Update | 11:57 p.m.
One of the victims had a history with Alaska’s justice system, according to online court records.
Robert Meireis was out on bail and due for trial in January in Juneau Superior Court, where he was facing felony charges for drug possession and tampering with evidence, three misdemeanors, plus probation violations stemming from past assault convictions.
It’s been less than a month since Juneau’s last murder.
Update | 7:46 p.m.
The Juneau Police Department now says it is treating the two deaths in West Juneau as a double murder with no suspects.
They’ve identified the shooting victims: 34-year-old Elizabeth K. Tonsmeire, and 36-year-old Robert H. Meireis, both of Juneau.
The department is soliciting tips.
Update | 4:57 p.m.
Juneau Police Chief Bryce Johnson was on the scene where a man and a woman were discovered dead Sunday afternoon in a West Juneau condo.
“Our assumption is always that something nefarious happened until we can prove otherwise,” Johnson said. “So we’ll start from there, see where the evidence leads us. But that’s where we start it every time … that way we don’t miss anything.”
Johnson said there was no imminent danger and he had no names to release yet. The processing of the condo’s interior had not yet begun.
“Well, as soon as we can, we’ll get in, we’ll do a thorough investigation,” Johnson said. “And it really depends on what we can find when we get can in there. … So once we know that, then we’ll know what happens from there.”
That will be a slow and deliberate process, said police spokesman Lt. David Campbell. He said the department was working with the district attorney and judges Sunday afternoon to obtain various search warrants. While not necessarily required, Campbell said it helps cover their legal bases before going through the condo more thoroughly.
Johnson said the department’s entire detective unit, several patrol officers and a couple lieutenants were working the call.
Original story | 2:44 p.m.
Juneau police are investigating the deaths of a man and woman discovered Sunday afternoon in a residence on Douglas.
The Juneau Police Department got a 911 call at 12:21 p.m. Sunday from a man in the neighborhood discovering the bodies, according to a press release. Ambulance personnel declared the two people dead.
As of 2:30 p.m., police spokesman Lt. David Campbell said detectives are on the scene investigating. He said information will be limited during early stages of the investigation. He said search warrants may be a possibility.
This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Editors’s note: This story has been updated to correct the day on which the bodies were reported. Some erroneous references to “West Douglas” have been corrected to “West Juneau.”
