Man and woman sentenced in 2003 murder case

PALMER -- A man and woman who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for helping beat a man to death for his supply of Oxycontin were sentenced Friday in Palmer Superior Court.

Judge Eric Smith sentenced Michael Linn, 27, to 30 years in prison and 10 years' probation for the Jan. 21, 2003 slaying of Sean McIntire, 42. Erica Perry, 24, was sentenced to 20 years in prison and 10 years' probation.

Alex Headrick, 37, who was also arrested for his role in the murder, has a change-of-plea hearing scheduled this week and will be sentenced later.

Linn, Perry, Headrick and another woman who has not been charged in the case, Cynthia Bonty, went to McIntire's house to steal his Oxycontin medication on Jan. 21, 2003. Oxycontin is a potent prescription drug regularly sold on the black market.

Perry lured McIntire into the shower to distract him and allow the others to sneak in undetected, according to Alaska State Trooper investigator Craig Allen.

At one point, Perry struck McIntire's head with a large rock in a failed attempt to knock him out. A struggle ensued in which Linn and Headrick bludgeoned McIntire to death with a metal flashlight and a shotgun, Allen said. A number of items were also stolen from McIntire's residence, including two shotguns, knives and swords.

On Jan 28, 2003, troopers arrested Perry and Headrick at the home of Cynthia Bonty on unrelated warrants.

The next day, James Watford contacted state troopers with information about McIntire's murder. He told troopers he had been in contact with Michael Linn, who said McIntire owed him $1,600. Headrick suggested they collect the money from McIntire, according to a trooper affidavit.

Troopers obtained a search warrant to record conversations between Watford and Linn on Jan. 30, 2003.

That day, troopers conducted aerial and ground surveillance on Watford and Linn as they drove from place to place. Surveillance included unmarked cars -- some followed Watford and Linn and some were placed at various points along a planned route.

A spotter in a state aircraft also maintained visual contact with Watford's vehicle and relayed its location to ground units.

Watford picked up Linn in Houston and drove to an area near Baldy Mountain, where Linn retrieved two plastic containers that were buried in the snow and loaded them into Watford's truck. Troopers followed the pair back into Wasilla, where troopers arrested Linn. The items in the containers were the items stolen from McIntire's residence, troopers reported.

Perry and Linn were held at Mat-Su Pre-Trial Facility on Friday, but Perry will be transferred to Hiland Mountain Correctional Center and Linn will go to Spring Creek Correctional Center in Seward.

Contact John Davidson at john.davidson@frontiersman.com.