It’s a life of daily heartache for Aylett Hanson’s family.
“We cry about it every day,” said sister Melia Strickler.
Hanson was 31 years old when his body was discovered on the afternoon of Jan. 23. He was found dead in his vehicle in a parking lot of the 2600 block of Spenard Road. Police won’t confirm the cause of death or whether they have any significant leads.
“We don’t want to release the information that only the suspect would know,” said Sgt. Slawomir Markiewicz with the Anchorage Police Department’s Homicide Unit.
Markiewicz says it’s hard not being able to talk to families about their loved ones’ cases. If he did, it could jeopardize the integrity of the investigation and become a problem when the case reaches the court system.
“A lot of the time we know much more than we can release,” he said.
Six months after his death, Hanson’s family is trying to keep his face in the public’s eye. Flyers are being spread across town and the state, from Soldotna to Nome, in hope that someone with information will come forward.
“It’s a little odd that nobody saw or heard anything,” Strickler said. ”None of us really feel safe right now … stay cooped up in our houses and don’t go out a lot.”
Hanson’s cousin Brittany Hales says she suffers from paranoia since the murder.
“It’s kind of scary to think this person is still out there in the town I’m living in, we are living in,” Hales said.
Markiewicz says detectives haven’t given up on finding Hanson’s killer.
“We are still working hard, we are still devoting resources to this case and we are convinced that sooner rather than later the suspect will be charged,” he said.
The longer a murder goes without being solved the more challenging it becomes, Markiewicz said. He says the majority of murders are solved within 24 to 48 hours, especially when there are good witnesses or video surveillance.
“However, some cases are of different nature; some require more scientific analysis, more forensic analysis of the evidence,” Markiewicz said.
Markiewicz, who will be honored for his 25 years with APD this year, says even when he thinks he’s exhausted all leads, something new will emerge.
“We never give up on these cases regardless of how long it’s been since the homicide,” he said.
During his more than nine years with the homicide unit, Markiewicz says witnesses and tips have helped solve the majority of cases.
“Without the public’s involvement we wouldn’t be able to work. We are very lucky here in Anchorage to have the community that is very involved,” he said.
The family of Aylett Hanson hopes the public will help solve his murder.
“It is never going to fill the lonely hole that is now there, but I would feel a lot better if someone was put behind bars for this,” Strickler said.