The death of a 69-year-old Eagle man earlier this month initially attributed to natural causes is now being investigated as a homicide, Alaska State Troopers said this week.
Investigators found evidence consistent with the state medical examiner’s determination that the death of Gerald L. Goodnoh was a homicide, a troopers spokesman said.
Troopers in Tok received a report the afternoon of May 6 that Goodnoh had been found dead at his property several miles outside Eagle, troopers said in an online report updated Friday.
Goodnoh’s next of kin and the Eagle village health aide responded to the scene, troopers said.
His body was taken to the Eagle clinic, and the health aide had advised that Goodnoh died of natural causes, according to troopers, who initially said that no foul play was suspected in his death.
The state medical examiner’s office was contacted and requested the body for examination. Troopers said they flew to Eagle and “took possession of Goodnoh’s body” at the airport in Eagle.
On Tuesday, the state medical examiner told troopers that Goodnoh’s death was determined to be a homicide, according to troopers.
“The cause of death we’re not releasing at this time, just because we don’t interfere with that active investigation,” troopers spokesman Austin McDaniel said Saturday. “However, investigators were able to uncover physical evidence which is consistent with a determination made by the state medical examiner.”
McDaniel did not disclose what the physical evidence was or where it was found.
The Fairbanks General Investigative Unit is continuing to investigate the homicide, troopers said.