Man awaiting trial for murder dies in suicide at Anchorage jail

A 22-year-old inmate at the Anchorage jail died by suicide Saturday, the Alaska Department of Corrections said.

Chaz A. Shanigan was “found unresponsive” in his cell on Friday and taken to Alaska Regional Hospital, where he died the next day.

Shanigan had been held at the jail since March of last year.

He was awaiting his trial on murder charges in the death of Craig Berumen, who was found shot to death at a Spenard McDonald’s in 2017.

Shanigan’s death is the fourth suicide in an Alaska jail or prison this year.