ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Two people have been charged in the death of a man found in an illegal homeless camp near Ben Boeke Ice Arena on Thursday. Anchorage police have identified the homicide victim as 42-year-old George Steven Brower.
On Friday, APD released information on three people whot may have information about Brower's death, and asked the public's assistance in locating them.
According to an APD press release, two of those people contacted police on Saturday after seeing their names in the paper. Samuel Mishler, 30, and his girlfriend, Cynthia Kanayurak-Austin, 35, both of Anchorage, were interviewed at APD headquarters and charged late Saturday night in Brower's death.
Mishler is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, while Kanayurak-Austin is charged with two counts of second-degree murder.
Investigators said Mishler and Kanayurak-Austin had been drinking with Brower in the couple’s tent when a fight broke out. Mishler allegedly placed Brower in a choke hold while Kanayurak-Austin began biting him on the face. According to charging documents, Mishler then proceeded to strangle Brower with what is believed to be a tent cord.
