Erick Almandinger sentenced for murder of David Grunwald

WASILLA — Erick Almandinger, one of four defendants convicted for the murder of Palmer teen David Grunwald in 2016, was sentenced at the Palmer Courthouse Monday, Aug. 8.

Almandinger received a 99-year sentence for murder, kidnapping, assault, tampering with evidence, and other charges related to the series of violent and torturous events that led to Grunwald’s untimely demise.

Almandinger spoke on his own behalf during the hearing, apologizing to Edie and Ben Grunwald for his part in their son’s murder.

“There’s no excuse for what I’ve done... I killed my friend,” Almandinger said. “I destroyed not just one life, one family, but countless… I think it’s only fair that I lose my life too.”

Grunwald was attacked in a trailer on the Almandinger family’s property in the Palmer area, forced into his own Ford Bronco, and driven up Knik River Road where he was shot in the head and died. Grunwald’s Bronco was burned in Wasilla that same evening.

Almandinger, Dominic Johnson, Bradley Renfro, and Austin Barrett have all been convicted for Grunwald’s murder.

To date, there has been no clear answer to who actually pulled the trigger. In previous proceedings, the district attorney indicated that the state isn’t concerned with who the actual shooter is since all four members of the group were convicted as principals or accomplices in Grunwald’s murder.

Palmer Judge Gregory Heath echoed that sentiment during his closing remarks.

“This was an especially devastating crime,” Heath said. “Who actually pulled the trigger doesn’t matter to the court.”

Heath said that execution-style murders such as these are particularly serious cases. He said that Almandinger knew Grunwald the most out of all the convicted group members, and he took various efforts to cover up the crime after the betrayal.

“His involvement in the case from the beginning to the end was very extensive,” Heath said.

Heath has handled the case for all four cases in Grunwald’s murder trial. Heath has since retired but retained the case to see it through to the end. He said one of the worst components of this savage slaying of an innocent teen was the sheer senselessness of it all. No clear motive has been determined for what transpired that fateful night.

“We have a situation where everybody doesn’t understand why,” Heath said. “It was an execution of a young man for just no reason… The record shows that he was just an innocent boy.”

Almandinger was the first of the four defendants convicted in May of 2018. The jury found him guilty on all counts, including kidnapping, assault, and murder.

Almandinger and Renfro’s sentences were delayed several times due to matters involving psychological evaluations and expert witnesses.

Renfro will be the final member of the group to be sentenced. Renfro’s hearing is currently scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 10, according to online court documents.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com