James Clinton, the teen beaten and left to die in a vacant downtown house in September, is no longer in a coma and is recovering from his near-fatal injuries, an Anchorage lawyer said Thursday. Police are continue to investigate, a spokeswoman said.
Police found Clinton, 18, after the University of Alaska Anchorage police department passed on an anonymous note alerting them of the assault on Sept. 16, Anchorage police said at the time.
Clinton was found in a vacant house at 807 Barrow St. that was scheduled to be demolished.
Clinton's family hired attorney Rex Butler to ensure that he would be treated well while he is recovering, Butler said.
Butler said Clinton's sister is the only family member in Anchorage.
Clinton is talking and breathing on his own, Butler said, but doesn't remember much of the assault. Clinton suffered brain damage in the attack, Butler said.
Butler said Clinton's recovery and the assault investigation are both a "work in progress."
The detective working on the case had no comment on the investigation, said police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro.
Anyone with information about what happened is asked to call Anchorage police at 786-8900. People who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 561-7867 or submit a tip at www.anchoragecrimestoppers.com.
Reach Benjamin Brasch at bbrasch@adn.com or 257-4349. Twitter: twitter.com/ben_brasch
By BENJAMIN S. BRASCH