman was a former
mayor of Angoon. His wife lives in
St. Ann's nursing home.
?horn everything I?ve seen and
:ardhiszhfar. John Jacisp k:dred to
a respected per-
son. He was considered a quiet and

friendly man who visited his wife al-
most every morning at St. Ann's."
Kalwara said.

Jack was known to maintain a
stash of money in his home. He
cashed several checks just before his
death and was planning to leave on
the ferry to Angoon. leading to sup-

itions that he probably had a
arge amount of cash on him at the
time of his death. police say. Money
and Jack?s wife's jewelry were ap-
parently taken the murderer.

Kalwara sai the Juneau police
have fielded several hundred phone
calls from people who have offered
information about the killing.

?But we still feel there are more
people out there with information
who are reluctant to talk. We need to
hear from them. This was a brutal
murder of a partially paralyzed 73-
year-old man." he said.

Two months after Jack's murder,
another 73-year-old man was robbed
and murdered in his home, two
blocks from the Mountalnview
Apartments. Police say Jack's kill-
ing and the murder of Harold Gallant
are unrelated, although several as-
pects of the cases are similar.

Gallant was also known to have
large sums of money in his home and
a 600-pound safe. containing cash.
rare coins and other valuables. was
missing from his bedroom closet.
Gallant was shot to death in his West
Ninth Street home; his bod was
found Friday. Dec. 30. 1988. be.
manhave been dead for three days.
As the Jack case, there was no evi-
denceofforced ent . .

No suspect hoax-been arrested in
the Gallant case. either. and police
say more than one person may have
been involved.

People with information about the
Jack or Gallant killings should call
Juneau Police at 586-273). or they
may call Juneau Crimeline anony-
mously at 586-4243.

I




UNEAU EMPI RE

October 17,

1989

 

An uhs'olved murder

Two years later, death of 73-year-old John Jack Sr. remains mystery

8y ANNABEL LUND
mu 

It was two years ago today that employees at a senior
citizens apartment building unlocked the door of a see-
und-flnor unit and found the savagely beaten body of 
vearold John Jack Sr.

The killers are still at large.

Police think the murderers knew Jack well and that
robbery was the motive. but they have no suspects. no
aeawns and no leads

"This was an elderly man who was partially para-
Iyred he used a cane to get around thh. lie was virtu-
illy helpless. defenseless He was a very gentle man who
'i.id no real enemies. at very generous man to his friends
ind family And yet he was beaten brutally and stabbed
'iy someone who probably knew him well and all for I
amount of cash." said Juneau Police l.t Steve
l-(atwrira. lead investigator in the case

l-ZVidenee at the scene suggests there were two killers
iivotved. one probably I woman or small man. Kalwars
..iid

Police have ?elded several hundred phone calls from
n-ople who have olTered information about the killing.

"ltut we still feel there are more people out there with
who are to talk." Kittwarti mid

"Sooner or later their u-nseienee has got to get the best
of them and they ll have to realize they ve got to come
forward with what they know to lay their mind at rest 

Katwara said one reason informants should come for
ward to help I) the killers may strike again If they u-
been successful they may try something like this again
That's somethinit people should think abbot it? they re re-
luctant to come forward preventing another person
from having to go through that Jack did 

The lieutenant said anyone with information about the
murder may speak with police anonymously or contact
Juneau Crime Line. which ts offerin a $15 ill) reward for
information leading to the arrest conviction ofJack?s
killer. Crime Line. a non-profit community effort.
launched a mayor pledge drive this month to increase the.
reward for Jae 's case

Crime Line's number is 566420

"We see large rewards for all kinds of property
Cfl?lt". and it's only right that we make murder a top
priority We've been seeking pledges from individuals
and businesses for the arrest and com iction of whoever
is responsible for Jack?s death." said Ed the

dice lieututoat?s brother and vice chairman of Crime
.ine
"It was a gruemme murder and we know the palm-

have exhausted all leads at lhta point Having ii large re.
ward out there might trigger some information said

Jack was i.i.~t seen alive Friday afternu-n. \K?l It.
1988. at th; king Restaurant downtown t'tanmng to
leave on to Angoon later that evening Jiiek had
cashed sch" checks. leading police to believe that he
had a amount of cash on him at the time uf his
death

His body was found three days later in his home .it
Mountaimxw \partments. on t2th Street Just on Egan
Drive Building supervisors. concerned because they had
not seen Jack in two days. unlocked his door with a pass
key and disct-v ered the murder

His wife ieuelry was missing. as was an undisclosed
amount of lush Jack was known to stash in his apart-
ment because he distrusted banks He kept his wife's
jewelry at the apartment after she had moved to St
Ann's Nursing Home

A Seattle torensic pathologist. (tr Willmm 
said autopsy results indicated Jack was probably killed
on Friday did was severely beaten before he wins
stabbed The heating was so brutal Brady was tumble to
detert?nme how many times Jitt'k had been
struck The - .t.-psy revealed Jack died of knife wounds.

Pleas. tum to Howard, Pogo I

8 JUNEAU WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 3990

Reward. . .

not the beating. Brady said.

