Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier

Robin Barefield
  • 4.7 (210)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Biweekly

Listen to tales of true murder and mystery in Alaska.

  1. Sep 9

    How Many People Did Miranda Babour Kill?

    In December 2013, after police arrested Miranda Barbour, 19, for the murder of Troy LaFerrara in Pennsylvania, Miranda told a news reporter she had murdered between 22 and 100 people. She said she killed a few in North Carolina, Texas, and California, but she claimed most of the murders occurred in her home state of Alaska. Her statement startled law enforcement officials across the country, but they soon began to question her declarations. Was her claim of serial murders real, a cry for attention, or was she attempting to lay the foundation for an insanity defense? After the brutal killing of LaFerrara, though, few investigators doubted Miranda could have killed before, and most believed if she hadn’t been stopped, she would have killed again. What should we think, then? Is Miranda Barbour a serial murderer, a pathological liar, or both? Sources: BBC Miranda Barbour, Serial Killer or Liar https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6w80lb Miranda Barbour. Murderpedia https://murderpedia.org/female.B/b/barbour-miranda.htm Wenner, David.2-21-2014. North Carolina town copes with connection to couple accused of Craigslist killing. Penn Live Patriot News https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2014/02/miranda_barbour_craigslist_sat.html Lysiak, Matthew. 4-28-14. Exclusive: Craigslist Killer Miranda Barbour Tells How and Why She Killed. Newsweek Magazine. https://www.newsweek.com/2014/05/09/exclusive-craigslist-killer-miranda-barbour-tells-how-and-why-she-killed-248670.html Scarcella, Francis. 12-7-2013. Pal: Newlyweds Sat, Watched Investigators Comb Murder Scene. The Daily Item. https://www.dailyitem.com/news/pal-newlyweds-sat-watched-investigators-comb-murder-scene/article_751c6fcb-9a43-5be0-a64e-2090305ef9e0.html Burke, Jill.3-16-2014/ Accused Craigslist killer Miranda Barbour had traumatic start to life. Anchorage Daily News. https://www.adn.com/crime-justice/article/accused-craigslist-killer-miranda-barbour-had-traumatic-start-life/2014/03/17/ Associated Press. 9-18-2014. ‘Craigslist Killers’ Miranda and Elytte Barbour Sentenced to Life in Prison. People.com https://people.com/crime/craigslisit-killers-miranda-and-elytte-barbour-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/ ______________________ Now Available More Stories of Murder and Mystery in Alaska ________________ Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more. ______ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska _______________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store

  2. Aug 26

    The Princess Sophia Disaster

    The deadliest marine disaster on the west coast of North America occurred in Lynn Canal on October 24, 1918, but few people have ever heard of it. Approximately 345 people died when the SS Princess Sophia slid off Vanderbilt Reef and sank. Did the captain’s recklessness cause the disaster, and did his poor decision-making doom the passengers and crew of the Princess Sophia? Sources SS Princess Sophia Expedition. Available at: http://www.princesssophia.org/history Sullivan, Toby.  12/12/2018. The Sinking of the Princess Sophia. Kodiak Daily Mirror 10-10-2018. The Sinking of the S.S. Princess Sophia. The Juneau Empire. ______________ Now Available More Stories of Murder and Mystery in Alaska ________________ Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more. ______ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska _______________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store

  3. Aug 12

    Never To Return

    Many people dream of hunting in the Alaska wilderness, and for most, it is the adventure of a lifetime. However, a few unlucky hunters never return from their adventure. As I’ve said many times, Alaska is big, rugged, and beautiful but also dangerous, from raging rivers to high seas to rugged mountains and ice fields marred by deep crevasses. Moose, bears, and wolves all present risks, and the extreme cold in the winter can cause frostbite or hypothermia in a matter of minutes. Sources Baird, Brittney, and Mark Kelly. “Another setback for family of missing Dover man.” September 15, 2023. WKRN. Beres, Nick. “Search crews believe they have found the remains of the missing Tennessee hunter in Alaska.” September 15, 2023. News Channel 5 Nashville. Chavez, Paloma. “Hunter who got separated from friend found dead below cliff in Alaska, Coast Guard says.” October 13, 2022. The News Tribune. DeMarban, Alex. “NPS: Evidence suggests overdue hikers may have died crossing river in Wrangell-St. Elias.” July 2, 2018. Anchorage Daily News. DeMarban, Alex. “Searchers find bodies of missing hikers in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.” July 3, 2018. Anchorage Daily News. D’Oro, Rachel and Mark Thiessen. “No arguments – no fights hunter says partner found dead on Kodiak Island had disappeared into the wilderness before.” May 18, 2019. Anchorage Daily News. Edge, Megan. “Wasilla hunter falls to his death on Pioneer Peak.” October 5, 2015. Anchorage Daily News. Hale, Tom. “DNA of skull in Alaska solves mystery on New Yorker missing since 1976.” February 6, 2023. IFLSCIENCE. Hill, Katie. “Bodies of two missing Alaskan moose hunters found, search for third continues.” September 27, 2022. Outdoor Life. Hill, Katie. “Search for three missing moose hunters in Alaska still ongoing. Another moose hunter found deceased.” September 12, 2022. Outdoor Life. Hollander, Zaz. “Delta Junction man found dead after going missing on bear hunt near Kodiak.” May 17, 2019. Anchorage Daily News. “Hunter killed in 200-foot fall.” September 12, 2011. Kodiak Daily Mirror. McFarlin, Shannon. “Alaska State Troopers: Remains found in search not human remains.” September 15, 2023. Radio NWTN. Morgan, Amber. “Bear-clawed remains found in Alaskan wilderness identified as man who went missing in 1976.” February 7, 2023. allthatisinteresting.com. O’Connor, Brian. “Wasilla hunter killed in Pioneer Peak fall.” October 6, 2015. Frontiersman. Outdoor Hub Reporters. “Alaska hunter found dead after 6 days potentially poisoned by unidentified root.” July 10, 2019. Outdoorhub.com. “The latest: man finds bear hunter dead but no sign of trauma.” May 17, 2019. ksl.com Williams, Tess. “Searchers find body of hunter reported missing in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park.” August 23, 2021. Anchorage Daily News. Wittmer, Carrie. “Body of missing hunter found in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve.” August 22, 2021. Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve News Release. _________________ Now Available! Thirty-Three Stories of Murder and Mystery in Alaska Check It Out on Amazon Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more. ______ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska _______________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store

