Arrest made in 2021 homicide of 18-year-old found dead in baseball field
ANCHORAGE (KTUU/Gray News) - A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the 2021 death of an 18-year-old in Alaska.
Daemon Sterlin Carlton As’Kim Hill was indicted Friday for the death of Katelynn Shelhamer. He is charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder.
Hill had an arraignment scheduled for Monday but refused transport from jail, forcing the courts to reschedule to Wednesday. However, Hill refused transport a second time, and a new arraignment was scheduled for Thursday.
His bail is set at $500,000.
Shelhamer’s grandmother, Sandra Giroux, said the family had long-since suspected Hill was involved in the murder as he was known to be among a crowd that Giroux said Shelhamer had been trying to get away from.
“She was just waiting to turn 18 so she could buy her a car and get her job, and it’s just, everything was going good,” Giroux said. “She was just so much energy. Just curious, and went through the [Alaska Military Youth Academy] and really came out a success there and just put her back on the right track.”
Shelhamer was found dead at the Nunaka Valley baseball fields in the early hours of June 8, 2021.
At the time, Police said Shelhamer suffered trauma to her upper body. Detectives said in a release that they believed the incident was not random but isolated.
“Katelynn was just this light that shined so bright, no matter which situation she was in, no matter where she was. She just loved everybody,” Crissy Musick, Shelhamer’s aunt, said shortly after the 18-year-old’s body was found.
The indictment said Hill “intentionally caused the death” of Shelhamer, knowingly caused physical injury to her and knowingly engaged in conduct resulting in Shelhamer’s death with an “extreme indifference to the value of human life.”
Giroux said that while news of Hill’s arrest comes as a relief, she feels there is good reason to believe there are more individuals involved who are responsible for her granddaughter’s death.
“They’re coming after you, whoever else is out there,” Giroux said. “And I can’t wait to see you guys in court.”
An Anchorage Grand Jury indicted Hill on Friday.
According to the arrest report, Hill was arrested off DeBarr Road at 5:15 p.m. and allegedly had a calm demeanor. He is currently in the Anchorage Correctional Complex.
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