Two Kodiak men, 24-year-old Bradford Blondin and 25-year-old Brian Blondin were formally charged in connection with the death of 43-year-old Justin McGriff who died from injuries sustained in a hit and run on April 29th of 2008.

McGriff was born in Ketchikan, Alaska. He had lived in Homer just prior to moving to Kodiak. In Kodiak, McGriff established a tattoo business. He continued in that field that he had taken up in Seattle. the tattoo business was closed down after it was found he was operating without a license. After closing his business he gained employment working as a dishwasher at El Chicanos, a Mexican restaurant in Kodiak. McGriff lived in a campsite on Pillar Mountain at the outskirts of the town.

It was near the campsite on Pillar Mountain Road that his body was found around 6:30am on April 29th, 2008. A cab driver had dropped him off at that location at 1:20am that morning.

The State Medical Examiner determined that McGriff had suffered blunt force trauma sustained by a vehicle. His death was ruled a homicide. It was also determined by autopsy, that if McGriff had received immediate medical attention, he may have survived his injuries.

It was two weeks later that investigators would seize the Blondin vehicle. Police were lead to the vehicle by viewing surveillance video and statements made in interviews. Investigators cite inconsistancies in testimony that led them to seize the vehicle and discover evidence that was turned over to the State Crime Detection Laboratory.

Delays at the State lab held up the case, backlogs were cited as the cause of the delays. After nearly three years, the Kodiak Police Department completed their investigation in February of 2011 and forwarded their recommendations to the district attorney’s office.

Bradford Blondin has been charged with three felonies in the case of Justin McGriff. The three count indicment was filed with the Superior Court on November 21st. Charges of Criminally Negligent Homicide, Assault III, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident without Assisting the Injured have been leveled at the Kodiak man. A $20,000 unsecured appearance bond was posted by Blondin earlier this week according to court records.

Bradford’s cousin, Brian Blondin was charged with two class C Felonies. Charges of Tampering with Physical Evidence-Destroy/Alter/Suppress and Hindering Prosecution I. These charges were leveled at Brian after a neighbor observed Brian pressure-washing the vehicle alledged to have been used in the incident. They were filed on November 21st as well.

Both men have pleaded Not Guilty to the charges. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 7th an Omnibus hearing will take place.