Man’s death on highway is ruled a homicide

WASILLA — Alaska State Troopers have ruled the death of a man found lying in the road on the Parks Highway a homicide.

Scott L. Johnson, 22, of Wasilla, was found lying face down in a southbound lane near the highway’s intersection with Vine Road at 3:34 a.m. on May 15. A passerby spotted his body and called 911, remaining on scene until after troopers arrived.

Johnson’s motorcycle was found nearby, stashed in the bushes with the engine seized. Troopers say he was likely hitchhiking or walking along the highway when he died.

Initially, troopers reported the incident as hit-and-run. Later, after investigators decided not to narrow down a cause of death, it was declared a death investigation. Now they’re saying it was likely a homicide.

“The definition of homicide is someone taking someone else’s life,” trooper spokeswoman Megan Peters said. “It doesn’t matter how they killed the person.”

Nor does it matter in ruling a death a homicide, whether the person who took the life did so intentionally or accidentally, Peters said.

Homicide refers, in medical terms, to the manner of a person’s death and is generally a determination left up to the coroner. Autopsy results were pending when troopers first reported finding Johnson but have since come back, Peters said.

Asked if, by declaring the death a homicide, troopers were now investigating the case as a hit-and-run, Peters said making that assumption would be going a step too far.

“I don’t know if they were convinced that that’s what it was,” Peters said. “There is a good possibility, considering that the guy was on the highway.”

Johnson was dressed in black when he was found. No vehicles were immediately present in the area. Troopers are seeking information both about Johnson’s whereabouts prior to his death and from anyone who may have seen something or been in the area on the highway that night.

Anyone with information is asked to call troopers at 745-2131 or contact Mat-Su Crime Stoppers.

Crime Stoppers is offering up to $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or criminal indictment. Tipsters can remain anonymous and can call 745-3333, submit a tip via the Web at matsu-crimestoppers.org or text-messaged to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword MATSU.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.