Woman found strangled in Kotlik, boyfriend arrested for murder

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Monday, March 14, 2022 at 11:09 PM

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Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - A man in the western Alaska village of Kotlik has been arrested for the alleged murder of a woman last Thursday.

Shortly after one that morning, Alaska State Troopers in Fairbanks received a report of a disturbance in the village of Kotlik from 37-year-old resident Marie Unok.

Troopers say they were unable to contact Unok again and there were no local village police available at the time.

As authorities were attempting to follow up with Unok, 44-year-old Pius Teeluk of the village contacted Troopers several hours later to report his girlfriend, Marie Unok, was found deceased at their house.

Weather delayed Troopers from responding.  Village health aides responded and confirmed the death and reported no obvious signs of trauma.  

Once Troopers arrived, the body was sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy.  The office later reported that the woman's injuries were consistent with strangulation.

Teeluk was arrested by Troopers Saturday and charged with murder in the second degree.  

The Trooper dispatch says the investigation is continuing.

 

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