PHS grad murdered in Michigan

Palmer High School graduate Amy Chesbro, 35, died Friday, Dec. 17 of multiple gunshot wounds sustained in a shooting in the parking lot of her Michigan employer, according to a press statement from the Livonia Police Department in Michigan.

She is the daughter of James and Patricia of Wasilla. Patricia Chesbro is the head of the Matanuska-Susitna Democrats and is a former Mat-Su School District Superintendent, former Palmer High School principal and former teacher.

Julie Ann Hopwood, 56, allegedly drove more than 600 miles from her home in Charlotte, N.C., to Ypsalanti, Mich., where her brother, PJ Redbird Tworavens, lived with Chesbro, his fiancée, police there say.

According to Livonia Police, Hopwood waited outside the payroll company where Chesbro worked and when she arrived, Hopwood shot her multiple times while she sat in her vehicle in the parking lot of her office.

Livonia Police said Hopwood faces homicide-felony murder charges and is being held without bond. A preliminary hearing is Tuesday, Dec. 28, in 16th District Court in Livonia, Mich.

In a statement released to media by Hopwood’s family, they said they have no explanation for her actions.

The Chesbro family also released a statement to the media through Livonia Police.

“Amy’s fiancé and her family loved her deeply and appreciate your consideration in this time of profound grief,” said Patricia Chesbro.

A Celebration of Life for her was Thursday, Dec. 23 in Ann Arbor, Mich., according to her obituary online at Legacy.com. A memorial is planned in Alaska in January.

In lieu of flowers, the family has chosen three charitable organizations that Amy Chesbro supported during her life.

Donations in her name may be made to:

• the Trees in Memory program of the Arbor Foundation

http://www.arborday.org/shopping/tictim/TIMSample.cfm

• the local food bank [in Michigan], Food Gatherers

http://www.foodgatherers.org/donate_monetary.htm

• the Michigan Humane Society

http://www.michiganhumane.org/site/PageServer?pagename=donate

Expressions of sympathy may be mailed to Patricia and Jim Chesbro, P.O. Box 1093, Palmer, AK 99645.

Contact Heather A. Resz at heather.resz@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.