Unknown, 05-08-05

ADN, 05-09-05

HOUSTON

Man's body found along trail; troopers work on identification

Alaska State Troopers are investigating the death of a man found along a trail in the Houston area Sunday as a homicide.

Greg Wilkinson, spokesman for the troopers, said a person camping in the area found the body along a four-wheeler trail, about a half-mile from Mile 56 of the Parks Highway. That person called troopers in Palmer at 9:21 a.m., and they secured the scene until investigators arrived, Wilkinson said.

Investigators were still collecting evidence late Sunday.

Wilkinson would not elaborate on how the man died but did say troopers believe the death occurred recently. His body is thought to have been on the trail since the night before, Wilkinson said.

"We haven't made positive identification on the body, but based on who we think it is, we're attempting to make notification of next of kin," Wilkinson said. "So I can't even tell you for sure who it is. But we are investigating this as a homicide."

The Alaska State Medical Examiner's office plans to perform an autopsy on the man's body as soon as today, Wilkinson said.
-- Anchorage Daily News