A Willow man was arrested Wednesday and charged with first-degree murder in the death of his wife.
Michael J. Kilgo, 59, was arrested at his Willow home on Wednesday around noon, Alaska State Troopers said in an online statement. He was charged with first-degree murder and evidence tampering.
Hattie Labuff-Kilgo, 56, was found deceased on Tuesday in the community of Petersville, troopers said. Labuff-Kilgo had failed to show up for work Monday morning, prompting a request for a welfare check.
Troopers determined that Labuff-Kilgo had gone to Petersville, roughly 80 miles north of Willow, on Saturday. Her 2011 GMC pickup truck was found on Petersville Road about 35 miles from the Parks Highway. Her body was found about 3 miles from her truck, troopers said.
Labuff-Kilgo's body was sent to the State Medical Examiner Office. On Wednesday, the office said that Labuff-Kilgo had been killed by "blunt force with sharp force trauma," troopers said.
The information from the State Medical Examiner Office, along with information gathered during troopers' investigation, led officers to arrest Kilgo on Wednesday.
Kilgo is being held at the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility without bail, troopers said.