Body found near South Anchorage railroad tracks identified

A body discovered late last month near South Anchorage railroad tracks has been identified as that of a 73-year-old man, police said Wednesday.

The Anchorage Police Department said the body of David Petina was found by two 14-year-old boys just after 9 p.m. Oct. 19 near the intersection of Huffman Road and the Old Seward Highway. The body could not immediately be identified at the time "because of its state of decomposition" and was taken to the State Medical Examiner Office, police said.

APD spokesperson Anita Shell said Petina had most recently been living in Anchorage but also spent time living in the areas of Soldotna and Wasilla.

Shell said Petina had not been reported missing prior to the discovery of his body. Police did not provide a specific cause of death but said nothing suspicious was found at the scene and no foul play is suspected.

An obituary in Alaska Dispatch News posted by a local funeral home said that relatives or friends of Petina are being sought; Shell said Petina did not have close relatives.

Anyone with information about Petina's family or possible contact information is asked to call Legacy Funeral Homes at 907-336-3338.