On April 15, 2022, Anchorage police responding to a welfare check at a Resurrection Drive residence found 35-year-old nurse Raechyl Blackshear and her 14-year-old daughter Jayla dead of fatal shotgun wounds. Investigators quickly identified Raechyl’s husband, 39-year-old former correctional officer Jalonni Blackshear, as a person of interest.

Records say that on March 30 Jayla reported to authorities that her father had sexually abused her; forensic exams and DNA swabs were collected from Jalonni. He resigned from the Anchorage Correctional Complex on April 6 and left Alaska. U.S. Marshals arrested him in Staten Island, New York on April 20. A grand jury later returned an indictment charging him with multiple counts including first- and second-degree murder, first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, incest, tampering with physical evidence, and forgery, exposing the family’s loss and raising questions about domestic and sexual abuse.

Raechyl and Jayla’s family have called for greater awareness and support for victims. If anyone knew the family or has information about the case, please share what you can.