Journey nurse charged with homicide of Soldotna man

A touring nurse from Virginia faces homicide fees in reference to the demise of her Soldotna landlord.

Thirty-one-year-old LaShaunda Lewis is accused within the stabbing demise of 78-year-old John “Skip” Dove Jr. at his residence off Sports Lake Road close to Soldotna. Charging paperwork say relations reported Lewis had been renting the decrease degree of Dove’s home whereas working as a behavioral well being and psychiatric nurse at Central Peninsula Hospital.

According to the costs, regulation enforcement performed a welfare verify on Lewis Monday, the day earlier than Dove was discovered lifeless. Lewis’ out-of-state household requested the verify, saying Lewis had behaved unusually in a cellphone name that morning. The fees say Lewis declined entry to psychological well being assets.

Then, on Tuesday, a crying and obscure girl, believed to be Lewis, referred to as 911 from a cellphone quantity related to Dove. The fees say Alaska State Troopers arrived on the residence about quarter-hour later and located a considerable amount of blood on the lounge carpet and down a hallway.

According to the costs, Lewis was bleeding on the correct aspect of her physique from what seemed to be self-inflicted stab wounds, and he or she was taken to Central Peninsula Hospital.

Troopers discovered Dove’s physique with stab wounds and lined in dry blood. They discovered a bloodstained kitchen knife in a close-by main bedroom and a considerable amount of blood on the mattress, in response to the charging doc.

The fees say Lewis instructed investigating troopers that she had been feeling “confused” all weekend, and he or she gave the investigators a fragmented account of the incident. Family members instructed them Lewis had no historical past of psychological or behavioral well being points, in response to the costs.

The troopers discovered a video on Lewis’ cellphone from Tuesday of her repeatedly whispering “he tried to kill me.” Charging paperwork say Lewis by no means accused Dove of injuring her.

Bruce Richards, spokesperson for Central Peninsula Hospital, mentioned Friday the hospital was treating a affected person who was the topic of a regulation enforcement investigation. But they had been unable to offer another details about the affected person, citing medical privateness rights.

According to the charging doc, Dove was a Vietnam veteran, outdoorsman and champion golfer. His physique was despatched to the state medical expert’s workplace in Anchorage for an post-mortem.

Lewis is charged with one rely of first-degree homicide and two counts of second-degree homicide. She was scheduled for an arraignment on the Kenai Courthouse Thursday, however on-line court docket information didn’t embody any bail info Friday.

Troopers mentioned within the affidavit their investigation continues.