A woman found dead in a park in Bethel on Sunday has been identified. Bethel Police Lieutenant Joe Corbett says she was from Bethel.
“Investigators were able to obtain the identification of the deceased as Eunice Whitman. She is 23 years old; she’s from Bethel here. She sustained multiple stab wounds we know of. We don’t, right now, have a complete cause of death without the medical examiners report and the autopsy, but that obviously looked like a contributor.”
Police say witnesses reported the body early Sunday and remains were found around 4 a.m. Investigators from the Alaska State Troopers Alaska Bureau of Investigation were dispatched to the scene from Anchorage and are working with the BPD Investigations Unit.
Whitman was found in the bushes near the Pinky’s Park Boardwalk between public housing and the park. Sunday night, Bethel Police identified a suspect, Whitman’s boyfriend Justine Paul.
“Investigators were able to identify a suspect in her boyfriend, Mr. Justine Paul, he’s also known as Justin Paul, her pronounces it Justin. He’s also 24 years old. He’s originally from Kipnuk, moved to Bethel.” Said Corbett.
Police say they searched Paul’s home and found evidence they believe links him to the murder. A search of Paul was also conducted for trace forensic evidence. Paul, whom police say is a convicted felon, was interviewed and arrested for Murder in the First Degree.
Paul was remanded to the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center and faces arraignment Tuesday.