Trooper killed in Wasilla; Four dead after apparent murder, suicide

MAT-SU -- A Wasilla man apparently killed himself and his two children at a Wasilla trailer home after allegedly shooting and killing Alaska State Trooper Hans Roelle Saturday morning.

The incident began at about 11 a.m. Saturday, when troopers were notified of a disturbance near Mile 59 Parks Hwy. Amy Cordell, 25, had apparently jumped from a 1994 Chevrolet Suburban driven by Ryan Andrews, 24, to avoid being assaulted, according to trooper reports. The couple's two children -- Cheyenne, 3, and Kluane, 1 -- were also in the vehicle.

After Cordell jumped from the car, passersby contacted troopers who responded along with the Houston Emergency Medical Services ambulance, which transported Cordell to Valley Hospital.

After troopers arrived at the scene, Andrews reportedly turned around and drove south toward Wasilla to the couple's home in Best View RV and Motor Home Park at Mile 35.5 Parks Hwy.

Trooper Eric Spitzer followed Andrews, clocking him at more than 100 mph, according to reports. Roelle, the trooper in charge of the region for the morning shift, radioed Spitzer not to pursue Andrews because he didn't want a high-speed chase through Wasilla, said Greg Wilkinson, trooper spokesman.

Troopers instead obtained Andrews' address and arrived at his home at 11:24 a.m. Trooper Matt Tarbox was the first trooper to arrive on the scene, according to trooper reports, but Roelle was the first to approach the house.

Within minutes of the troopers' arrival, Andrews reportedly appeared on his porch holding a high-caliber Desert Eagle handgun. He then shot Roelle once, in the head, killing the trooper instantly, troopers at the scene said.

After shooting Roelle, Andrewsreportedly returned to the trailer and troopers heard three more shots. Back-up was requested and within the hour, troopers and Wasilla and Palmer police surrounded the trailer, along with a trooper helicopter. Around 1:45 p.m. they entered the trailer and found the bodies of Andrews and his two children.

Andrews apparently had a history of depression and was not taking his prescription medication, Wilkinson said.

In May 1999, Cordell filed a domestic-violence complaint against Andrews at Palmer, according to court records, and the complaint was dismissed on June 15, 1999. Prior to that, court records show Andrews spent time at McLaughlin Youth Center in Anchorage and also had an Anchorage conviction for disorderly conduct.

Roelle, 40, lived in Anchorage and was transferred to the Palmer trooper detachment earlier this year. He served 17 years with the troopers. The father of four is the 12th trooper to die in the line of duty since 1974.

Roelle graduated from the Alaska State Trooper Academy in 1984. He leaves his wife, Christine, and children: Andrea, Ariel, Hans and Rachel.

The state medical examiner is performing autopsies on all of the bodies, and an investigation is continuing.