Dec. 2nd: In Revised Statement On Tuesday Morning Troopers Now Say They Believe Mary Jo Evans Died In Caribou Fire
TROOPER REVISE THEIR PRESS RELEASE "Evans is believed to be deceased at the scene..." The Alaska State Troopers have issued a re...
TROOPER REVISE THEIR PRESS RELEASE
"Evans is believed to be deceased at the scene..."
The Alaska State Troopers have issued a revised statement that says they believe that Mary Jo Evans of Valdez perished in the Caribou Hotel fire on November 12th, 2025. The clarification came after a Monday evening statement to both KTUU and Copper River Country Journal that "no human remains have been found."
In an early morning press release on December 2nd, Troopers wrote:
"Officials searched the scene extensively, including with dogs from MAT+SAR and by hand excavation, however due to the duration and intensity of the fire did not locate any human remains. Evans is believed to be deceased at the scene."
The evening before this new press release, on December 1st, the Copper River Country Journal received information from Trooper Communications Officer Austin McDaniel in response to a request for clarification on whether her body had been found.
Rumors in the Copper Valley were that it had.
McDaniel responded at 7 pm Monday night to the Journal that "no human remains have been found" KTUU Alaska News Channel disseminated a similar statement by the Troopers on its TV news show and website, also on the 1st of December.
See Earlier Story in Country Journal from December 1st
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UPDATED PRESS RELEASE
Location: Glennallen
Dispatch Text:
UPDATE, Dec. 2, 2025: Officials from the Alaska State Fire Marshal’s Office and Department of Public Safety responded to the scene on Nov. 26, 2025, after receiving information that 86-year-old Mary Jo Evans was believed to be staying at the Caribou Hotel when it caught fire and was reported missing. Officials searched the scene extensively, including with dogs from MAT+SAR and by hand excavation, however due to the duration and intensity of the fire did not locate any human remains. Evans is believed to be deceased at the scene. The preliminary investigation indicates the fire was accidental in nature.
ORIGINAL: On Nov. 12, 2025, Alaska State Troopers received a report at 8:12 a.m. of smoke at the Caribou Hotel in Glennallen. Troopers responded to the scene with local firefighters and determined everyone had safely evacuated from the building. Fire quickly spread through the hotel and it became fully engulfed by flames. At least five vehicles were also damaged by the fire. A state deputy fire marshal is traveling to the scene to investigate the origin and cause of the fire. GlennRich Fire Rescue, Gakona Volunteer Fire Department and Kenny Lake Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene. Please avoid the area while first responders continue to extinguish the fire.
Posted on 11/12/2025 11:23:18 AM by DPS\tewilliams . Edited on 12/2/2025 8:18:43 AM by DPS\tewilliams
