Human Remains Found in a Juneau Home Freezer Are Believed to Be a Missing Family Member, Police Say
JUNEAU, AK — Human remains found inside a chest freezer at a Juneau home are believed to belong to an adult male family member, according to police. Officers were called Sunday night to a residence in the 6500 block of Glacier Highway after someone reported possible human remains on the property. The discovery was made while the reporting party was cleaning out the home after a family death. Police said the remains were found in a locked outbuilding, and investigators later confirmed they were human.
Police Confirm Discovery
The Juneau Police Department said investigators made a preliminary identification and believe the remains may be those of an adult male relative. The person’s next of kin has been notified, but officials said positive identification is still pending with the Alaska State Medical Examiner’s Office. Authorities have not said how the person died or how the remains ended up in the freezer. They also said it is not yet known how long the remains were stored there before being found.
No Missing Report Filed
Police said they found no record of a missing person report involving the deceased with the Juneau Police Department. That detail is part of what investigators are now sorting through as they try to confirm the identity and circumstances. The report did not say whether the family member had been living at the property or elsewhere before the discovery. Officials have not released any information about other possible connections between the person believed to be in the freezer and the residence where the remains were found.
Medical Examiner To Review
The remains were taken to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy is expected to help confirm the person’s identity and determine the cause and manner of death. Police said the investigation is active and ongoing. At this stage, investigators say there is no known threat to the public. The medical examiner’s findings are expected to be a key step in establishing basic facts about the case, including whether the death was natural, accidental, or involved other circumstances.
Public Asked For Tips
Investigators are asking anyone with information that may help the case to contact the Juneau Police Department at (907) 586-0600. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Juneau Crime Line. Police released the information in a department news release, and the case remains under review. For now, officials have not identified any immediate danger connected with the discovery, but they continue to gather details about the family, the property and the length of time the remains may have been inside the freezer.
