Troopers: Alaska jail fire victims tentatively identified
Posted April 29, 2019 1:54 pm.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Authorities in Alaska have tentatively identified the two prisoners who died in a village jail fire that also injured a guard who was trying to free them.
Alaska State Troopers say the fire victims in Napakiak have been tentatively identified as 24-year-old Becca White and 22-year-old Isaiah Parka. The Napakiak residents died Sunday in the fire.
Troopers did not release the name of the injured guard, saying only that that individual was flown out of state and is listed in serious condition.
A second guard reported the blaze was the result of a prisoner setting fire to a mattress, but it was unclear how fire-starting materials got into a cell.
Troopers did not immediately release additional details, including what the victims were in custody for and who operates the jail.
Rachel D’Oro, The Associated Press
