Aaron Merritt
Aaron Merritt, 45, was a member of a church in Kenai, according to KDLL Public Radio. He was held at the Anchorage Correctional Complex in the custody of the Alaska Department of Corrections. Alaska State Troopers say he was found unresponsive in his cell on November 21 and died on November 26, and that a preliminary investigation found self-inflicted injuries. The Department of Corrections declined to answer questions about his death, and an ACLU of Alaska investigation has counted it among at least four in-custody suicides in 2025.
Cause of death, as reported: Died by suicide (neglect alleged). Alaska State Troopers say a preliminary investigation found self-inflicted injuries after he was found unresponsive in his cell on Nov. 21, and the ACLU of Alaska counts his death among in-custody suicides in 2025 that it is investigating.
Reported by: Alaska State Troopers (outside investigators); ACLU of Alaska (advocates); KDLL Public Radio (reporters).