Alaska State Troopers announced an arrest in the death of 25-year-old Lisa Johnson, who was found deceased along the trail near Quinhagak earlier this month.

Troopers said on Tuesday, that they had arrested 26-year-old Quinhagak resident Harold Smith on charges of Murder I and Tampering with Physical Evidence for the death of Johnson, who was located near Quinhagak on February 3rd.

Troopers from Bethel, responded to the village after the discovery of Johnson’s remains near the community’s new runway. The following day, Alaska Bureau of Investigations and Crime Scene Technicians travelled to the village and met with troopers who were already on-scene. Positive identification of the remains were made at that time and Johnson’s body was sent to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage for autopsy.

On Monday, an Alaska Bureau of Investigations investigator and a Bethel Trooper travelled back to the community to continue their investigation into Johnson’s death. During their investigation, they interviewed Smith. Subsequent to that interview, Smith was arrested and charged with Johnson’s death.

According to the trooper report, Smith had killed Johnson at another location, then moved her body to the location where it was discovered. Smith had attempted to hide Johnson’s body by covering it up with brush. Troopers say that Johnson was killed during an altercation between the two.

Smith was transported to Bethel where he was remanded at the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center. Smith was remanded without bail.

Smith is due for arraignment on Tuesday at 1:30 pm in a Bethel Court.

The investigation into Johnson’s death is continuing.