Anchorage Daily News

Twelve people who were homeless or familiar with life on the streets have died outdoors in Anchorage this spring and summer, most of them in woods and parks. Only one death has been classified as a homicide.

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1. STANLEY IVEY, 58 Found May 7 in park woods at 20th Avenue and Karluk Street during spring cleanup. He had been drinking but it didn't contribute to his death, according to police. From McGrath. Had worked as an electrician.

Cause of death: hypothermia

2. WESLEY SMALL, 50 Found May 12 in a tent by a passerby in the area of Third Avenue and Orca Street.

Appeared to be new to Alaska. Was on disability.

Cause of death: prescription drugs mixed with alcohol

3. SIMEON BOOTS, 38 Found May 14 curled up in fetal position at the edge of woods in Campbell Park, where Laurel Street meets Campbell Creek south of Tudor Road. Grew up in Russian Mission. Had worked as a janitor.

Cause of death: acute alcohol intoxication

4. DANNY WRIGHT, 56 Found May 16 submerged in Campbell Creek near 48th Avenue and Lake Otis Parkway. From Iowa. Known as "Papa Smurf" on the street. Drowned after falling into the creek while intoxicated. Cut to head. Unknown what caused it but police say there's no evidence of a fight or struggle. Ruled an accidental death.

Cause of death: drowning, with contributing factors of blunt force trauma and acute alcohol intoxication. He also had cirrhosis of the liver.

5. EDWIN WHEELER, 45 Found June 1 near a picnic table outside an apartment at 436 E. 11th Ave. Woman found him lying face up on the ground near the table about 5 a.m. with alcohol bottles and cans nearby. Formerly of Bethel. Known for playing his harmonica downtown.

Cause of death: pending. He had been struck by a car two weeks prior and was recovering from his injuries. No signs of foul play.

6. JOSEPH FERREIRA, 53 Originally from Kotzebue. Found June 3 outside an apartment building at 1004 Ingra St. Resident saw him gurgling and intoxicated as she was leaving; an hour later, he had stopped breathing.

Cause of death: acute and chronic alcohol abuse with lung disease a contributing factor.

7. GEOFFREY SCOTT HUMPHRIES, 43 Found on June 24 face down in a ravine at the corner of Penland Parkway and Airport Heights Drive, near Northway Mall. He was born in Louisiana and his family now is in Alabama. Drinking started to mess up his life back in college, his father said. Worked as an electrician when he could.

Cause of death: pending. No signs of foul play.

8. JAMES GORDON LOCKERY, 37 Found dead July 12 at Centennial Park in northeast Anchorage. He was sleeping in the park when, according to police, two teens stomped and beat him to death for a case of beer and $7. Marc Ewing and Lawrence Lobdell were arrested and charged with murder.

Has family in Arizona. Well-known among a circle of Anchorage hunters and fishermen who looked out for him. Had worked in the fishing industry.

Cause of death: blunt force trauma; classified as homicide

9. ELOUISE OKAKOK, 25 Found Aug. 7 at Earl and Muriel King Park at 12th Avenue and Cordova Street. Her boyfriend said he, Okakok and another person had shared a half-gallon of Monarch vodka the night before. Police say they questioned and released her companion. There was no sign of trauma to the body.

Born in Point Hope. Had used up her 30 days allowed at Brother Francis Shelter but was about to start at Homeward Bound, a residential program for homeless alcoholics.

Cause of death: pending. No signs of foul play.

10. EUGENE WILLIAMS, 69 Found dead Aug. 9 in woods near DeBarr Road and Bragaw Street. Body was in advanced state of decomposition.

Known to hitchhike around the state. Had rented a room in a home in East Anchorage until July 7. His landlady had asked him to stop bringing in his drinking buddies, so he moved out.

Cause of death: pending. No signs of foul play.

11. DOUGLAS FRIDAY, 31 Hit by car and killed instantly when he stepped into traffic on the Old Seward Highway midday on Aug. 10. Police say he was struck by a tan Dodge pickup driven by Ryan Mathias of Anchorage.

From Anchorage. His family said he was an "old soul." People on the streets said he was well-known among their crowd. One homeless woman said she thought of him like a little brother.

Cause of death: pending

12. BART TREIBER, 49 Found dead Aug. 16 in back of car on East Third Avenue. Friends had borrowed the car from its owner the previous night and picked up Treiber. They drank a lot and let him sleep in the back seat.

From Texas and has grieving family there. Loved the Alaska outdoors and especially fishing, his brother said.

Cause of death: pending. No signs of foul play.

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