A North Pole man has been charged with murder after troopers say he shot and killed his ex-girlfriend, then covered her body with a tarp.
Monday, at about 7:30 p.m., Alaska State Troopers in Fairbanks received a call that a woman was found dead in a driveway off of Larissa Drive in North Pole. A man, identified as 33-year-old Russell Burris, was also found unconscious near her body under a tree, according to an online AST dispatch posted Tuesday.
Investigation by troopers revealed that Burris shot his ex-girlfriend — 21-year-old Mandy Clemmons — then covered her body. Burris then attempted to overdose on drugs, AST says.
When EMS arrived, they declared Clemmons “deceased due to an apparent gunshot wound,” troopers say.
Burris was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital. When he was discharged hours later, troopers arrested Burris and charged him with first-degree murder. He was taken to Fairbanks Correctional Center. Troopers say Burris is also on federal probation for bank fraud, adding that his conditions of release included that he not possess firearms or drugs.
Clemmons’ remains are being sent to the State Medical Examiner’s office in Anchorage for an autopsy. Next-of-kin has been notified, AST says.
Troopers say the investigation is ongoing.
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