AK - Mackenzie Howard, 13, found dead in Kake church, 5 Feb 2013

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Death of Kake Girl being Investigated as a Homicide

By Abby Hancock and Chris Klint Channel 2 News 1:27 p.m. AKST, February 6, 2013 ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

Alaska State Troopers say the death of Mackenzie Howard, 13, is being investigated as a homicide Thursday, as the Southeast village of Kake comes together after the discovery of her body at a local church Tuesday night.

Shipley says the town hosted a memorial Tuesday for a well-respected local elder. Ipsen says many people who attended the service have since left town, a factor which may complicate troopers' investigation.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call AST dispatchers in Ketchikan at 907-225-5118.
 
Troopers: 13 Year Old Kake Girl Murdered

by Matthew Smith
Story Created: Feb 7, 2013 at 6:51 PM AKST

“We do not believe it was a very long period of time that she was deceased before she was found,” said Lieutenant Rex Leath with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation. “When I say not a very long period of time, we're talking a matter of less than a couple of hours.”


Kake: Mackenzie Howard Autopsy Completed by Medical Examiner

4:41 p.m. AKST, February 8, 2013

(The article says autopsy results have not yet been released.)
 
Candlelight Vigils For Mackenzie Howard Set for Friday

By The Associated Press & Mallory Peebles 12:10 p.m. AKST, February 8, 2013 JUNEAU, Alaska—

The Juneau Empire says candlelight vigils are being planned across the state for 6 p.m. Friday. Kake's vigil will be held at the Old Grade School, one of Howard's favorite spots to play basketball

400x500

Mackenzie Howard, 13

 
That picture in the boat is so sweet with her big smile. How could anyone do this to her? Another infuriating tragedy. :furious:
 
What a lovely girl! Such a terrible loss. My deepest condolences to her family. This happened on the 5th.....I wonder when a COD will be made public. What kind of a monster would do this to a little girl. Rest in the arms of angels Mackenzie.
 
Photos from the candlelight vigil at this link.

http://www.adn.com/2013/02/08/2782737/candlelight-vigil-for-mackenzie.html

People are posting condolences at this Facebook page set up to plan the vigils.

Candlelight Vigil for Mackenzie

Katydid's right. Another infuriating tragedy. Stupid and senseless.

Kake is a small, tightknit community of about 600 people, but the perp probably isn't one of them. A memorial for an elder took place on Tuesday night, and many visitors came from out of town to attend. Now they're gone, and it could be difficult for LE to catch up with the killer.

“She was always laughing,” Howard’s older half-sister Miranda James-McGraw, 22, said. “She had a huge goofy personality, she could brighten anyone’s day. She would always brighten my day.”

“If you ever met her, she’s one of the most positive people I’ve ever known,” said Jennifer Weisbecker, the girlfriend of Howard’s brother Nick Dixson. “She had the biggest smile, she was always making people happy, she just *— she didn’t have a mean bone in her body.”

“There’s no one else like her in the world,” 20-year-old Dixson said, adding that for Christmas he got his sister book lights and gift cards for her Kindle. Howard had already worn out her first Kindle and was on her second one, he said.

http://juneauempire.com/local/2013-02-07/family-members-remember-mackenzie-howard#.URYR6GeoqSp
 
Death officially ruled a homicide, but LE remains mum on the details.

An autopsy has confirmed that 13-year-old Kake resident Mackenzie Howard died as a result of a homicide, according to the Alaska Bureau of Investigation.

An Alaska State Trooper lieutenant overseeing the investigation said Saturday he could not reveal what type of injuries Howard suffered, if investigators had found a murder weapon, or if there was evidence of a sexual assault.


http://www.adn.com/2013/02/09/2783495/kake-teens-slaying-shocks-village.html
 
So terribly sad :( I was about to ask what kind of person would murder such a sweet and happy girl, but then realised that that was pointless as the unexplainable happens in this world constantly.