Neighbors in the apartment building ?nd they did not
hear any suspicious activity or sound from Jack's unit
that day When lice conducted acoustic tests in the
apartment. they iscovered the building's soundproofing
was effective enough to muffle most sounds between
units. 
There was a buzzer security system for the building.
indicating that Jack knew his killers well enough to on-
lock the door and welcome them into his home. There
was no sign of forced entry into Jack's residence and the
door was found locked two days later. leading police to
suppose Jack's murderers may even have had a key to
the apartment

A pair r-f small black Stadia athletic shoes. covered
with blood and hair Similar to Jack's. was discovered in
the building's trash b.n. The shoes reaffirm the theory
that the murderers knew the layout of the apartment
budding The killers either had a key to the garbage area
or knew where the garbage chute was on
the second floor. polii 9 said 

Investigators believe the shoes belonged to one of,the
murderers. p055ibly a woman. and that she may have
left the building ban-Pot Once police have a suspect. her
feet can be compared to impressions left in the shoes, Lt
Kalwara said. 

"We believe the person who did this was familiar with
Jack and with Mountainvieu $enior Center We dust?
think lhl? i< some t'arui?nt . passmg through he
think the perpetrators are 5 ill in Jun Somebody knows
who they are.? Lt Kalwara said

Jm-k's murder his neighbors in the quiet ..-
ntor citizens budding

We were absolutely shocked It was a tragedy it.-
was a nice man. We?! respected We'ye been open Sim-v
I977 and ?eye new? had any crime here." said t?auLi
l-?ri-ngle of the Alaska State Housing Authority. which up

Continued from Page 1

crates the apartment budding. Frengle 'was building
manager at the time ofJack's murder.

Known by friends and family as Johnnie. the retired
commercial fisherman was a former mayor of Angoon.
He moved in Juneau in 1982 after his wife was admitted
to St. Ann's Nursmg Home

"John Jack appeared to be a highly respected and
liked person. He was considered a quiet and friendly man
who visited his wife almost every morning at St. Ann's."
Lt. Kalwara said. 

Even before Jack was buried in Angoon. Juneau de-
tectives launched an intensive investigation. plowing
hundreds of hours into the case. Fingerprints discovered
at the murder scene were analyzed by experts from the
Alaska State Troopers crime laboratory in Anchorage.
Other evidence was sent to the Federal Bureau of Inves-
tigation laboratory in Virginia. of it helps much
until police find suspects with whom they can compare
evidence found at the scene. Lt. Kalwara said.

Initially. Jack's murder touched off panic at the se-
nior citizens apartments. l-?rengle said

"But ultimately. it strengthened our bonds jth? a com-
munity and tightened tip security prmedures in getter-
she said._ 

Following Jack's death. polici- offered personal secti-
rity tips to reSIdents and mental health Counselors pro-
vided help in dealing with the and fear.

A video camera was installed at the outside doors so
that tenants can see visitors before allowing them into
the budding The security system is connected to resi-
dents' units by z: telewsmn systetti It spe-
cial security door was installed tit-tween the livmg area
and the seitior citizens center lh-mllioll locks
were added to tlnurs

?\Ve'rt all a more nowadays. hot I think
we feel safe here again Fi?i-iigli- soul

one other recent remains- on
solved the August strangling death of Zn year old
t'itiily Elm-d hi-r trailer at Hod/off Acres trailer park

Line continues to otter .1 55.000 for In
formation leading to the ill'lt'\l ot l-Ilrml's? killer

JUNEAU EMPI RE

October 17,

1990

 

6861 ?g Klenuef

neaunf

Local man, 73,. murdered in hOme

8y ANNABEL 


An elderly min was [maid mur-
dered in his Juneau home Friday,
andpolicesaytheycannot ruleouta
cmnectlon to the monthold un-
solved murder at another elderly

man.
The body at ?yearotd Harold

'Galiant was hard by police Friday

roomt?loorothls

I in; on the liv
.llehadbeen

eat Ninth Street



?Izheodyt?qtt-t?s





Police are not releasing details.
but deputy chiet? Randy March said
robbery appears to be the motive.
Gallant's safe is missing.

March said police have no weapon

andnosus
porcdwere noti?ed by Gal-

lant' Thehousekeeper when she was un-
able to rouse him by pounding on the
door or by calling on the telephone.
She told police the elderly man was
housebound with a heart condition
and she [cared he may have had a

Who-whoa.

heart attack or had fallen and was
unable to call [or help.

Gallant's body was ?own to An-
chorage for an autopsy. but resu?s
have not been released.

March said similarities between .

the Gallant and the John Jack Sr.
murders "certainly leads us to look
as it the two are cormected."

Jack. also 73. was found beaten
and stabbed Oct. in his
Mountalnview Apartment on 12th
Street. a ten: blocks from Gallant's

nayseesn.
?bacillus

Itarchsatd?Ts?re

u-

slso the motive in the Jack uni:
Jack had been dead several days he
(one his body was discovered. lie was
last seen alive on the afternoon 0!
Friday. Oct. it, in a downtown reo-
taurant.

Police still have no suspect it the
Jack murder.

March says he realiws another
murder may Mghten the elderly
community in Juneau.

own so m. Page I

 

?4

Investigators
say murders
not related

. a. .i .. ., .
irinJ-un-P.
'Ia: lidunqyuuydb


 

 

Juneau Empire

January 4, 1989