  4. Jul 29

    Murder in Ruby

    When someone brutally murdered the postmistress of Ruby, Alaska, a small village on the Yukon River, the Alaska State Troopers believed they had a ‘locked-room” mystery on their hands. They suspected one of the villagers of killing Agnes Wright. After all, there are only two ways into and out of Ruby: either by boat on the Yukon River or by air travel on a small bush plane. Neither method of transportation is inconspicuous to or from a village where everyone knows everyone else, and a stranger’s presence warrants stares and whispers. Since the troopers heard no credible accounts of a stranger in town on the day of the murder, they began with the premise that one of the villagers committed the crime. But who in this small village hated Agnes Wright enough to beat her savagely and then shoot her? Sources 1996 Postmaster. Behind the Badge. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Smithsonian U.S. Postal Museum. Murphy, Kim. 8-2-1996. Murder in a Town Full of Suspects. Los Angeles Times. More Details Emerge in Killing of Postmaster. 7-19-1996. Daily Sitka Senitinel. ______________ Now Available! Thirty-Three Stories of Murder and Mystery in Alaska Check It Out on Amazon Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more. ______ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska _______________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store

  5. Jul 15

    Failed Justice: The Murder of Eunice Whitman

    Eunice Whitman and her boyfriend, Justine Paul, argued on a busy foot path crisscrossing the tundra in Bethel, Alaska. A few hours later, four teenagers stumbled upon Eunice’s naked body stretched out on the ground. Someone had stabbed her multiple times and slashed her throat. Then, they’d folded her clothes and left them a short distance from her body. The police quickly arrested Justine Paul for Eunice’s murder. When they found a backpack full of bloody clothes in his home, and footprints in the mud near Eunice’s body resembling the tread on Paul’s shoes, the prosecutors raced the case to the grand jury, which indicted Paul on first-degree murder.  Unfortunately, this was the only time anything was ever done quickly in this case. When the blood test results from Paul’s stained clothes came back from the lab, they surprised the police and the prosecution, but the state refused to drop charges, and Paul languished in jail for seven years waiting for his case to go to trial. ______________ Now Available! Eleven Mysteries and 22 stories of Murder in the Last Frontier Grab your copy here! ____________ Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more. ______ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska _______________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store

  6. Jul 1

    What Caused the SS Clara Nevada to Sink?

