Fairbanks shop owner found buried in snow

Three men in their 20s, including two soldiers, were arrested and held on charges of illegally using Frederick's credit cards. Police say they are suspects in the homicide.

Brian S. Towndrow, 21, Michael C. Moore, 23, and Raymond Jones, 29, were arrested Saturday and remain at Fairbanks Correctional Center.

Towndrow was discharged from the Army earlier this year. He faces sentencing on a charge of sexual assault of a minor in an unrelated case.

Towndrow's bail was set at $20,000. Bail for the other suspects was set at $10,000.

Frederick's body was found buried in snow in a wooded area off south Peger Road.

Frederick lived alone in one of two buildings at Eighth Avenue and Lacey Street where he also ran his business.

Neighbors described him as friendly and eccentric. The store was named after dogs that Frederick had owned.

Businesswoman and former municipal leader Donna Gilbert said she knew Frederick for more than 20 years and considered him a dear friend.

Frederick last year gave Gilbert a homemade Christmas card using a picture of her that he had obtained from an old high school yearbook, she said.

Gilbert once asked Frederick where he came from.

"He said, 'Donna, Fairbanks is home. It's the only home I've ever really had and these are the only friends I've really had.' I've always remembered that," Gilbert said. "I think Dan is one of those people who came to Alaska looking for a home."

Frederick told a Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reporter 15 years ago that he was from Wisconsin and came to Alaska with the Army in the early 1980s. His interests have included painting and composing music. He opened the antique store in 1985.

Frederick is quoted in the Sept. 20, 1993, article saying: "My only real goal is to lead a good Christian life and to serve God. I feel if a person does that, everything else will follow."

Besides antiques, Frederick sold military surplus items and Americana.

Authorities spent hours gathering evidence inside Frederick's home Monday morning.

Several neighbors reported seeing recent unusual activity on his property.

Dotti Frett has lived across from Blondie's for eight years. She said Frederick was a bit of a loner who spent a lot of time caring for his two cats and a dog.

Flora Davis, who recently moved to the neighborhood, said Frederick was a nice guy.

"He was friendly," she said. "He spoke to me."