Body identified as missing nurse

WASILLA — The remains of a woman found in the woods near Knik Goose Bay Road have been positively identified as Mindy Schloss, a 52-year-old nurse from south Anchorage last seen Aug. 3.

Investigators for Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Police Department, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation and the Alaska Medical Examiner’s Office spent much most of the day Friday examining the body and surrounding wooded area.

Schloss’ body was discovered about 2:30 p.m. Thursday in the woods about five miles south of Wasilla on a short dead-end road called West Murray Drive, which runs parallel to and about 300 yards west of Knik Goose Bay Road.

The identity of the body was not made until about 7:30 p.m. Friday through dental records by the Alaska Medical Examiner’s Office, said Lt. Paul Honeman of the Anchorage Police Department.

Although specific details about the condition of Schloss’ body aren’t being released, “by finding the body, of course we’ve now confirmed this is a homicide and not a natural death by any means,’ Honeman said.

It’s also possible Schloss had been at that location since her disappearance, Honeman said, although a definite determination as to how long the body was in the woods south of Wasilla hasn’t yet been made.

“When you find someone in the elements, like the wooded area near Wasilla, literally six weeks have gone by,” he said. “If you look at the timeline, she was last seen at 7 p.m. Aug. 3, reported missing Aug. 6. … If you’re looking at possibilities, she could’ve been in that area since before she was reported missing.”

Schloss’ Acura was found near the airport shortly after her disappearance with a timeline that would have allowed for plenty of time for someone to use the vehicle to drive as far as Fairbanks and back, Honeman said.

Although no formal charges have been made, 27-year-old Joshua Wade has been named a person of interest in Schloss’ disappearance and now her murder, Honeman said. He used her ATM card after Schloss was last seen and before she was reported missing and there is evidence he drove her car.

Schloss’ family was notified shortly after Thursday’s discovery that the body could be that of Mindy Schloss, Honeman said. Friday’s confirmation ends speculation about what may have happened to her, but also any hope there may have been she was still alive.

Honeman did not personally speak with the Schloss family, but said he understands that “they’re relieved she’s been found and saddened that she’s dead.”

Although an APD case, Honeman was quick to credit the cooperation of agencies in multiple jurisdictions for working on the case since Mindy Schloss was reported missing. The Wasilla Police Department and Alaska State Troopers from Palmer assisted Thursday and Friday, along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the AST crime investigation team.

“This case is clearly a joint cooperative [effort] with the agencies in the Southcentral area,” he said.