Charlotte Marvin, a 92-year-old female from Anchorage, Alaska, died of gunshot wounds on May 14, 2017, inside the home she shared with her husband in midtown Anchorage, near East 28th Avenue off Northern Lights Boulevard. Police identified her the following day and opened a homicide investigation after responding to calls that a woman was dead at the residence.
Early public updates noted that officers had contacted everyone involved and did not believe there were outstanding suspects at that time.
Within days, Anchorage police arrested Charlotte Marvin's husband, 91-year-old Duane Marvin, and prosecutors charged him with first- and second-degree murder, as well as evidence tampering. Reporting based on charging documents recounted that he told investigators, “I killed my wife and I don't know why,” while detectives documented physical details at the scene, including blood spatter on the wheel of his walker and a mark on his hand consistent with a pistol slide, along with the recovery of 9mm cartridges from his clothing. Authorities also said the handgun had been hidden after the shooting. The initial motive remained unclear.
As the case moved into court, a judge allowed the 91-year-old defendant to be released to a family member while he awaited further proceedings, with defense counsel arguing that the shooting was accidental and emphasizing his age and health. Coverage noted his appearance in a wheelchair with headphones during arraignment.
Community and national outlets recorded the loss of the 92-year-old female, marking the killing among Anchorage's 2017 homicides and listing her in gun-violence memorials. Local public media highlighted that the death of the 92-year-old female added to a mounting tally of homicide victims that spring.
