MURDERED: The Alaskan Fishing Boat Massacre скачать в хорошем качестве

MURDERED: The Alaskan Fishing Boat Massacre

MURDERED: The Alaskan Fishing Boat Massacre In the rugged and often unforgiving landscape of Alaska, where commercial fishing ranks as one of the top industries, a harrowing tale unfolded in the early 1980s, rooted in one of the most lucrative times for fishermen – the three-month salmon season. It was during this season that the tragedy of the Investor, a 58-ft purse seiner, captivated and horrified the nation. Owned by Mark Coulthurst of Blaine, Washington, the Investor was more than just a fishing vessel; it was a family venture. Aboard were Mark, his pregnant wife Irene, their young children Kimberly and John, and Mark's cousins Mike Stewart, Dean Moon, Jerome Keown, and Chris Heyman. Their journey to Craig, Alaska, in September 1982, was supposed to be another routine trip to capitalize on the salmon run, but it spiraled into a sinister saga of murder and mystery. The Investor arrived in Craig and unloaded a significant catch of 77,000 lbs. of pink salmon. However, the atmosphere shifted when two crew members, Moon and Keown, interacted with John Kenneth Peel, a former crewman of Mark's, now working on another boat. That night, as the Coulthursts celebrated Mark's 28th birthday at a local restaurant, they briefly encountered Peel, although he would later deny being there. The next morning, as a storm raged and a thick fog enveloped Craig, the Investor remained oddly anchored offshore, a decision that puzzled onlookers. Unbeknownst to them, a chilling crime was unfolding aboard the vessel. A young man, later seen purchasing gasoline, headed towards the Investor. By late afternoon, smoke was seen billowing from the boat, leading the crew of a nearby boat, the Casino, to discover the inferno. They also encountered a skiff speeding away from the scene, manned by a mysterious individual who casually acknowledged the presence of people on the burning ship before disappearing into Craig. Alaska State Trooper Bob Anderson, the first law enforcement official on the scene, faced a blaze that was beyond the town's capability to fight. Once the fire was under control, a grim discovery awaited: the charred remains of the Coulthursts and Mike Stewart were found, each with multiple gunshot wounds. The tragic scene pointed to a calculated massacre. Investigations revealed a sinister plot where the killer likely remained onboard overnight, attempting to sink the Investor, only to return in daylight to set it ablaze. As the town of Craig reeled from the shock, investigators pursued leads, one name repeatedly surfacing: John Kenneth Peel. Peel, once a part of the Investor's crew, became the primary suspect, with many believing the murders were an act of revenge. After nearly two years of dead ends, Peel was arrested, setting the stage for what would become the longest-running trial in Alaska's history in Ketchikan. The prosecution painted Peel as a man driven by vengeance, but the defense countered, suggesting the murders were tied to a drug deal or possibly committed by Heyman or Moon, whose remains were never conclusively identified. The first trial ended with a deadlocked jury, and a subsequent trial in Juneau resulted in Peel's acquittal. The lack of direct evidence and the inconsistencies in eyewitness accounts made the case difficult to prosecute. In 1990, Peel sued the state for wrongful prosecution, eventually settling for $900,000. The massacre aboard the Investor remains a dark mystery in Alaska's history. No other suspects have been charged, leaving the case an open wound for the families involved and a haunting reminder of justice unfulfilled. The story of the Investor, marked by its unsolved nature and the tragic loss of the Coulthurst family, continues to resonate, a somber testament to the enduring search for truth and closure in the face of unimaginable tragedy.