E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
U.S. Coast Guard via AP
This July 2, 2011 photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard shows Richard Belisle, second from left, and Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class James Hopkins, second from right, with James Wells, left, and Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Cody Beauford as they help erect a communications antenna on Shemya Island, Alaska. Belisle and Hopkins were slain in April 2012, and Wells reportedly has now been charged with their murders.
Authorities in Alaska have charged a suspect in the mysterious killing last year of two employees at a U.S. Coast Guard communications station in Kodiak, it was reported Friday.
NBC News’ Anchorage affiliate KTUU and the Anchorage Daily News both reported the charges Friday evening, citing a written statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The statement provided no detail on what led authorities to the suspect, identified as Kodiak resident James Michael Wells, KTUU reported. It simply said he had been charged with murder in the deaths of James Hopkins and Richard Belisle and is expected to appear in federal court in Anchorage next week.
Hopkins, a Coast Guard electrician's mate, and Belisle, a retired boatswain's mate and civilian employee, were found dead at the Coast Guard station on April 12, 2012.
KTUU reported in May that the FBI asked if anyone had seen two vehicles, a white 2002 Dodge Ram pick-up truck and a blue 2001 Honda CR-V. It said that vehicles matching the descriptions belonged to James and Nancy Wells of Bell Flats, a Kodiak Island town about 12 miles from downtown Kodiak, and that the FBI had searched the couple’s property.
Authorities declined to comment on the report. James Wells, a civilian rigger who worked alongside Belisle and Hopkins repairing antennas, told KTUU at the time. “It’s our policy not to talk to anybody.”
The communication station, which monitors May Day air and maritime traffic, is about two miles from the main Coast Guard base on Kodiak, an island about 250 miles southwest of Anchorage. About 6,300 people live in the island's main town of Kodiak, where the base is located. The base has about 1,000 Coast Guard personnel and several hundred civilian employees.
Leave a Comment:
2/15/13 Question ? What is Jim Wells relationship to the Victims in this Murder ? Is he a "Coastie" also ?
Maybe just maybe the People of Kodiak Island can finally Breath Easy for once ?
SPW in Soldotna,Alaska
He was a Coast Guard civilian employee.
Sarah (Moose mom)..were you in this area?
alot of loose ends here.
Statement from Lt. Gen Kenneth T. Blaylock:
See comments of Lt. Gen Kenneth T. Blaylock: cryptome dot org/2012/12/ ng-alaska-blaylock dot pdf
Mike277- grow up idiot. Not everything Alaska is Sarah related. Sofa King stupid
"the FBI asked if anyone had seen two vehicles, a white 2002 Dodge Ram pick-up truck and a blue 2001 Honda CR-V. It said that vehicles matching the descriptions belonged to James and Nancy Wells of Bell Flats,"
Unless he's able to drive two cars at once, my guess is there's another person involved who's still on the loose.
It's not hard to spot the murderer in that picture.
I'm not judging him for his appearance, but if you had to pick knowing one of them was a murderer he would be the one.
Steve Wright-2380427 - The dude on the left in the pic is the killer. The one with the non military grooming.
? I would infer you are most certainly judging by out ward appearance... and by your assesment all the Marines and Army personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan must have not killed anyone, 'cuz golly they're all so clean-cut! Judge a man by his actions not his outward appearance.
benji
There is difference between how a person is instructed to look (clean cut with a uniform) and how a person chooses to look. Anyone that says personal appearance means nothing in determining character, they are a fool. The saying "never judge a book by its cover" is only true in books...
Flannel shirt, and what look to be insulated bib overalls, pretty standard cold weather outdoor workwear. Oh and he has a long beard, 'cuz ya know it's Alaska, having razors and shaving cream shipped in ain't exactly cheap, btw, you ever grew a long beard, honestly takes a certain amount of discipline.
Guess you guys also never heard of innocent until proven guilty.
I always figured that Santa Claus fellow was up to no good.
And that Einstein fellow with the wild hair and crazy eyes as well.
But those Wall Street-types in their $10K suits and $250 haircuts?
Paragons of moral virtue every one.
Biker, I agree, that was my first thought too. He looks like a wilderness non conformist. Hate to stereotype but he fits the profile. Ride to live and live to ride, see you in Sturgis and the Love Ride.
Yes, you are judging.
I'd judge him more on the fact that he's not being very helpful in that picture but almost standing in the way. Maybe someone that has a conflict with everyone about doing things their way.
Relax kiddos- he said if you HAD to pick one knowing one of them was a murderer. Your a liar if you say you would have picked someone else.
The folks here criticizing biker for saying that are deluded. He didn't make an assessment based on race or gender or any other inappropriate factor. He did what you all do but are afraid to admit.
