Troopers ID 2 bodies found in the Valley

MAT-SU — Following autopsies by the State Medical Examiner’s Office, Alaska State Troopers have released the identities of two bodies found in the Valley this month.

Fingerprints confirmed that the human remains found by a hunter along a trail Oct. 20 are those of Jeffery A. Davis, 50, according to troopers.

Also identified were the remains of Brendon Twitchell, 24, of Palmer. The State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that the manner of his death was consistent with suicide, troopers say. Twitchell’s body was found near Moose Creek Oct. 11 in the same area where his vehicle also was found nearby in mid-August.

The former Palmer firefighter was wanted on an Aug. 23 warrant for charges of possession and distribution of child pornography.

Davis, the other man identified by troopers, had reportedly walked away from the residence of his third-party custodian on Oct. 1. A squirrel hunter discovered his body about a quarter mile away on Sunday, according to troopers.

He was facing charges of assault and violating the terms of a protective order, and was out of jail on a $5,000 bond that required a third party to watch over him when he went missing.

A warrant for Davis’ arrest was issued after he failed to show up for a pre-trial conference Oct. 11.

Troopers say the autopsy of Davis’ body showed no trauma and no foul play is suspected. Davis’ body was the fourth set of human remains found in the Valley since Oct. 4.

Troopers say foul play is not suspected in any of the incidents.