In the early morning hours of August 31, 2026, in Juneau, Alaska, the lives of two families were irrevocably altered. At approximately 5:52 a.m., 16-year-old Leotis R. Phillips, an Alaska Native male, was reported missing from his home on Kanata Street. A few hours later, at 8:49 a.m., a similar call was made for 16-year-old Zoey L. Clark, who was reported missing from her residence on Teal Street.
Authorities believed the two teenagers were together and issued a public alert, cautioning that they might be in possession of a firearm and should not be approached. The alert described Leotis as being approximately 5 feet 5 inches tall, with long black hair he often wore in a ponytail, and brown eyes.
The search for the missing teens came to a tragic end later that same day. At around 2:25 p.m., the bodies of Leotis Phillips and Zoey Clark were discovered in a wooded area above the 6800 block of Glacier Highway, near the Dzantik'i Heeni Middle School. According to the Juneau Police Department, preliminary information indicated that both teenagers died from gunshot wounds. A firearm was found at the scene. The bodies of both Leotis and Zoey were sent to the Alaska State Medical Examiner's Office in Anchorage for autopsies to determine the official cause and manner of death. The Juneau School District announced that counseling and support services would be made available to students and staff affected by the devastating loss.
In the days that followed, the community gathered to mourn the two young lives lost. A candlelight vigil was held at the Dzantik'i Heeni school campus, where more than 150 people, including family, friends, and teachers, came together to remember Leotis, known as "Leo," and Zoey, known as "Z." Leo was remembered as a loyal friend who enjoyed making people laugh. Family and friends described the deep connection between the two teenagers, with Zoey's cousin noting that the happiest she had ever seen Leotis was when he was with Zoey. The investigation into their deaths remains ongoing, with no information released about any arrests or suspects. The case, as it stands, is a heartbreaking story of two teenagers who were reported missing and found deceased on the same day, leaving a community to grapple with the sudden and tragic loss while awaiting answers from the continuing investigation.
