Hide Article Text (OCR)
By PETER GUTIERREZAll-Alaska WeeklyAfter more than five months of intensive investigation into the disappearance of Cara Zastrow,Sgt. James McCann of the AlaskaState Troopers confirmed whatthe victim’s loved ones and concerned community membersfeared most of all.The 16-year-old West Valleyjunior was kidnapped, raped and murdered, McCann announced at a press conference March 22.Two 1990 West Valley graduates, Sergio Colgan, 18, and 19-y ear-ol d Eric Hughes, al so known as Eric Crandall, were arrested late March 21 and charged withfirst-degree murder, first-degree sexual assault, and kidnapping of their former classmate and friend. Both men were lodged at Fairbanks Correctional Center in lieu of a $500,000 cash-only bail. District Attorney HarryDavis requested bail be set at $1 million each.McCann saidColgan and Crandall-Hughes became suspectsaround mid-March. Trooper investigators arrested the suspects outside Colgan’s apartment on Dartmouth Street in the University West subdivision, two blocks from Zastrow’s residence.Zastrow’s body had not found as of Wednesday. The search began Saturday, even while a vigil was being held by friends and family at the home on Dartmouth Street where Zastrow lived with her parents, a sisterand a young brother.McCann told Superior Court Judge John C. Hessin Friday thatCrandall-Hughes and Colgankidnapped Zastrow, and dumped her body in a remote area. According to court documents, thesuspects intentionally caused Zastrow’s death by “unknownmeans” after abducting and raping her.Heavy snowfall has complicated efforts to recover the body, troopers said. They said information from the two suspects ledthem to the woods off 29 Mile Chena Hot Springs Road, where there are more than 30 potential sites. The body was reportedly buried next to a log near one of the turnouts. The turnouts aredirectly off Chena Hot Springs Road beginning at Mile 24 at thestart of the state recreation area.It may not be until breakupbefore Zastrow’s body can befound, troopers said.“The fact that nothing wasfound is not conclusive of anything,” said Sgt. Steve Heckman of the troopers. “We will go back once the weather is better.” Colgan and Crandall-Hughesremained at the state prison for the arraignement March 22, and appeared briefly over closed-cir-cuit television. The two remain in maximum security cells. They will appear in a pre-indictmenthearing April 1 in FairbanksSuperior Court.McCann, who worked 18- to20-hour days with two otherinvestigators on the Zastrow case since the pair became suspects, said both suspects knew the victim. McCann traveledMarch 16 to San Diego, Calif., tointerview Crandall-Hughes,who had been in basic training with the U.S. Marine Corps since February. McCann did not say why Crandall-Hughes returnedto town.Trooper investigators saidthey want the trial to be held inFairbanks, and released few details of the investigation, saying pre-trial publicity could complicate finding an unbiasedjury.Zastrow was last seen Oct. 13 at the Bentley Mall at 4:15 p.m. She was reported missing after she failed to show up at her boyfriend’s house as promised and was an hour late to begin her shift at her part-time job atPizza Hut on Geist Road. Her supervisor, Randy Clavell reported Zastrow’s disappearance.Her Mazda RX-7 sports carwas found in a deserted area off South Lathrop Street along the Tanana River two days after thevictim’s disappearance.The car had been vandalized and the windows shot out, and the only evidence that remained in the vehicle was a sales slip, a half-eaten doughnut and a Coca-Cola can, troopers said. They said there was little sign of a struggle.Larry Stevens, 18, Sherman R. Lewis, 18, both of FortWainwright, and Lewis’ wife, Michelle Lewis, also 18, were indicted in January on charges that they destroyed evidence in the case by shooting out the sports car’s windows with a 12-gaugeshotgun.McCann reiterated that they are not suspects in Zastrow’s disappearance.Tom Zastrow said he will remember Cara as a good and caring person.“Friends meant a lot to her,” he said. “The way it sounds, it gother into trouble.”
Newspaper Details
Fairbanks Pioneer All Alaska Weekly
Fairbanks, Alaska, US
Fri, Mar 29, 1991
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Sean M.
USA 04 Sep 2019
Other Publications Near Fairbanks, Alaska
Fairbanks Daily News Miner
Daily News Miner
Fairbanks Weekly News Miner
Fairbanks Evening News
Fairbanks Daily Times
