2:38
20-year old Sophie Sergie (SUR-ghee) was found dead in a dormitory at the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1993. Her case went cold for many years as suspect after suspect was ruled out. However, in 2018, DNA from the crime scene was matched through a commercial database to a former student who had moved back to Maine.
Alaska State Troopers went to Maine to arrest him in February, 2019. After a months-long trip to extradite him to Fairbanks, Stephen Downs has been waiting his day in court. His attorney, James Howaniec, (hoh-WAH-nik) is glad the evidentiary hearing has started this week.
“It’s been pushed off for a year, now, this was already going to be a tough case, and then we get hit with the pandemic. So, we had a conference with the judge, 2 to 3 months ago, and just decided that we’re going to get going on some of these motions pending for a year.”
Police error prompts call to toss evidence in Alaska killing lmtonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lmtonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Police error prompts call to toss evidence in Alaska killing
Steven Downs, formerly of Auburn, was charged for the 1993 rape and killing of Sophie Sergie at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, where he was then a student. Author: Associated Press Updated: 1:31 PM EST February 4, 2021
AUBURN, Maine
Editor s Note: The above video aired Aug. 6, 2019.
An attorney for a former Maine resident who is facing trial for an Alaska killing is trying to exclude evidence due to misinformation from police.
Steven Downs, formerly of Auburn, was charged for the 1993 rape and killing of Sophie Sergie at the University of Alaska at Fairbanks, where he was then a student.
Down’s repeatedly denied the assertion.
“There’s no way that could be possible,” he said. “There’s gotta be some mix-up.”
Downs told the officers: “I never hurt anyone in my life.”
He said there must have been a mistake and that he’s “always tried to do the right thing.”
Downs said in the interview that he had been with his girlfriend that night.
But McPherron said he talked to Downs’ girlfriend who, he testified Monday, told police that she’d had a party in her dorm room (one floor above his) that night and that Downs had attended that party “intermittently.”
Governor Dunleavy Prioritizes Public Safety in Annual Address
Public Safety Remains Job Number One for the Dunleavy Administration
(Anchorage, AK) – Governor Mike Dunleavy highlighted a number of accomplishments and priorities of the Alaska Department of Public Safety during his annual State of the State Address. Since taking office the governor has charged his public safety team to continue to make public safety job number one for his administration.
“Governor Dunleavy has made it clear that the safety of all Alaskans is his top priority, and that is the goal that I have worked tirelessly towards over the last two years with the countless professionals that work for the Department of Public Safety,” said Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner Amanda Price. “I am proud of all that my department and its dedicated employees have accomplished to meet the governor’s charge and make Alaska a safer state.”