Woman confronts accused killer

JOHN DAVIDSON\Frontiersman reporter

PALMER -- Laurie Welsh, the woman who awoke to a gunshot early Tuesday morning and fought for her life after Eugene Gordon Jr. allegedly shot and killed Jesse Manglona, unexpectedly showed up at Gordon's pre-indictment hearing Friday morning at the Palmer courthouse.

In a rare courtroom scene, Laurie Welsh stood up amid proceedings and asked Palmer District Court Judge William Estelle if she, as a victim, could make an impact statement.

Although Estelle told Welsh impact statements are usually made during bail hearings, he allowed her to step to the podium and address the court.

"Your honor, I work with animals, but this man is worse than any animal -- this man is a monster," Welsh said. "He took the only man I loved, and now I live in terror every night. I have flashbacks, your honor. I fought for my life that night, I held the hammer of the gun back with my thumb."

As Welsh spoke, recounting firsthand the events of Tuesday morning, family members in the audience began to weep.

"I should have let him kill himself that night, but Jesse's kids were in the house," Welsh said, her voice trembling. "He shot Jesse in his sleep, but he was too much of a coward to shoot himself."

Welsh, who, according to court documents, recently ended a five-year relationship with Gordon, was with Manglona the night Gordon reportedly broke into Manglona's house near Four Corners and shot him in the face as he slept.

The gunshot awoke Welsh and a desperate struggle for the gun ensued. Welsh managed to get the .357-caliber Magnum revolver away from Gordon and flee the bedroom.

Alaska State Troopers arrived a short time later, as Gordon was trying to leave the residence. But when his truck got stuck in deep snow, Gordon held the revolver up to his head and threatened to kill himself.

A three-hour standoff with state troopers, during which Gordon fired off another round from inside the vehicle, ended only after his mother and brother arrived to assist troopers.

"He doesn't want anyone to be with me, he'll kill me and anyone who's with me," Welsh told Estelle Friday morning. "I want to know that he is behind bars so I can go on with my life; I want to know how his bail can be higher, because if he gets out, I'm a dead woman."

Welsh said Gordon has been in contact with his mother and brother, and she fears they are trying to raise money to get him released on bail.

However, since Gordon's mother and brother were called to the scene of the shooting Tuesday morning and assisted troopers in negotiations, they are witnesses. Gordon is under strict orders not to have any contact with victims or witnesses, Estelle said.

Welsh also told Estelle she felt responsible for Manglona's children, "for being associated with this pig." Estelle, taking time out of a packed court schedule, assured Welsh she was not responsible and told her in years to come she will be glad she stopped Gordon from taking his own life that night.

"The feelings you have are those that many victims have, victims of all kinds of crimes," Estelle said, adding that it was normal to feel helpless and distrustful in her situation. Estelle assured Welsh she would have another chance to speak at the bail hearing and indicated she would likely be called as a witness in grand jury proceedings.

But Estelle cut off Welsh when she turned toward Gordon and began speaking directly to him, her voice rising with emotion.

"If you get out on bail, I'm not going to run scared from you," Welsh said, looking directly at Gordon, whose face was expressionless. "Do you hear me, Gene? You can shoot me if you want, but you'll just send me straight to Jesse. I'm not going to live in fear of you anymore."

Gordon's next pre-indictment hearing is set for Dec. 23 at 10 a.m. His bail remains set at $500,000.

Contact John Davidson at john.davidson@frontiersman.com.