Sutton beating victim awaits justice

Four months after a nearly fatal assault left Sutton resident Brian Blubaugh with permanent injuries, no arrests have yet been made in the case, though juvenile suspects were identified.

Blubaugh, 36, was brutally beaten and left in an abandoned house on Christmas Eve. Alaska State Troopers received a call just before 4 a.m., Dec. 24 from a resident saying that a severely injured man had knocked on the door of his home and asked for help.

Blubaugh had crawled or walked 200 yards in below-zero cold, over snow and frozen ground to get to help, said George Cordero, chief peace officer for the Chickaloon Village Tribal Council.

Blubaugh's parents, Forest and Betty Blubaugh, said three young men arrived at their home at 11:30 p.m., the night before, as they were all sleeping. They believe the young men broke into their home to wake up Brian.

The young men introduced themselves to Mrs. Blubaugh, said they wanted to buy a vehicle from Brian Blubaugh, then allegedly took him off to "discuss business," Betty Blubaugh said soon after the attack.

Sometime between then and the early morning hours, Brian was taken to an abandoned trailer on Grand Avenue in Sutton. The trailer, a broken-down van and a shack, are known to the young people of the area as shelter for parties, Cordero said.

Though initially the atmosphere appeared to be one of social drinking, at some point Blubaugh was beaten with a log and a two-by-four. The suspects poured hot wax over his head and face, Cordero said, then urinated on him.

Blubaugh spent a week in Valley Hospital, where he was treated for internal injuries, broken eardrums and head injury.

His parents are upset that no arrests have yet been made in the case. Troopers completed their investigation two months ago, they said Wednesday, and the case was put before the Palmer district attorney's office. Then last week the case was sent over to Mat-Su Youth Facility to be reviewed by probation officers.

Probation supervisor Sean Owens said he needs to confer with the DA's office to see if assault charges should be made against the suspects in adult or youth court.

In the preceding months, the Blubaughs have contacted U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens, Gov. Tony Knowles' office, the Alaska Federation of Natives, state senators, and met with FBI agents. Brian is an Alaska Native, and the parents believe the attack was racially motivated.

"We've contacted a lot of people with no results," Forest Blubaugh said Wednesday. "I think they would like to sweep the whole thing under the rug and forget it, because charges were not made soon after it all happened. Maybe they'll slap these guys on the wrist and that will be it."

Owens said once the determination is made, the case should move along without too much more delay. "There has to be a hearing and before juveniles can be tried in an adult court, there is a burden of proof that they aren't amenable to the juvenile justice system," Owens said.