Sorry biker, no one in that image is in military grooming, which includes a uniform.
"military grooming, which includes a uniform" said the civilian Michael in S J.
Well, you might be ex-military, but you didn't pay much attention if you were. 'Military grooming' refers to haircut and facial hair, tattoos visible in certain areas and piercings/jewelry. It does not directly refer to uniform clothing articles. One could say a person was 'out of uniform' if they were not fully compliant with all appearance regs which includes all of the above, but that is not the same as how biker put it. He got it right. And I would tend to agree with his assessment.
Oh yeah, facial hair...killer, for sure! You guys are...like...psychic!
Wowser
Without being so dramatic as you... In the picture, I see one that holds far less self respect than the others just by his personal appearance, which one would you like your daughter to bring home? If you were to state it didn't matter, I'd call you a liar.
you must be talking about the guy with dirt on his jeans and one pant leg untucked, guy can't even look straght at the camera, what a dirt bag. If you can't pick up on it, I'm being cynical...
Minds are like parachutes Trout, they only work when they're open.
hope they got the right guy...
That refers to BMI too. From the pic, only one qualifies.
Idiots bringing pre-judgement via a single picture. Amazing!
Behind.....these are the same people that can determine innocence or guilt with an Ouija board, tarot cards or simply a needle on a thread held over a photo while blindfolded. Their lineage can probably be traced back to Salem, Ma.
I hope they have the right suspect and can put an end to this strange and tragic story.
biker - the James Wells in the picture could be the civilian rigger and not the alleged murderer James Michael Wells.
Did you read the photo caption Kim? That reference is to 'Wells'. Now journalistic integrity is not what it used to be, but I think they would have distinguished the 2 if they were not the same person.
Yep, read the caption and the article. The use of two names (James Michael Wells and James Wells) makes it appear that there are two different men, at least it does to me. After all why use the two names if it is one man and no other James Wells is mentioned in the article.
Journalistic integrity will never be what it used to be, but that's evolution right? Everything evolves. No, wait a minute, journalistic intregrity was created 6,000 years ago and is still the same. Sheesh, my bad.
You also have to remember this is a small town in a very remote area. Its not like there are lots of people with the same name. If these quotes came from people living in this town the journalist may have just directly quoted them.
Wow give you a little rope Kim and you just string yourself up, I had hoped you had some time to think about it. The middle name inclusion is just the way the news always reports people who have been formally charged, because the authorities always release the name that way.
I'm sorry but is there something wrong with thinking that there might be two people with the same name in the same town-community-job, no matter how small? Why does it mean that I've strung myself up just because I'm not automatically following the party line? Is it really that big of a problem for someone to think a little outside of the box?
Oh, and btw, I used to work with two different people with the same name and the only way to tell who is who on paper is by putting in the middle name or initial. And I have seen news reports where the person arrested is mentioned with first and last name only.
You strung yourself up by REPEATEDLY insisting that the article was written with the same first and last name used for 2 different people without it being clarified that was the case. While technically 'possible' (like if the sun blew up tomorrow), it is so far below the level of probability it is ridiculous to pursue and makes you look like a fool. That was all your doing, hence the reference to stringing yourself up.
It's not when they're arrested, it's when they are formally charged and the charges are made public record. The media reprints the name exactly as it is release to minimize the chance of mis-identification.
I didn't insist on it. I just put forth that it could be a possibility. Having two people with the same first and last name is not below the level of probability - consider my two former co-workers who were not related as well as fathers and sons (yes, I know there is usually a Jr. or III after the name but not if their middle names are different - and yes, I've known a man who did that).
So if using my life experiences when I'm reading an article means that I string myself up, well, than I'll carry the rope around with me and keep an open mind about what I read. Have a nice day.
Geez give it a rest. Insisting the sky could be pink isn't going to make it so. Everybody knows someone with names as you described.
They don't write about both of them in news articles without clarifying they are 2 different individuals.
Ever.
How terribly awful, once more someone has chosen to take the lives of others.Obviously evil can be found anywhere on this planet.I hope those who died are at peace,their loved ones get all the support and comfort they need at this time. As for the person who committed this vicious attack, I sure hope the killer will pay dearly for the lives taken all too soon. Of course, man does a poor job of providing true justice in this world. But it is my belief, those who commit evil, causing others great suffering and death, will face an eternal justice they have no capacity to even start to comprehend, after they die.
Thank you. We used to live up on Kodiak, nicest community we ever knew. We never expected something like this to happen. My dad (helicopter pilot) was acquainted with Mr. Hopkins and his family while we were up there. It was very saddening to hear about this. I'm glad this monster was caught.
