Alaska Woman Accused of Covering Up Fatal Hit-and-Run with Moose Fur, Faces Serious Charges
Oct 27, 2023, 11:00 AM
A Delta Junction woman finds herself in a precarious legal situation after Alaska State Troopers accused her of attempting to disguise a fatal hit-and-run incident as a collision with a moose. Chelsie Erickson, 32, was arrested on October 17, facing charges of negligent homicide, failure to render aid, and two counts of tampering with evidence. Her mother, Janell Erickson, 60, was also arrested and charged with tampering with evidence.
The incident dates back to the night of August 28 when Chelsie Erickson allegedly struck and killed 47-year-old John Emerick, who was walking along the side of the highway in Delta Junction near milepost 1421. Instead of reporting the accident, Erickson is accused of fleeing the scene.
The arrest followed an investigation triggered by a tip received by troopers about the hit-and-run. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Erickson’s home, leading to the discovery of potential evidence related to the incident.
According to reports, one of Erickson’s friends informed the police that Chelsie had mentioned hitting a moose on the same night that John Emerick was fatally injured. Investigators attempted to locate the moose in question, as Erickson claimed it had run into the woods following the collision. However, they were unable to locate any such animal.
Intriguingly, Erickson never reported the alleged moose collision to the authorities. Police, however, did locate a vehicle matching the description provided by witnesses on the night of Emerick's tragic death. Inside a locked detached garage on Erickson’s property, they found a 2014 Chevy Silverado pickup truck. The vehicle had several pieces of its front-end grill removed, and moose hairs were discovered scattered on top of the engine. Notably, there was no fur present on the front of the truck.
The investigation also revealed that a moose head hanging in the Erickson’s garage appeared to have bald spots, raising suspicions that moose hair had been deliberately collected from the mount and then spread over the truck's engine compartment. This discovery led authorities to conclude that an attempt had been made to create a false narrative of a moose collision.
Chelsie Erickson and her mother, Janell Erickson, have both been arrested and incarcerated at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.
The case highlights the serious nature of the charges facing Chelsie Erickson, including negligent homicide, failure to render aid, and tampering with evidence, all related to the tragic hit-and-run incident. Tampering with evidence charges were also filed against Janell Erickson, possibly for her alleged involvement in attempting to disguise the true circumstances of the incident.
The legal proceedings are expected to unfold in the coming months, shedding further light on the events of that fateful night and the actions taken by the Erickson family in its aftermath.
This case underscores the importance of reporting accidents promptly and accurately to authorities, as well as the potential consequences of attempting to conceal the truth. The accused individuals will have their day in court, where the legal system will determine their culpability in this unfortunate incident.
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The incident dates back to the night of August 28 when Chelsie Erickson allegedly struck and killed 47-year-old John Emerick, who was walking along the side of the highway in Delta Junction near milepost 1421. Instead of reporting the accident, Erickson is accused of fleeing the scene.
The arrest followed an investigation triggered by a tip received by troopers about the hit-and-run. Authorities obtained a search warrant for Erickson’s home, leading to the discovery of potential evidence related to the incident.
According to reports, one of Erickson’s friends informed the police that Chelsie had mentioned hitting a moose on the same night that John Emerick was fatally injured. Investigators attempted to locate the moose in question, as Erickson claimed it had run into the woods following the collision. However, they were unable to locate any such animal.
Intriguingly, Erickson never reported the alleged moose collision to the authorities. Police, however, did locate a vehicle matching the description provided by witnesses on the night of Emerick's tragic death. Inside a locked detached garage on Erickson’s property, they found a 2014 Chevy Silverado pickup truck. The vehicle had several pieces of its front-end grill removed, and moose hairs were discovered scattered on top of the engine. Notably, there was no fur present on the front of the truck.
The investigation also revealed that a moose head hanging in the Erickson’s garage appeared to have bald spots, raising suspicions that moose hair had been deliberately collected from the mount and then spread over the truck's engine compartment. This discovery led authorities to conclude that an attempt had been made to create a false narrative of a moose collision.
Chelsie Erickson and her mother, Janell Erickson, have both been arrested and incarcerated at the Fairbanks Correctional Center.
The case highlights the serious nature of the charges facing Chelsie Erickson, including negligent homicide, failure to render aid, and tampering with evidence, all related to the tragic hit-and-run incident. Tampering with evidence charges were also filed against Janell Erickson, possibly for her alleged involvement in attempting to disguise the true circumstances of the incident.
The legal proceedings are expected to unfold in the coming months, shedding further light on the events of that fateful night and the actions taken by the Erickson family in its aftermath.
This case underscores the importance of reporting accidents promptly and accurately to authorities, as well as the potential consequences of attempting to conceal the truth. The accused individuals will have their day in court, where the legal system will determine their culpability in this unfortunate incident.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com