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Sitkans Pay Tribute To Jessica BaggeniBy Sentinel StaffSome 1,500 men, women and children joined the family of Jessica Baggen Sunday afternoon in a memorial walk through Sitka National Historical Park to the Sawmill CreekRoad bridge near the place where she was found dead one week ago.Gathering at 2 p.m. in the shadow of the totems near the visitor center'supper parking lot, the throngs ot mourners listened to a eulogy by a family friend. Bill Royce.Then they quietly started filing into the woods, with Jessica’s parents, George and Vicki Baggen, and other family members in the lead. The throng wound quietly through the woods and across the Indian Riverfool bridge inside the park, and from there onto Sawmill Creek Road.Turning left, the marchers streamed along the bicycle path to the highway crossing of Indian River.Bouquets had begun appearing on the bridge railing soon after the murder was discovered early May 6, and by Sunday the railings on both sides of the bicycle path bridge were solidly lined with flowers, along with somees Appealsice Fishingsignificance ... because it determines the extent to which federal agencies will take over the management of Alaska’s fisheries and, to a lesser de-* %gree, its wildlife.The state’s appeal had been supported in friend-of-the-court briefssubmitted in behalf of 11 other West-Arizona, California,emColorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.Continued on Page Hwritten messages and several burningcandles.Some marchers, many of them in tears, added their own bouquets as they walked across.At the center of the bridge a friend gave members of the family 17 helium balloons — one for each year of the teen-ager’s life — which they released into the air.Police blocked one lane of the highway for a time after the crowd spilled into the road.The sound of the cars, subdued conversation and ravens in the forest were all that could be heard for thehour or so that mourners stood at thebridge, many expressing condolences to Jessica’s parents, sisters, grandpar-Town MeetingSet for TonightThe Sitka Police Department has scheduled a “town meeting” for 7 to 8 p.m. this evening at the Centennial Building to discuss public concerns related to the homicide of 17-year-old Jessica Baggen.“The meeting is not intended to get into a discussion of the details of this particular case,” said Police Chief John Newell. “It is to create a broader forum for issues such as safety in the (Sitka National Historical) Park,“he said.Ted Berg, administrator of the Community Involved Policing Unit, will serve as moderator for the discussion.Panelists will include Police Chief John Newell, Sentinel Editor Thad Poulson, SAFV Shelter Executive Director Val Revard, Sitka National Historical Park Superintendent Gary Gauthier, Sheldon Jackson College President Kenneth Cameron, two members of the Sitka Police and Fire Commission, Mayor Pete Hallgren and City Administrator Garv Paxtonents and aunts and uncles at the far end. Then the crowd dispersed aspeople walked quietly away to return to their homes.The memorial walk was announceding together ... it has been so helpful to that family.”by the Baggen family last week in response to the outpouring of concern from the community.“It all started with one flower on* *the bridge and it’s grown from there, said Sonny Cropley a friend of the family who helped direct traffic at the bridge. “The whole community com-Estimates of the turnout varied, but Don Kluting, manager of the Centennial Building, said he placed the number at “three times the number that would fill the auditorium,” which has a capacity of 500.George Baggen said unlay that hisdaughter had recently said she would want to be cremated in the event she should die, and that her wish would be followed.Police Chief: No NewInformation in SlayingBy LISA BUSCHFor the SentinelOne week to the day after the body of 17-year-old Jessica Baggen was found near the Indian River bridge, Sitka police said no one has been charged or taken into custody.“We are getting a lot of calls from people who pass on rumors and information,” said Police Chief John Newell, “and we are sorting through all that.* IThe Police Department has reported that the autopsy indicated death was from asphyxiation and that “there was evidence of sexual assault.% %Apart from those facts the police have not released any new information about the case. While the department’s previous references to the casehave called it “homicide” — a termwhich covers any killing of one person by another, including accident and manslaughter — Newell clarified today that this is a case of murder.Baggen was last reported seen alive at 1:30 a.m. Saturday, May 4, when she left her sister’s home at Arrowhead Trailer Court on Sawmill Creek Road, after celebrating her 17th birthday. Newell said she was alone when she set out walking to her home onBarlow Street.Friends and relatives looked for her Saturday and Sunday, and notified police that she was missing. The Sitka Volunteer Fire Department Search and Rescue team was called in, and searchers retracing her probable route to her home found her body under some brush at 3 a.m. Monday in a wooded area about 50 yards south of Sawmill Creek Road bicycle path near the Indian River Bridge.Sitka Police InvestigateReport of Sexual Assault
Newspaper Details
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Sitka, Alaska, US
Mon, May 13, 1996
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CA, USA 23 Apr 2021
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