Seward Highway victim was wanted for child sex abuse

A city commuter van dragged Patrick K. Davids, 42, more than a football field as it attempted to stop along the icy road, Alaska State Troopers said. Troopers have said they do not know why Davids was parked along Mile 102 of the highway or why he was walking along the road.

He was listed in critical condition at Providence hospital on Monday. His condition wasn't available on Tuesday, but a trooper spokeswoman said she believed he was still hospitalized.

Trooper investigators declined to talk about the case Tuesday. But paperwork filed in Anchorage court shows the collision came just two days after a warrant was filed for Davids' arrest on charges of first- and second-degree sexual abuse of children.

Troopers have said it does not initially appear that the driver of the van was at fault in the crash.

RECORDED PHONE CALL

The investigation moved quickly. Troopers learned of the allegations Jan. 17, according to an affidavit signed by trooper investigator Christopher Long.

By Thursday, troopers had interviewed two potential victims and recorded a phone call with one of them in which Davids admitted he had "done things to (her) that he regretted," according to troopers.

Davids' wife heard part of the phone conversation and later described it to investigators, according to the affidavit.

"Patrick's reaction to the call was like he had the wind knocked out of him," troopers wrote.

He wouldn't talk to his wife about what happened, but said he was going to turn himself in to Anchorage police, Davids' wife told troopers. Davids talked about transferring the home and finances to his wife's name, troopers wrote.

The couple drove to work together the next morning, Friday, and went to the bank together at noon.

Anchorage police later tried to find Davids at his home and at his job, according to the trooper investigators. He was gone and so was his white pickup truck.

Troopers were worried Davids might try to flee the country, the affidavit says. His wife told investigators that Davids has lived in Alaska for about five years but retains South African citizenship.

WARRANT ISSUED

A no-bail warrant was issued for Davids' arrest on Friday, court records show.

Citing the ongoing investigation, an agency spokeswoman declined to answer questions about the case, such as where troopers believe Davids spent the weekend and if he showed any signs of being suicidal.

A trooper driving southbound on the Seward Highway spotted Davids moments before the Sunday night collision. Davids was walking in the direction of oncoming traffic and the trooper swerved slightly to avoid him, said spokeswoman Beth Ipsen.

The trooper stopped to turn around and talk to Davids. But the pedestrian had crossed the highway into the path of the northbound commuter van, according to a trooper report.

Davids was driven to Providence Alaska Medical Center with life-threatening injuries, troopers said.

Hospital spokeswoman Ginger Houghton would not say whether his status had improved as of Tuesday afternoon. Davids' family asked that the hospital provide no further information about his condition, she said.

Davids is accused of sexual abuse beginning in 2009 and continuing through last year, according to the trooper complaint.

He had not yet been placed under arrest Tuesday night, said trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters.

As recently as 2009, Davids was working as a certified financial planner, occasionally giving seminars for Morgan Stanley in Anchorage. Officials at the company declined to make any comment about Davids on Tuesday. His wife could not be reached for comment.

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