DA keeps options open in Peterson death

PALMER -- District Attorney Roman Kalytiak said Wednesday his office is still considering filing charges in the death of Michael Duane Peterson Jr., who was shot in May 2002 at a Parks Highway turnout near Gorilla Fireworks.

Alaska State Troopers investigated the killing of the 22-year-old Wasilla man and forwarded their results to the DA's office in April. Kalytiak said it's a complex case that he hasn't had time to fully explore because his office is short-staffed while responding to the highest per-capita number of court cases of any Alaska judicial district.

"I need to have enough time to set aside to study it," Kalytiak said. "The decision is going to be whether we can prove it was murder or a viable case of self-defense. I'm hoping to get it done before the end of the year."

The Palmer DA's office recently added an attorney, but remains one below normal levels. The six attorneys are attending to three current murder cases, plus a plethora of lesser cases, Kalytiak said.

Troopers said Peterson was shot by 48-year-old Paul McGee of Houston on May 15, 2002. Just prior to the incident, they were arguing about an alleged assault involving Peterson and McGee's 18-year-old son James.

The two men spoke on the telephone before driving to the scene of the shooting, according to troopers, whose investigation resulted in a file of papers 8 inches thick.

Meanwhile, Peterson's mother struggles for some way to put the tragedy behind her. Lori Gonzales of Meadow Lakes claims representatives from the District Attorney's office "just keep putting me off."

"I have no closure, and my family is falling apart," she said.