The death of a man found near the Poopdeck Trail in Homer has been ruled a homicide. Police are offering a reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator.
The death of 61-year-old Mark Matthews is still under investigation. Matthews’ body was found the evening of July 28 near the Poopdeck Trail in Homer.
Last week, Homer Police Chief Mark Robl said police consider the death “suspicious.” Robl was not available for comment for this story but in a news release Tuesday, police said that, after a forensic exam by the medical examiner’s office in Anchorage, the death was ruled a homicide.
According to the release, additional items of evidence have been gathered by police and are also being examined by state crime lab personnel.
Not much is known about Matthews at this point in the investigation. Robl says he apparently moved to Homer sometime last fall and had a part-time job in the area. Robl does not know where Matthews came from prior to moving to Homer but he was carrying an Alaska identification card.
A reward of $2,000 is being offered to anyone who comes forward with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator of this crime.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Homer Police Department at 235-3150 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-478-4258.
