RENAMING – Tlingit elder Harvey Kitka, Yanshkoo.wu, speaks to students at Xóots Elementary School this afternoon during a short renaming ceremony. The School Board adopted the new name, which means brown bear in Tlingit, in March 2024 to replace the old name, Baranof Elementary School. At today’s ceremony, children from the after-school culture class sang in Tlingit, new signs were on display and Charlie Skultka Jr. was recognized for the formline bear design he provided for the school logo. In his remarks, Kitka told those assembled in the school gymnasium about his experience as a youngster in the school when it was brand new. He said speaking Tlingit was not encouraged then. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
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Daily Sitka Sentinel
Macasaet Convicted in 2016 Craig Murder
BY SENTINEL STAFF
A Sitka jury returned a verdict of guilty today in the first-degree murder trial of Albert Macasaet, 30. of Klawock.
Macasaet was charged in the July 31, 2016 strangulation death of his girlfriend, Judylee Guthrie, 27.
Macasaet, Guthrie and a group of friends had been drinking in the Prince of Wales Island village of Craig the evening of July 30, 2016. Early the next morning Macasaet reported to Craig Police that Guthrie was missing. Later in the day Macasaet reported to police that he had found Guthrie's body. It was located a short distance away from a Craig area trail that searchers had previously covered, but it was not easily visible from the trail, investigators said.
Albert Macasaet is handcuffed after being convicted of first degree murder in the strangulation death of his girlfriend in 2016, today in the Sitka courthouse. (Sentinel Photo)
Macasaet's trial started April 24 and the jury started deliberating Thursday afternoon following closing arguments by defense and prosecution attorneys.
Deliberations resumed this morning and at 6:45 p.m. the jury returned to report their verdict of murder in the first degree. Judge Jude Pate had given the jury the option of finding Macasaet guilty of the lesser included offense of murder in the second degree.
Macasaet did not display emotion but bowed his head slightly as the verdict was read. The judge asked each juror in turn what their finding was in the charge of murder in the first degree and each in turn said, “guilty.” Macasaet's mother, sitting directly behind him, began to sob loudly as each juror repeated the verdict. On the other side of the courtroom Guthrie's parents were also weeping and consoling each other.
Macasaet and Guthrie are the parents of two young children. The jury was told of two previous domestic violence incidents in which Macasaet had strangled Guthrie.
There were no witnesses to the murder, so the case was based on circumstantial evidence. It was complicated by what the defense said was ambiguous DNA evidence. The prosecution pointed to Macasaet's changing stories about the events of July 30 and 31, 2016. They reconstructed his whereabouts that night using the cell phone records of his numerous calls, which could be traced to either Klawock or Craig, which are served by different cell towers.
After the verdict was read Judge Pate set the sentencing for the week of September 9 in Klawock.
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20 YEARS AGO
February 2005
Photo caption: S&S General Contractors crew bury conduit along Sawmill Creek Road as part of a sewer line project. They’ve been working only at night, using portable lights to direct traffic. Sitkans living between Shotgun Alley and Indian River Road are asked not to use drains or toilets Thursday as pump stations will be turned off.
50 YEARS AGO
February 1975
Photo caption: Five players selected for the first All Tournament team in the American Legion Southeast Alaska Basketball Tournament hold their trophies. From left are Jeff Klanott, Klukwan ANB; Rick Ludigsen, Ketchikan Webber Air; Al Kookesh, Angoon ANB; Terry Friske, Klukwan ANB; and Mike Erickson, Ketchikan Webber Air.
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