A homicide investigation was conducted at a Nikiski residence on Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. after receiving a request initially for a welfare check.
When troopers arrived, they located 49-year-old Nikiski resident Jeryl Bates deceased inside of the residence. Evidence at the residence suggested that the death was suspicious in nature. Investigators from the Alaska Bureau of Investigation Soldotna Major Crimes Unit responded to the scene as well as crimes scene technicians from the Alaska Crime Lab.
Based on the results of the investigation, Alaska State Troopers arrested 20-year-old Nikiski resident River Aspelund and he was remanded to Wildwood Pretrial Facility of charges of murder in the first degree and tampering with physical evidence.
No other information is known at this time.
