A jury in Alaska found a former police officer was found guilty of murdering Sonya Ivanoff, a 19-year-old Native woman.

Matthew Owens, a former officer in Nome, was convicted of first-degree murder for the August 2003 death of Ivanoff. He was also convicted of tampering with evidence for planting information about the case in hopes of leading investigators to other suspects.

Owens had denied the crime. The prosecution presented evidence that placed Owens and Ivanoff together shortly before her murder. He had previously been accused of abusing young Native women.

Ivanoff, who had recently moved to Nome from a Native village, had been found shot in the head. Her naked body was dumped on the side of a road.

Owens faces up to 99 years in prison when he is sentenced on December 15.

Get the Story:
Owens guilty of murder (The Anchorage Daily News 12/7)
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Relevant Links:
Nome Nugget - http://www.nomenugget.net

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