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HOOPER BAY, Alaska (TCN) — Following a dayslong investigation, a 20-year-old man is in custody for allegedly killing his cousin and another woman after texting them about marijuana.
According to a release posted by the Alaska Department of Public Safety, on the morning of Oct. 2, troopers and investigators with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation responded to a report of two women found deceased at a home. The victims were later identified as Novely Rivers and Abigail Olson, both 18.
An autopsy revealed that Rivers and Olson had more than 60 slash and stab wounds, per an affidavit reviewed by Anchorage Daily News. They also reportedly had signs of blunt force trauma to their bodies.
Alaska State Troopers posted a bulletin, offering $10,000 for information that led to arrests.
On Oct. 6, troopers said in an update that they identified Shaquille Carawan as the primary suspect and booked him into the Yukon Kuskokwim Correctional Center on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, tampering with physical evidence, misconduct involving a controlled substance, and furnishing alcohol to minors in a dry community.
According to a statement obtained by Anchorage Daily News, Carawan and Rivers were cousins, and authorities believe “an argument escalated into a physical altercation.”
Investigators reportedly observed bloodstained shoes at Carawan’s residence that matched marks discovered at the scene, as well as bloody clothing and a knife. Authorities reviewed text messages between Rivers and Carawan in which they allegedly spoke about him bringing marijuana to her house. The affidavit also alleges Carawan said he made home-brewed alcohol and planned to bring it over.
Carawan reportedly admitted to killing Olson and Rivers with a knife before throwing their phones into a lake and running home. Investigators later recovered the victims’ phones.