Rest peacefully sweetheart x
 
Such a beautiful, happy child so full of life.

Tragic, senseless and unfair.

RIP Mackenzie.

Prayers for her family and loved ones.
 
Kip Howard said his daughter ate food with him before she went to visit with her friends. She returned to his table for dessert and said she was going to walk home, he said.

He last saw her alive about 9:45 p.m.

Mackenzie didn't arrive at home, Kip said. He drove around in his pickup and started searching for her on foot. Kip and his wife, Marla, called around but nobody had seen their daughter. Kip was still looking around the village shortly before 11 p.m. when the pastor's wife called his cellphone from the Memorial Presbyterian Church -- about 25 feet across the road from the family's home -- and told him to come quickly to the church.

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/02/09/27834...ocks-village.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Such a sad sad story, precious child.

It reads as though the window of opportunity is only about an hours time.
 
RIP Mackenzie. You were a beautiful warm-hearted loving young lady, anticipating a life filled with joy and many opportunities. I loved that picture of you with your bold red glasses, and gorgeous smile - making a statement of your love of life. Someone stole all of this from you and that someone needs to be caught and punished to the full extent of the law.
My heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of Mackenzie.
 
awful. Killed 25 feet across the road.

How terrible for her family to know that she was killed so very close to home, at the church no less. Just awful.

So what was the memorial for and what types of individuals would have been coming from out of town to attend?
 
awful. Killed 25 feet across the road.

How terrible for her family to know that she was killed so very close to home, at the church no less. Just awful.

So what was the memorial for and what types of individuals would have been coming from out of town to attend?

The village was busy with visitors in the days before Howard's death.
The girl helped with a memorial Monday and burial ceremony Tuesday for the late Kake elder Clarence Jackson, said Bean, Jackson's cousin. Kids were let out of school early Tuesday, he said. The remembrance for Jackson, a Sealaska Corp. board member who helped incorporate the Native corporation, brought at least 200 people to Kake, Bean said.


http://www.adn.com/2013/02/09/27834...ocks-village.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

 
tlcya: http://www.alaskapublic.org/2013/02/01/tlingit-elder-clarence-jackson-dies/
February 1, 2013*
"Tlingit elder and original Sealaska Native Corporation board member Clarence Jackson passed away Thursday at the age of 78.

He’s being remembered for his contributions to the Native land claims movement, and for being an ambassador for Tlingit culture in both the business world and his personal life."

The video link in the article is Mr. Jackson speaking. It's so interesting to watch.
 
I was searching for news and I came across a local bulletin board posting from Kake. Community leaders are asking for pictures or videos taken at the dinner the night of February 5th. They need any images captured that evening, both indoors and outdoors. The message also says LE is asking for information about a non-local man selling popsicles before or during the dinner. Contact info is included in the post at this link.

http://forum.sitka.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=36367
 
Law enforcement not releasing autopsy results for homicide victim
Family plans Tuesday night memorial service for Mackenzie Howard
Posted: February 11, 2013 - 3:15pm | Updated: February 11, 2013 - 3:18pm

http://juneauempire.com/local/2013-...ds-preliminary-autopsy-report-homicide-victim

"During a phone interview Monday, Peters declined to comment on whether law enforcement have identified any suspects or persons of interest in the case. No arrests have been made, she confirmed. Investigators with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation’s Major Crimes Unit, which is handling the criminal investigation, were still in Kake on Monday to maintain a presence there, conduct interviews and collect evidence, she said."
 
Memorial this evening for Mackenzie Howard

By Chris Klint Channel 2 News 12:59 p.m. AKST, February 12, 2013

ANCHORAGE, Alaska—

A Mackenzie Howard memorial service will be held Tuesday evening in Juneau, the first of several formal events remembering the 13-year-old girl whose body was found a week ago at a church in the village of Kake.

No updates about the investigation. I hope LE has some good leads.
 

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