Palmer man found dead in his hotel room

WASILLA -- Richard Anderson Jr., 39, of Palmer, was found dead in his hotel room at the Best Western Lake Lucille Inn Saturday.

Hotel management called a maintenance worker to open the room when Anderson, who checked in on Thursday, had failed to check out at the scheduled time. The Wasilla Police Department was notified at approximately 12:30 p.m.

According to Wasilla Police Officer A. T. Long, Anderson's family had filed a missing persons report for him on Thursday in Palmer.

Hotel management said Anderson checked in for only one day but the hotel has a policy of waiting 24 hours before entering a guest's room.

"It's not uncommon for guests to stay over another day, and many guests request that we do not disturb," said Lisa Michaelson, hotel general manager. "He had a 'do not disturb' sign on his door."

According to Michaelson, the lodge is very busy this time of year and when Anderson failed to check out by Saturday, she contacted the front desk to have his room opened.

The medical examiner Thursday morning ruled the death as a suicide, saying Anderson died due to the effects of prescription drugs.

Contact Joel Davidson at joel.davidson@frontiersman.com.