Former Skagway resident charged with manslaughter in 2 overdose deaths

A Skagway Police Department conveyance (File/KHNS)

After a lengthy investigation, an apprehension has been made successful nan overdose deaths of 2 men who took fentanyl past twelvemonth successful Skagway.

Jacob Cotton, 33, was taken into custody astatine nan Juneau Airport by Skagway Police Chief Jerry Reddick and Officer James Michels. Cotton is charged pinch 2 counts of manslaughter and misconduct involving a controlled substance. He is being held astatine nan Lemon Creek Correctional Center successful Juneau.

Reddick was pleased pinch nan development.

“It’s thing that nan families needed,” he says. “It’s thing that our organization needed.”

Anthony Bowers, 28, and James Cook, 44, died of overdoses nan play of Jan. 13, 2023. Bowers and Cook were nan first Skagway deaths officially linked to fentanyl.

According to nan constabulary department, Cotton provided fentanyl to Bowers, who past gave it to Cook. In a charging archive against Cotton, constabulary said Cotton had allegedly shipped nan narcotics to Skagway from Washington, and that Bowers had talked to Cotton online astir trading nan pills successful Skagway.

Reddick says Cotton is officially a resident of Washington, but was doing activity successful bluish Alaska. Cotton lived successful Skagway intermittently and moved distant a fewer years earlier nan deaths.

Reddick says he understands erstwhile group get disappointment an apprehension didn’t hap sooner. There is simply a process to follow. Once grounds is compiled, it must beryllium sent to national authorities, who determine if national charges will beryllium filed. The national authorities declined, and it became nan jurisdiction of nan authorities territory attorney.

At times, Reddick says he was frustrated. He approached nan authorities senator’s agency for help. 

“The main point is that, you know, it takes our full organization to make this possible,” he says. “We activity diligently. I can’t praise Officer Michels capable for his dedication, his difficult work. And this, I mean, there’s countless hours successful this.”

Cotton’s next hearing is scheduled for June 14.