Midday Tuesday, Bethel police told troopers that Young Suk Chong, a 54-year-old driver for Taxi Cab Co., had been reported missing and was last seen about 3 a.m., troopers said.
Someone reported finding the cab Wednesday about 10:15 a.m. near the dump in Napakiak, 15 miles southwest of Bethel on the Kuskokwim River. Police and troopers later found Chong dead inside the vehicle, troopers said.
"Criminal conduct is suspected and the body is being sent to the State Medical Examiner's Office for autopsy," according to a trooper dispatch posted online. Troopers brought the cab back to Bethel, troopers said.
The Alaska Bureau of Investigation sent a detective to Bethel, said agency spokeswoman Megan Peters.
Bethel police declined to comment and referred all questions to Peters, who also declined to comment further.
Public radio station KYUK in Bethel reported Chong was driving a blue Lexus SUV. Volunteers searched for Chong in blizzard conditions and wind chill down to 65 below, according to KYUK.
Troopers ask that anyone who may have seen Chong after 3 a.m. Tuesday call them at 543-2294.
Reach Casey Grove at casey.grove@adn.com or 257-4589.
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