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Thursday, November 6, 2003

A grand jury in Alaska indicted a former police officer on Wednesday for the murder of a 19-year-old Native woman.

Matthew C. Owens, 28, of Nome is charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence, which are felonies, and official misconduct, a misdemeanor. He allegedly picked up Sonya Ivanoff, 19, in his police cruiser before killing her.

Ivanoff was from the village of Unalakleet. She moved to Nome two years ago. She was found dead on August 13.

Owens has been fired from the Nome police department and is being held without bond. He faces federal civil rights charges, which carry a sentence of life or death if convicted.

Get the Story:
Grand jury indicts ex-cop in killing (The Anchorage Daily News 11/6)

Related Stories:
FBI considering charges in death of Native woman (11/5)

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