One of accused in Grunwald murder case makes court appearance

PALMER — Devin Peterson, one of five Mat-Su residents accused of being involved in the November 2016 murder of 16-year-old Palmer teen David Grunwald, was in Palmer Superior Court Friday for his first pretrial conference before Judge Kari Christiansen.

Peterson, along with Erick Almindinger, Austin Barrett, Dominic Johnson, and Bradley Renfro, has been jailed on various charges including kidnapping and first-degree murder. While Peterson doesn’t face murder charges, he faces three felony counts of tampering with evidence and hindering prosecution. Police said he burned Grunwald’s Bronco and hid two guns later determined to be used in the murder.

Grunwald’s murder received national attention a short time after he was reported missing the evening of Nov. 13 after not returning from visiting his girlfriend in Palmer.

Alaska State Troopers and private investigators took over the case, and several searches by hundreds of people in the Mat-Su community were initiated. Troopers were led to Grunwald’s body in a remote area of Knik River Road Dec. 2 after interviewing Almandinger. Court reports allege all but Peterson were involved in or were an accomplice to recklessly causing serious physical injury to Grunwald as well as his murder.

According to police affidavits, Grunwald was still alive when he was taken out to a remote area near the Knik River. His Ford Bronco was found hours later completely burned on a trail outside Wasilla. According to the State Medical Examiner’s Office, Grunwald died of from a single gunshot wound. It also reported he had been badly beaten.

Kristiansen continued Peterson’s pretrial conference with no next appearance on the court docket. The other four suspects are scheduled to be back in court on Oct. 4 for their second pre-trial conference.

Contact reporter Chris Ford at 352-2270 or chris.ford@frontiersman.com