Man who slashed throats of elementary students 18 years ago found dead in jail

A man serving a 99-year-sentence for slashing the throats of elementary school students nearly 20 years ago was found dead at Anchorage Correctional Complex Thursday morning, the Department of Corrections said.

Jason Pritchard, 51, was found unresponsive in his cell just before the 7 a.m. breakfast service. Emergency responders arrived at 7:07 and he was pronounced dead at 7:37 a.m.

Pritchard had been in prison since May 7, 2001. He was serving a 99-year sentence for two counts of attempted first-degree murder for a bizarre attack in which he slashed and stabbed elementary students outside of Mountain View Elementary before the school day started. Four students were seriously injured.

Pritchard, then 33, was delusional as he slashed at students, chasing some of them into the school.

At a court hearing in the case, Pritchard was escorted out as he told onlookers, “Kill the young children, kill yourselves. Kill the young children first, then kill yourself.”

The Department says no foul play is suspected.