    Superstitions swirl around boats, and some captains believe bizarre myths. Renaming a vessel remains foremost among the maritime harbingers of bad luck, and if you dare change the name of your boat, you must follow a strict protocol to avoid certain doom. The Clara Nevada did not even complete her maiden voyage under her new name. Is this boat the case study to prove the truth of the old mariner’s superstition, or did her captain plot her demise? On February 5, 1898, the SS Clara Nevada departed Skagway, Alaska, headed for Juneau and then Seattle. Hurricane-force winds of 90 knots (100 mph 161 km/h) pummeled the vessel with following seas of twelve to fifteen feet (4-5 m) as the helmsman attempted to navigate the infamous Lynn Canal of Alaska’s Inside Passage. When the decrepit old ship reportedly struck a rock and sank, the news surprised no one. Searchers found the body of only one man, the ship’s purser, but news reports stated that no one survived such a horrific accident. The loss of the Clara Nevada at first seemed a tragic but foreseeable accident, and no one doubted the negligence of the ship’s owners and captain. Before long, though, folks began asking questions, and the Seattle newspapers speculated wildly about the disaster. Crewmen believed to have died in the wreck turned up alive and well. Even the captain materialized and wasted little time beginning his next venture to ferry prospectors to the goldfields. Sources: Levi, Steven C. The Clara Nevada; Gold, Greed, Murder and Alaska’s Inside Passage. 2011. History Press.  This book was my main source for this article.  It covers the sinking of the Clara Nevada and the exploits of Captain C.H. Lewis in much more detail than I’ve included here. The author also describes the challenges involved in trying to research a maritime disaster in Alaska in the late 1800s. I highly recommend this book to anyone who would like to learn more about the Clara Nevada or get a feel for the atmosphere in both Seattle and Skagway during the Klondike gold rush. Gold on the Clara Nevada: Cold Case Gets Hot. National Underwater and Marine Agency. Eldred Rock Lighthouse, Alaska. Lighthousefriends.com. The Clara Nevada’s sinking may always remain a mystery. 08-26-2012.James, David. Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. The 2007 Hassler Expedition; The Hassler’s last days and the wreck of the Clara Nevada. National Marine Sanctuaries. National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. Dihle, Bjorn. Haunted Inside Passage: Ghosts, Legends, and Mysteries of Southeast Alaska.  2017. Alaska Northwest Books. __________ Now Available! Thirty-Three Stories of Murder and Mystery in Alaska Check it out at Amazon Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more. ______ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska _______________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store

  7. Jun 17

    The Keystone Canyon Shootout

    Alaska is a land brimming with natural resources, including gold, silver, copper, coal, oil, salmon, and crab. Still, too often, outsiders have plundered these resources, enriching themselves and leaving Alaska and Alaskans with little to show for it. Alaska has had a “boom and bust” economy since the early 1900s, and no place exemplifies this economy better than Valdez. The aggressive Alaska Syndicate was formed in 1906 with backing from J.P. Morgan and the Guggenheim family, and its initial goal was to mine copper. However, soon the syndicate wanted all Alaska had to offer, including gold, coal, and salmon. It also fought to control rail and sea transportation in Alaska, and with powerful government connections and unlimited funds, it mostly got what it wanted. It needed a railroad to transport copper from its remote Kennecott mines to the ocean, then steamships to ferry it to southern ports. The syndicate chose to construct rail tracks from Kennecott to Cordova, and when rival builders began constructing a railroad from Valdez to Alaska’s interior, a violent confrontation erupted, culminating in a shootout in Keystone Canyon. Sources Bill, Laurel Downing. “Crime syndicate and the Keystone Canyon affair.” September 1, 2021. Senior Voice. “Copper River and Northwestern.” National Park Service. “History of Kennicott.” Silk Stocking Row. “History of Valdez.” Valdez Museum. “Kennicott Mine & ghost tour walking points.” Alaska.org. “Keystone Canyon Railroad Tunnel.” Valdezalaska.org. Roan, A.J. “Alaskan copper mine, once giant of America.” January 20, 2022. Mining News. Tower, Elizabeth A. Icebound Empire. 2015. Louisville, Kentucky. Old Stone Press. ______________ Coming Soon Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more. ______ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska _______________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store

  8. Jun 3

    Cross-Country Serial Killer John Joseph Fautenberry

    Would you recognize a serial killer if you rubbed elbows with him in a bar or if he struck up a conversation with you on a hiking trail? Maybe something about the person would set off alarm bells, especially if you found yourself alone with him. A sociopath or a psychopath can often present a charming demeanor, though, so most of us would never notice the predator in our midst. We might not realize the friendly stranger is a brutal murderer until we read the news the next day. Sources: “Fautenberry confesses to killing Juneau man.” June 18, 1991. Daily Sitka Sentinel. John Joseph Fautenberry. Murderpedia. John Joseph Fautenberry. Clark Prosecutor.org. ________________________ Coming Soon Join the Last Frontier Club’s Free Tier and receive updates, bonus episodes, and more. ______ Robin Barefield lives in the wilderness on Kodiak Island, where she and her husband own a remote lodge. She has a master’s degree in fish and wildlife biology and is a wildlife-viewing and fishing guide. Robin has published six novels: Big Game, Murder Over Kodiak, The Fisherman’s Daughter, Karluk Bones, Massacre at Bear Creek Lodge, and The Ultimate Hunt. She has also published two non-fiction books: Kodiak Island Wildlife and Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier. She draws on her love and appreciation of the Alaska wilderness as well as her scientific background when writing. Subscribe to Robin’s free, monthly Murder and Mystery Newsletter for more stories about true crime and mystery from Alaska. Join her on: Facebook Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Visit her website at http://robinbarefield.com Check out her books at Amazon Send me an email: robinbarefield76@gmail.com ___________________________________________ Would you like to support Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier? Become a patron and join The Last Frontier Club. Each month, Robin will provide one or more of the following to club members. · An extra episode of Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier is available only for club members. Behind-the-scenes glimpses of life and wildlife in the Kodiak wilderness. · Breaking news about ongoing murder cases and new crimes in Alaska _______________________________________________________________ Merchandise! Visit the Store

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Listen to tales of true murder and mystery in Alaska.

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