Family of Wasilla teen speak out ahead of arraignment of man charged in overdose death

It is every family’s worst nightmare: to receive a phone call that a daughter, a granddaughter, a sister has died. Even more so when it is the life of a vivacious, creative teenager just starting her life has been lost to an overdose. But that is the call that the family of Wasilla teenager Alena Toennis in November, 2024.

“It’s not tragic. It’s devastating,” says Elyssia Toennis says of the loss of her 16-year-old sister Alena. “She was very unapologetically herself. She didn’t let anyone tell her who she was or what to do.”

Her family says that she was her own brand of unique, wearing the most outlandish clothes, such as high heels with bright T-shirts and pajama pants, or oversized shirts and sparkly skirts.

“She tried a lot of different things-painting, making jewelry, dying her hair all different crazy colors. She wanted to try it all,” recalled Alena’s grandmother, Judy Eyre-Breuer of her spirited granddaughter. Her family also recalls that she loved being outdoors, riding ATVs, hiking, and camping out.

“She loved sleeping outdoors, being outdoors. I think it’s because it was the only place where her thoughts were her own.”

Described as creative, energetic, and kind, Alena’s family knows she had substance use problems, but that she was still a child who did not deserve to die, that she had wanted to move on from the life she was living and was making plans to return to school in the fall.

“I really do think that she was trying so hard to turn her life around,” says her grandmother. Alena’s family said she had been released from a juvenile detention center months prior to her death, and efforts had been made to get Alena into a drug facility, even if it had to be out of state.

But, according to her family, Alena also had mental health issues including ADD, and that may have complicated her ability to be properly addressed and treated, that because she had a substance use disorder, there were no mental health facilities that would take her in, something they feel needs to be addressed.

A rally was held on Monday ahead of what would have been a first hearing for the man charged in connection with Alena’s death, though it was moved to the next day. Sean Mobley has been charged with second-degree murder, manslaughter, and misconduct involving a controlled substance.

Alena’s family now joins a group of other family survivors that includes Julie Taylor and Sandy Snodgrass, who lost their sons to overdoses, and other parents, family, and friends who were at a rally outside the Palmer Courthouse on May 12.

“They’re all the same. They were kids,” Snodgrass said during the rally she helped organize.

“The rally today was to bring awareness to the case, for law enforcement, prosecutors, and bring the highest possible charges to those people that wantonly distribute illicit drugs and a death occurs. We want them prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Snodgrass said. She was instrumental in seeing the passage of the bill which raises potential penalties for drug dealers by classifying the distribution of a controlled substance causing an overdose death as a second-degree murder. Previously, prosecutors had the option of charging distributors with the lesser violation of manslaughter in those cases.

Alena’s family is careful when speaking about the case, wanting to ensure that every effort is made for a conviction in the case.

“We don’t want him to get out on anything,” said Elyssa Toennis.

Ryan Chatterton, representing Congressman Nick Begich’s office, also stopped at the rally, supporting the family as they raise awareness, and reassuring Alena’s family that this is important to try and stem the flow of fentanyl into the state.

“I think that’s what we all want-to stop this. It’s such a travesty.”

Elyssa says they are grateful to those who showed up, as well as those who have reached out.

“We are so appreciative of those came out, and those who have been supportive on social media.”

Snodgrass says that while there have been indictments handed down to Sean Mobley, who is charged with supplying a controlled substance that ultimately led to Alena’s overdose death, he is not being indicted under the recently signed HB 66, saying instead that existing laws are allowing him to be charged for reckless endangerment.

“We are very, very pleased that the grand jury came back with that result and indicted on all charges,” she stated.

The family continues to process their grief, the pain of Alena’s death still fresh as they tear up while reminiscing about Alena, getting angry at the way she was left to die, while accepting that while she is gone, her spirit lives on.

“We see her in the little things. She loved butterflies, so when I see one, I see her,” said Elyssa.

As the family gears up for the legal process to begin, they are also thankful to all of the investigators and law enforcement that have been working on the case, and grateful that no one wrote Alena off as another overdose.

“She wasn’t an innocent kid. She had her faults and we loved her.”