Body found: Remains identified as Correira's

MAT-SU -- The skeletal remains of a body found at a gravel pit off mile 129 of the Parks Highway have been identified as those of Bethany Correira.

The body of Correira was positively identified using dental records provided by the family, Anchorage Police Chief Walt Monegan said in a Thursday morning press conference. Correira, 21, daughter of Linda and Bill Correira, disappeared one year ago, on May 3, 2003, a week after moving into a Bootlegger Cove apartment in Anchorage. She'd moved to Anchorage to attend college.

Anchorage Police Department officers, this week, combed the woods near the Chulitna River north of Trapper Creek for evidence in the case. Though Correira's remains resulted from that search, investigators said it is still too early to determine the cause of death.

Monegan, in what department officials said was a hastily called press conference at Anchorage police headquarters Wednesday afternoon, said police had discovered female skeletal remains at the site after beginning a search Monday. Although officers have been reluctant to disclose where they received information about the body's location, officer Glen Klinkhart said the location came from various sources.

Several different agencies joined APD in the investigation, including the Alaska State Troopers, officers from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, FBI, Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshal's, U.S. Postal Inspectors and the Nome Police Department.

"Each one of the different agencies brought expertise to the case," Klinkhart said. "Each and every one of those agencies came forward voluntarily."

Some law enforcement officers have remained at the scene day and night since Tuesday. Klinkhart added that officers from some of the agencies were given the option to leave the investigation early, but they all refused.

According to another officer, this wasn't the first time investigators visited the site. Officers had attempted to search the site earlier in the year, but it was inaccesible due to heavy snow.

Alaska State Trooper spokesman Greg Wilkinson said although the location of the remains is within AST's jurisdiction, Anchorage is leading the case because the investigation remains open. The case has been transferred from missing persons to the homicide unit.

Wilkinson said troopers are assisting APD in keeping the crime scene clear.

"It's a fairly large area, and they're not sure how much of it they have to cover," Wilkinson said. "They do not request, or want, citizens or anyone else to come out there, or to help."

According to information from Anchorage police, the family was notified of the new developments at their home Wednesday afternoon by lead investigators in the case. Correira's family visited the site on Wednesday to identify the remains.

"We told them probably about a year ago, their job was to hope, and our job was to assume the worst. Unfortunately those hopes were dashed," Klinkhart said.

So far, no suspects have been named in the case, and Monegan said APD is proceeding carefully with the investigation.

"It's been a long and arduous investigation," Monegan said, "and we want to be sure the case, when it's brought to trial, is not biased."

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.