On April 15, 2022, Anchorage police conducted a welfare check at a residence on Resurrection Drive, where they discovered the bodies of 35-year-old nurse Raechyl Blackshear and her 14-year-old daughter, Jayla. Both had sustained fatal shotgun wounds. The investigation quickly identified Raechyl's husband, 39-year-old former correctional officer Jalonni Blackshear, as a person of interest.
Prior to the homicides, on March 30, Jayla reported to authorities that she had been sexually abused
by her father, Jalonni. Following this, forensic examinations were conducted, and DNA samples were collected from Jalonni. On April 6, he resigned from his position at the Anchorage Correctional Complex and subsequently left Alaska. On April 20, U.S. Marshals arrested him in Staten Island, New York.
A grand jury later indicted Jalonni on multiple charges, including first-degree and second-degree murder, first-degree sexual abuse of a minor, incest, tampering with physical evidence, and forgery. If convicted, he faces a potential sentence of 99 years or more in prison. The case has drawn significant attention to issues of domestic and sexual abuse, with Raechyl's family advocating for increased awareness and support for victims.
