Man accused of evidence tampering in case involving woman found dead near Eklutna Lake Road Author: Anchorage Daily News
Print article A 36-year-old man was arrested in connection with the investigation into the “suspicious death” of a woman found over the weekend near Eklutna Lake Road, Anchorage police said Tuesday night. Eddie Thomas Jr. faces charges of evidence tampering, misconduct involving a corpse and violating conditions of release, police said in an alert. He was taken to the Anchorage jail, police said. The body of Jerilyn Bessie Nicholson, 27, was found at the base of a cliff in the 35000 block of Eklutna Lake Road on Saturday afternoon, according to police. Police said at the time that observations made at the scene “warranted a closer look at the circumstances surrounding the death.”
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On May 4, Anchorage Police arrested a man in connection with Nicholson’s death and took him to jail. Police have charged 36-year-old Eddie Thomas Jr. with tampering with physical evidence, misconduct involving a corpse, and violating conditions of release.
Nicholson grew up in Bethel and Dillingham before moving to Anchorage, according to her cousin Kelsey Ciugun Wallace. Wallace is an Indigenous activist who has organized events and policy change related to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two Spirit Relatives. May 5 marks the National Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Awareness Day.
Nicholson’s memorial service will be held at the Evergreen Memorial Chapel in Anchorage on Saturday, May 8 at noon.