Hooper Bay endures 4th suicide in 2 weeks

Hooper Bay. (Photo via Travis S./Flickr)
Hooper Bay. (Photo via Travis S./Flickr)

The village of Hooper Bay has suffered another loss. A fourth person has died by suicide.

Alaska State Troopers received a call that 21-year-old Carl Dominic Robert Joe had died from an apparent suicide Saturday afternoon, according to the online trooper dispatch.

Joe’s death comes less than a week after three other young adults have died.

In late September, 26-year-old Noel Tall died from suicide. Less than a week later, 24-year-old Eric Tomaganuk died by suicide, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers believe the deaths are related.

Two days later, the village suffered another loss. Twenty-year-old Miranda Seton died by suicide after becoming distraught over Tomaganuk’s death, according to the online trooper dispatch.

The remains of all four victims were sent to Anchorage for autopsy.

Mental health experts say suicide is a complex issue and is not typically related to one event.

Previous articleWhat Medicaid expansion means for this Juneau family
Next articleAbout 285 same-sex couples wed in Alaska in past year