Rogers draws 10 more felonies

PALMER — Anchorage officials have indicted the man accused of a 26-hour violent rampage that left two people dead and three critically wounded with 10 felonies, including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

An Anchorage grand jury indicted Christopher Erin Rogers Jr., 28, for allegedly killing a man while attempting to steal his car and shooting two others there after attacking his father and father’s fiancee in their Palmer home with a machete while they slept. His father, Christopher E. Rogers Sr., was killed in the assault and Elann Moren seriously wounded. She continues to recover in a local hospital.

Thursday’s indictment makes 18 felonies Rogers faces. He pleaded not guilty Monday to eight felonies stemming from the Palmer attacks. He is scheduled for an arraignment on the 10 Anchorage charges this afternoon.

Chris Rogers Sr. and his fiancee spent the day Dec. 1 with friends celebrating the first anniversary of their relationship. The couple had third-party custody of Rogers Sr.’s son, called Erin Rogers, who was out of jail on an unrelated charge. They ate homemade pizza and salad and had a pleasant evening, said Pam Clemens, a lifelong friend of Moren’s who was with them that evening.

Although Erin Rogers seemed a little subdued that evening, no red flags were raised, Clemens said.

In the early morning hours of Dec. 2, Moren awoke to find Erin Rogers over her swinging a machete, according to an affidavit in support of charges. After the family dog, Bear, intervened, Moren escaped to a bathroom, where she called 911. Rogers then stole his father’s truck, which had his father’s .357-caliber magnum inside, and drove to Anchorage.

In Anchorage, Rogers allegedly confessed to police the machete attack and other assaults once he hit Anchorage. Police report he shot and killed 27-year-old University of Alaska Anchorage graduate student Jason Wenger.

He also allegedly shot Elizabeth Rumsey, 33, while she was out jogging and Tamas Teak when he carjacked Deak’s vehicle and attempted to elude police.

In addition to the eight felonies to which Rogers pleaded not guilty on Monday, his Anchorage indictment includes first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree robbery, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, failure to stop at direction of a peace officer and first-degree misconduct involving weapons.

His Palmer charges include two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, two counts of first-degree assault, motor vehicle theft and second-degree theft.

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson-@frontiersman.com.