Damien Peterson charged with murder after troopers reopen Wasilla death investigation

Last updated at 8:53 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10

Alaska State Troopers say an Anchorage teenager has been charged with murder in connection to a boy’s death in Wasilla.

Authorities charged 19-year-old Damien Peterson with second-degree murder in connection to the June 27, 2016 death, according to an online trooper dispatch.

He is the older brother of Devin Peterson, who is currently in jail, charged in the November kidnapping and murder of David Grunwald.

In the dispatch, troopers said the victim, 16-year-old Frank Woodford, was reported to have been shot and was flown to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, where he was pronounced dead by medical staff.

Peterson is one of two teens listed in an incident report that detailed Woodford’s death. Austin Barrett was also mentioned, and is currently under investigation for his role in Grunwald’s death.

Damien Peterson was identified as one of several people present in the home during the June 27 incident. While troopers initially said there was no evidence of foul play in the case, they reopened the investigation after receiving new information. Both Barrett and Damien Peterson are listed as suspects under the original incident report.

Barrett said Woodford had the gun when it went off and he was wounded in the chest. However, investigators said in the incident report that Woodford was still alive when they arrived and he said he didn’t shoot himself. He wasn’t able to give them much more information before he died.

Damien Peterson is being held at the Mat-Su Pre-trial Facility in Palmer without bail.

This is a developing story; please check back for updates.