Body of missing Anchorage man discovered at Jim Creek

July 22, 2007

By Hannah Guillaume/Frontiersman

BUTTE - The body of an Anchorage man who disappeared two years ago has been found in Jim Creek.

Thomas Cody, 35, was believed to be involved in one of Alaska's largest marijuana trafficking rings, according to reports by the U.S. Attorney. His body was found near the location where his burned-out white Ford Explorer discovered last year. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced the discovery by state and federal investigators Thursday, but isn't releasing the cause of death.

This isn't the first time an Anchorage body has been dumped in the Mat-Su Borough, reports show. In 2004, the body of Bethany Correira was transported from Anchorage in plastic bags and dumped in a gravel pit near Talkeetna by brothers Michael and Robert Lawson.

Cathy Hummel, a Butte resident, said when she heard about Cody's body being discovered near her home all she could think was, “Here we go again.”

“I don't want to say this is the first one, but there's other criminal operations that happen out here involving rape, drugs and theft,” she said.

Every time she walks her dog Hummel said she finds more of the same: shotgun shell casings and burned-out vehicles. She doubts all the crime comes from Anchorage and believes law enforcement finds it eaiser to bust people driving cars.

“When we call for troopers we're told they're too busy, they're too far away,” Hummel said. “It's just the same old, same old.”

Frank Russo, assistant U.S. Attorney, said he doesn't know why criminals use the area to dump evidence.

“The public records indicate that the Knik River bridge is a popular dumping ground for weapons,” he said.

Cody's body took two years to discover, even though it was so close to his vehicle, because his murder wasn't suspected until last year, Russo said. Changes in Jim Creek's remote terrain also delayed discovery.

Thomas Ranes and Nopenone Dennis Shine face federal indictment for conspiring to kill Cody in relation to marijuana trafficking. Their trial begins Oct. 15.

Contact Hannah Guillaume at 352-2284 or hannahguillaume@yahoo.com.