Semper Paratus
Kim yeah and the man in the moon makes bue cheese. Take your ignorance somewhere else. We're all stock up here.
{gasp} He does?! Wow, I did not know that. /s/ Well, since you're all stocked up with ignorance, I think I'll stick around.
in the end it was i who thought the men in the white coats should have been called.
Mr. Wells had been on the FBI's radar since the beginning of the whole thing as you can read from a previous article http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/05/24/11834139-alaska-mystery-questions-no-answers-in-kodiak-coast-guard-killings?lite
The information in the last paragraph is totally wrong
I have family that lives in Alaska, and a quick check of google maps, Shemya Island is more like 1200 miles from Anchorage.
The article says that Kodiak Island is 250 miles southwest of Anchorage. It doesn't say how far Shemya Island is. The caption identifies the men as they were erecting a communications antenna on Shemya.
They must have been drinking at Tony's bar. That bar makes people do crazy things!!!
Yep good ol' Tony's Bar. "Biggest navigational hazard on Kodiak"!
Met the owner of the local brewery there one afternoon. We got ver snockered on Kodiak Beer!!
It would be nice for the article say WHY he killed them.
When I see a man trying to cultivate on his face , what I grow wild on my a$$hole I have no respect for him and do not take him seriously.
hityme
Which one do you look at first in the mirror? Some may say. Those who shave their face when they are not required too. Are trying to make it easier to tell them apart.
what a useless bunch of bloggers, inuendo, supposition, nothing of value. Don't you turds have anything better to do, like playing in your crotches?
Man, so much idiotic blather here! And what is up with the anti facial hair crap? Good grief, the caption says SECOND from left. I see no a$$hole-like cultivation there!! Sheesh, such limited brain cells firing in these comments. Get a grip, buckos!!
So happy that someone has been caught and that the folks can breathe a bit easier. Hopefully the investigation was successful in capturing the right guy.
The Defense will have him all shaved and inna suit! Hopefully, he'll look like Bernie Madoff!
SECOND from the left. He needs no shave. Good lard.
The guy is probably lazy also- he's just standing watching others work
Perhaos he is a retired Colonel. lol
Why is it that so many men in Alaska feel compelled to grow these ridiculous, untrimmed, mangy beards? Are they that lazy that they can't give it a trim once in a while? Or is that their statement that they are "rough and tumble" lumberjack or gold miner wannabes?
What bothered me about this article is that at least one murder victim was an active duty Coastguardsman. But both victims were referred to as "employees of the station". We don't call active duty sailors "employees of the Navy" or soldiers " employees of the base" , we call them what they are. They should have used the correct term "Coastguardsman" , not employee.
I like the term, "Coastie".
What was the motive for this killing?
What I want to know, is what took them so long to make this arrest, he was suspected the morning of the killings, they had his cars, they searched his house, the took him to Anchorage to interrogate and returned him to Kodiak. There is much more to this story than they are releasing. He worked with those guys and was the only suspect all along. Lets have answers, the rumors about this have been flying around almost a year now. What gives????
I shall not even try and guess what the animal's motive was. If found guilty I hope that they fry his azz.
where is Paul Harvey and "the rest of the story" when you need him ?.....the mysterious killing last year.....???
ok sure no one suspected the polar bear??
I spent 28 1/2 years in uniform, clean shaven everyday. Two years after I retired I quit shaving except to
trim my beard. I now wear an all white neatly trimmed 1/2 in beard. Does that automatically make me a
suspect for any crime committed in my area?
Only if your area incudes the idiots posting on this thread.
Sure does, betcha hacked up the neighbor last night. All kidding aside - beard has no bearing on anything at all.
Of course not, Retired. The assessment was not due to facial hair, it was the overall un-kept and dirt bag look of the suspect.
Nothing wrong with facial hair.
It's has been my experience as a business owner that the dirty looking guys are the ones who are willing to do the most work. The clean shaved,up to date haircut types are often the ones wasting time looking in the mirror or washing up .
HONEYBIRD-538096 - Why would assume the dirty one is willing to do the most work?
Cleaning yourself up is work. He wasn't willing to do that.
I'll go out on a limb and just say you probably identify more with these types and are more comfortable with them. Take that how you like.
Sad for the families. Condolences to them. As a former Coastie from the 60's this is hard to take. The Guard is such a hands on and active service everyday that performs so many useful deeds and tasks. The public gets a bang for their buck every minute. To see this happen to a Guardsman is just so sad.
It is very important that this man be tried and convicted on this blog before the truth leaks out and confuses all the posts
I would have picked the one not doing any work in the picture.