A 27-year-old Prince of Wales Island man was arrested and charged with first-degree murder Tuesday following a 10-hour standoff with Alaska State Troopers.
A Klawock resident who did not want to be credited sent us this cell-phone photo of Tuesday’s standoff preceding the arrest of Albert Peter Macasaet III, charged with first-degree murder.
Albert Peter Macasaet III allegedly barricaded himself, his three children and two other adults inside his mother’s house in Klawock after Troopers arrived to arrest him on the charge of murder for the death of his girlfriend, Judylee Guthrie, also 27.
Guthrie was found dead on July 31st next to a trail near Klawock on Prince of Wales Island. An autopsy showed that she had been strangled.
According to court documents, when Alaska State Troopers arrived at his mother’s house at about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to arrest him, Macasaet fled inside, produced a gun, and barricaded himself in the home. With him were his children, ages 13, 7 and 3; and two adults.
According to the Troopers online dispatch, negotiators called the house to try talking Macasaet into surrendering. After several hours, Troopers sent for the Southcentral Special Emergency Reaction Team, or SERT, to help.
In the meantime, negotiations continued, and the two adults and the oldest of the children left the house at about 6:30 p.m.
Macasaet remained inside with the 3-year-old and 7-year-old.
The standoff continued until shortly before midnight, when the SERT team intervened and arrested Macasaet. There were no injuries to law enforcement, the children or Macasaet, according to Troopers, although Macasaet allegedly took some kind of drugs resulting in a possible overdose.
He was brought to Ketchikan to receive treatment at PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center. Once he is released from the hospital, he will be jailed on the charge of first-degree murder.
According to Troopers, additional charges of resisting arrest and third-degree assault are expected
According to the complaint filed in court by Ketchikan District Attorney Stephen West, Guthrie was killed following a night at the Hill Bar in Craig. Video surveillance from the bar shows Guthrie and Macasaet leaving with two other people shortly after 3 a.m. on July 31st.
West writes that at about 11:30 that morning, Macasaet called the Craig Police Department to report Guthrie missing. At about 5:30 p.m., he called again to say he was searching for Guthrie at the Sunnahae Trail. Half an hour later, Macasaet called a third time to report he had found Guthrie’s body.
In his complaint, West writes that Guthrie’s body was not easily visible from the trail, and even with directions from Macasaet, searchers had a difficult time spotting her.
West notes that Guthrie was found with most of her possessions, but was missing one sandal and her phone. Those items were allegedly found in the vehicle Macasaet was driving.
Macasaet and Guthrie lived together in Hydaburg, and have children together. West writes in the complaint that Macasaet has a history of domestic violence arrests, including past incidents of choking Guthrie.
A message seeking comment from Alaska State Troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain was not returned in time for this report.
This is a developing news report. It will be updated when new information is available.
