‘Stupid like your daddy’

PALMER— The second week of Erick Almandinger, the first of four young men to go to trial for the murder of David Grunwald back in November 2016. This week’s proceedings showed the jury a glance at the defendant and his friends who seemed to be obsessed with Crips and the “gangster” lifestyle.

Almandinger, Dominic Johnson, Bradley Perrigin-Renfro, and Austin Barrett are accused of orchestrating and executing the brutal beating, kidnapping and death of fellow teen, Grunwald. Almandinger is facing multiple charges, including Murder I and Murder II.

Last week, Almandinger’s “gang like” behavior was well established by both sides for entirely different purposes. The defense painted Almandinger as a young male fascinated with the culture who got in over his head. Almandinger’s defense admitted that his client was guilty of several lesser crimes after the night of the murder and that Almandinger was “too scared” to stop Grunwald’s murder which is why he didn’t come clean until he found himself at the Palmer Post.

The prosecution is trying to establish that Almandinger knew what would happen that night, sanctioning it and even taking part of it directly. Although the state has made efforts to prove one of the guns tied to the crime belonged to Almandinger, they’ve seemed more concerned about proving the fact is a “group effort” as stated in their opening statement last week.

Almandinger’s defense agreed that the 9mm gun was clearly the murder weapon. Both guns involved with the crime, a 40 caliber, semi-automatic Ruger and a 9mm Springfield were in a backpack at Peterson’s residence. Amid the guns was a distinctive watch ram’s head on it.

“This guy wearing the watch? That’s Austin Barrett — that’s the one who shot David Grunwald,” Almandinger’s defense said last week.

The watch came up again this week while Johnson’s mother Misty was interviewed. She said that was her father’s watch and it along with large sums of cash were stolen from a family safe. This apparently would have been prior to Nov. 13 since the watch was found in the backpack after the fact. While the defense was cross examining Misty, she admitted she initially blamed her son stole from the safe.

“I had suspicions,” Misty said.

Johnson is the one who led Tony W. to Grunwald’s body and according to Misty, he came home later that day after not being home for about two weeks. Most if not all of the suspects were known to have long hiatuses away from their respective homes.

The prosecution asked Misty what color her son was wearing when he came home. She said she recalled him wearing jeans, a t-shirt and a hoodie. When asked what color hoodie, she said “probably dark blue.”

“He looked like he hadn’t slept, he was really anxious and just very upset,” Misty said.

Misty said that it was her son’s lawyer who brought him home. She said that she didn’t want his clothes in the house because of the “negative energy.”

The prosecution and defense both pressed Misty about her knowledge of a video where Johnson allegedly bragged about “smashing Grunwald’s head.”

Yes, there was a video about something about getting into a fight… That’s all that it was- I don’t remember what the other people were saying or who was there. He just said ‘yeah I hit him and it was hard’ or something.”

The defense showed her a transcript of her conversation with W. in March 2017. Misty looked at it and said, “that actually is not true. I never said David’s name. I don’t even talk like that. I never used the word bashing or anything like that.”

The prosecution and defense both pressed her about the dynamics of her relationship with her son. He asked her if he was ever homeless.

“No he’s never been homeless,” she said.

She said that Johnson was staying with his grandmother for the two weeks he was gone. The prosecution asked Misty if she verified where her son was at.

“I don’t think I did go over there,” Misty said.

On Nov. 11, 2016 at 5:54 p.m.- two days before Grunwald’s disappearance- Misty had a conversation with Johnson via text messages.

The defense read the messages aloud as he reviewed the expletive-laced messages with Misty.

Cell phone records revealed conversations between Almandinger and his close friend Johnson, who both seemed to invest a lot of energy trying to spend time together, often sneaking around to avoid arguments with Alamindger’s father, Rodney and grandmother, Myler.

On Nov. 13, 2016 — the day Grunwald went missing — Almandinger and Johnson exchanged several messages and calls, before Grunwald allegedly stopped by to “hang with the boys.”

Almandinger: “Can’t talk in person do you wanna be let in on [or] something

Peterson: “Like you can’t tell david Or anyone, swear?”

Almandinger: “Later tonight prolly. Prolly when my dad slumps tbh few hours ssdly. Iono I wanna hang with yall but he’ll come out

Go for it let me in but no on messenger”

Johnson: “Well I gotta act fast like rn fast. You feel me?”

Almandinger: “You know nothing will get said if you tell me. Yeah I feel it”

Almandinger: “... So you wanna stick together with me then? Be homeless homies? It’s harder to find places to go when you’re with a larger group. But I’ll be homeless tomorrow so may as well”

Johnson: “Can I borrow a toolie [handgun]?

Lemme get dat 4.0

Almandinger: “Everyone asking for my toolie makes me sketch plus I had bad vibes bout not holdin it”

Johnson: “Like I’m your nig I kinda need it. If anything happens you’re not gonna get involved and you’re gonna get it back”

Almandinger: “F--- iono how. Maybe I’ll tell my dad I’ll come back if I need to. I have a different toolie. Nig I’m not worried bout the law :) :)”

The Grunwald four technically has a fifth suspect who’s been tried separately from his younger friends’ case and currently isn’t looking at any murder or kidnapping charges. Devin Peterson, who’s been referenced as the teens’ “gangster role model” recently pleaded guilty in federal court for evidence tampering and impeding investigation with state charges still to come. Peterson admitted to providing two gas cans to burn Grunwald’s Bronco.

A Facebook messenger conversation between Almandinger and Peterson on Nov. 25, 2016 revealed that Almandinger was trying to stay with Peterson that night. Peterson said that his mother wouldn’t allow Almandinger over since he was the “main suspect.” This was after several interviews by lead investigator; Alaska State Trooper Sgt. Tony Wegrzyn stopped who visited Almandinger several times and eventually seized the teen’s tablet. Then 16, Almandinger appeared to be undaunted by the investigation.

“F--- with a 16 yo genius see what happens :) when you’re smarter than the [c]ops."

Christian Ward’s family and the Almandinger’s have known each other for about 20 years. They were childhood friends since they were about 4 or 5, Ward affirmed on the witness stand.

“He’s been my neighbor since I’ve been a small child,” Ward said.

Ward grew up across the street from Almandinger. Ward didn’t seem very familiar with Almandinger’s Crip-idolizing friends, only being sure he met David Evans and Peterson a handful of times. Ward seemed to spend most of time with Almandinger when it was just the two of them.

Ward was at Almandinger’s house on Nov. 13 but said that he didn’t know Grunwald or even see him because he left before he arrived.

The prosecution asked Ward if he ever saw Almandinger with the Ruger and he said yes.

“You weren’t frightened when he showed you his gun?” the defense asked during cross examination.

“No sir because I own guns of my own,” Ward said.

The prosecution showed Ward the Ruger and asked if that looked like Almandinger’s gun and he said yes. He recalled Almandinger showing him his loaded gun and based in the casings, he guessed they were either 40 or 45 caliber.

The prosecution asked Ward if he ever noticed Almandinger wearing “gang attire” before Nov. 13. Ward said yes. Ward admitted he saw Almandinger wearing blue and flashing “gang signs” in photos.

“And what was your impression of that?” the prosecution asked.

“My Impression?” Ward asked in return.

“Yes, What did you think of that?”

“I was not impressed.”