Sentencing delayed again for last remaining group members of Grunwald murder trial

WASILLA — Erick Almandinger and Bradley Renfro’s sentencing hearings have been delayed due to matters relating to expert witnesses. They are the last two defendants to be sentenced in the David Grunwald murder trial.

“We’re pretty disappointed because we were really hoping to get this phase of all this over with, all the sentencing hearings done so when they start the appeals process, we can brace for all that’s coming up next,” Grunwald’s mother Edie Grunwald, said.

Almandinger, Renfro, Dominic Johnson, and Austin Barrett have all been found guilty of Grunwald’s savage beating and pistol-whipping, kidnapping, and subsequent murder on the night of Nov. 13, 2016.

Grunwald’s parents, Edie and Ben Grunwald, have been in and out of the courthouse since the beginning. Edie said that she hopes these last sentences go through before the end of 2021.

“We relive the whole thing all over again,” Edie said. “We can’t lose sight of the crimes that were committed.”

The Grunwalds have been backed by numerous members of the community, particularly through the Justice for David Grunwald campaign with over 13,000 followers on the official Facebook page.

“We just appreciate the community’s support in all of this,” Edie said.

Barrett was the first of the four defendants sentenced in the Grunwald murder trial in November of 2020. Johnson was sentenced earlier this month. Renfro and Alamdinger’s sentencing hearings were scheduled for June before the push.

Both Renfro and Almandinger’s defense attorneys have requested additional time for expert witnesses to provide a psychological evaluation for their clients.

“They’re dragging this on forever and ever and ever,” Edie said.

According to court records, the June hearings were vacated with no future hearings scheduled to date. Palmer Courthouse staff indicated that a status hearing should be scheduled within the next month.

“Let’s see what they come up with,” Edie said.

Johnson’s sentencing hearing was held telephonically instead of Zoom due to a recent cyberattack that affected the entire Alaska Court System.

The court system is recovering from the attack and has been able to recuperate online services and functions like public’s access to Court View over the last month.

“The extraordinary problem-solving work that everyone has done resulted in continued service to the public and access to justice despite the cyberattack,” Alaska Court System Administrative Director Stacey Marz stated in a recent press release. “Filings by email are occurring. Most hearings and trials have occurred as scheduled, with many by phone. Starting today [May 24], Zoom video hearings will be able to happen, although video hearings between the court and most Department of Corrections institutions are not able to happen at this time. Jury questionnaires are being physically mailed to jurors summoned for July terms, instead of emailed. Forms are still available on the court’s website.”

For more information about the Alaska Court System and the cyber attack, visit courts.alaska.gov.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com