Larry Kobuk
Larry Kobuk, 33, was from St. Michael, and his mother, Helen Paniptchuk, says correctional staff are responsible for his death. He died on January 28, 2015, at the Anchorage Correctional Complex, where officers restrained him during booking. A state Department of Corrections review describes video showing officers placing him face down, with him saying he could not breathe, before he was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead. The review found the restraint was not excessive and that no personnel investigation followed, and an autopsy and a Alaska Bureau of Investigation review were still pending in the earliest reports.
Cause of death, as reported: Killed by staff (disputed). Officers restrained Larry Kobuk face down during booking, and his mother, Helen Paniptchuk, says staff killed him, while the state Department of Corrections review did not find the restraint excessive and no personnel investigation followed.
Reported by: Alaska Department of Corrections (the agency that held him); Alaska Bureau of Investigation Major Crimes Unit (outside investigators); his mother, Helen Paniptchuk (family or their lawyers).