3 found dead on boat in Juneau, including woman who initially reported first death

Three people were found dead on an anchored vessel offshore at Sandy Beach in Juneau on two separate days.
Published: Jun. 3, 2023 at 2:03 PM AKDT|Updated: Jun. 5, 2023 at 11:20 AM AKDT
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JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) - Three people were found dead on an vessel anchored offshore near Juneau on two separate days.

The first body was discovered on the boat on Sandy Beach, the Juneau Police Department wrote in a press release.

The woman who called Juneau police — notifying them on Wednesday that a man was found dead on the boat Dusky Rock — was found dead on the same boat two days later, the department wrote.

The woman — identified on Monday as 34-year-old Erika Lee Judson — reported to police shortly before 2:30 p.m. Wednesday that she found her friend Curtis Anderson, 51, dead onboard the vessel. The Dusty Rock was anchored offshore at Sandy Beach.

Juneau police and Capital City Fire Rescue responded and confirmed Anderson was dead. An initial investigation revealed no signs of foul play, the department said.

“Anderson’s body will will be sent to the Alaska Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for an autopsy,” police wrote.

Another death was reported on the Dusky Rock on Friday, which had remained anchored offshore, police said.

A complainant reported a dog howling on the Dusky Rock, went to check on the animal and found a deceased woman on board. That report was made at 6:19 p.m. Friday, according to Juneau police.

The police and fire departments, with help from Docks and Harbors, found two women dead on the boat, making for three people reported dead on the same vessel in a three-day period.

The women were identified as Judson and 28-year-old Amoretta Nina Nichele Wesley, both of Juneau.

“Due to a concern about possible environmental factors that could have contributed to the death, the vessel was towed from Sandy Beach to Aurora Harbor,” Juneau police said. “CCFR cleared the vessel for the presence of harmful fumes and none were located.”

Next of kin has been notified for all deceased individuals.

Signs of foul play were not found in an initial investigation of all three deaths, the department wrote, but added that the use of controlled substances may have been a contributing factor.

The bodies found on Friday were also sent to Anchorage for an autopsy.