Peterson Sentenced

PALMER— Devin Peterson will serve six years for his role in the murder of Palmer teen David Grunwald.

Peterson, 20, is one of five young men accused in the Grunwald death, a highly-publicized case that dates back to the murder and subsequent cover-up of the Palmer 16-year-old in November of 2016. Peterson is the lone member of the group of five who did not face a murder charge, but Peterson was the first to be sentenced. Peterson received six years for evidence tampering from state of Alaska Monday at the Palmer Courthouse.

“We’re not happy at all, we’re just solemn,” David’s mother, Edie Grunwald, said. “Nobody’s gleeful, nobody’s happy. We’re just going through the process of holding them accountable for what they’ve done.”

Normally, cases like his would have just been a maximum sentence of 18 months with 18 months suspended, according to Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak. In other words, under the current SB-91, Peterson likely would not have faced any jail time. What made this case different were the deciding factors called, “aggravators” which are legal terms for actions that intensified the crimes the defendant was accused of. These aggravators were the key to a longer sentence.

“The aggravators involved were the only reason why he got some actual time out of it,” Grunwald said. “There was a lot of negotiate, give and take several of the victims involved...”

Several crimes surfaced after David’s disappearance.

Peterson was accused of several crimes aside from evidence tampering, including child pornography.

According to authorities, Alaska State Troopers obtained a search warrant for Peterson’s cell phone and investigators found a video showing the sexual assault of an incapacitated 15-year-old girl.

In May of 2018, while Erick Almandinger, the first of four teens charged in the Grunwald murder, was on trial, Peterson struck a deal and pleaded guilty to providing drugs to a teenager at the party. Peterson received three years.

“For us, it’s a long road, so it’s like putting one thing behind us so we can focus on the next thing,” Kalytiak said. “He got what I think, is a pretty decent state sentence and he did get a federal sentence that related to the exploitation of that minor.”

Peterson’s deal meant he would be charged on both the state and federal level. He admitted to tampering with evidence related to Grunwald’s murder. More specifically, he admitted guilt to hiding the guns used to beat and then kill Grunwald. He also admitted to providing two cans of gasoline to Almindinger, then 16, so that he could burn Grunwald’s vehicle, miles from the point where authorities ultimately found the Palmer youth’s body.

Peterson now faces nine years. His sentences will be served consecutively.

“I thought it was a good coordinated effort between us and the feds, because he did get two sentences,” Kalytiak said.

Bradley Renfro, Austin Barrett and Dominic Johnson are the last three suspects who are going to trial for Grunwald’s murder. All three are charged with murder.

“Obviously, that’s something that we’re striving for I’m sure that we’re going to put as much effort as we did in the previous one. We’re probably going to change things up a little bit because there’s different defendants,” Kalytiak said.

The identity of the person who pulled the trigger in the Grunwald murder is still unknown. During the Almindinger trial, Almandinger did not testify on his own behalf. Peterson said nothing on his own behalf Monday.

Kalytiak said the state is preparing for anything during the upcoming trials.

“The biggest mystery is whether any of them will testify in their own trial. If somebody decided to testify, that would be significant and unusual,” Kalytiak said. “I think the safer bet for defendants usually is not testifying, but you never know though. You never know what they’re going to do. There have been defendants in the past that have insisted on testifying despite their lawyer’s advice. You never know what’s going to happen.”