After a preliminary investigation in the death of a Stony River man, what was first determined to be a suicide has turned into what could be a homicide investigation, troopers report.

On Wednesday of last week, AST received a report of the death of 66-year-old Stony River man, identified as Deacon Evan. It was initially reported as a suicide. Troopers from St. Marys and Aniak responded to the scene on Thursday and after an initial investigation determined that the death was suspicious in nature and ultimately asked for further resources.

Fairbanks GIU and a Crime Scene Technician from Anchorage traveled to Stony River and conducted a further investigation into Evan’s death. They “determined that the death was not a suicide and that it had been purposefully staged to appear as a suicide,” the trooper dispatch revealed.

Investigators say that a suspect has been developed in the on-going investigation. 

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