Man makes first appearance for arraignment in connection to Wasilla teen’s fatal overdose

The family of Alena Toennis saw the man alleged to have supplied the drugs that led to her overdose death last November for the first time Tuesday as Sean Mobley, 45, made the first in what is expected to be many appearances in a Palmer Courthouse for his arraignment. Mobley faces multiple charges in connection with the death of the 16-year-old, including murder and manslaughter for providing the fentanyl that led to her death.

Authorities said after a preliminary investigation last year that Toennis was experiencing a fentanyl overdose when she was left to die on a Wasilla trail.

“It feels like we’re getting closer to some kind of closure,” said Judy Eyre-Breuer, Toennis’ grandmother, who attended the hearing along with several other family members and supporters.

She and her family and bracing for what could be a long process as the case winds through the judicial system, and plan to be there every step of the way.

Burgundy Cohen, Toennis’ cousin said that attending the hearing was important so she could put a face to the man that she had never met or heard of before Toennis’s death.

“It’s a little surreal...but to finally put a face to who did this is a little shocking,” said Cohen after the hearing.

Seeing Mobley left more unanswered questions for Eyre-Breuer, who wonders why Toennis would get into the vehicle, why Mobley did not help Toennis in some way, as court documents say that just before Toennis was supplied with the fentanyl from Mobley, another individual had experienced an overdose on the same fentanyl, but that person was given Narcan and survived.

“Why did you give it to her knowing that somebody had just overdosed on it, and somebody told you not to give it to her? And to not seek help after you knew it was going to happen?” asked Cohen.

But perhaps the biggest question for her and the family remains:

“How could you do this to my granddaughter?”

Aside from the questions, the soft-spoken Eyre-Breuer said seeing Mobley stirred an emotional reaction.

“I wanted to stand up and scream ‘I hate you for taking Alena away from us.’”

For the family, the arraignment is the first step in finding justice for Toennis. For Eyre-Breuer, that day will be when Mobley, if found guilty, is sentenced, something she is confident will happen.

“I know he’s gonna serve time for what he did to her, and have to sit in a cell and think about her every day.”

“Justice for me is knowing that another child is not going to be taken from their family,” said Cohen. “Knowing that this is going to get someone off the streets and that at least one more person isn’t going to be out there hurting another family.”

Mobley, who has been indicted on charges of second-degree murder, manslaughter, and first-degree misconduct involving a controlled substance in relation to Toennis’ death, has pled not guilty to the charges, while his bail remains set at $750,000.

Judge Shawn Traini set the next hearing date for Mobley for June 20, with trial set to begin in July.