American Homicide: S1:E28 – The Mountain Man Murders, Part 1

Podcast Information:

• Title: American Homicide
• Host: Sloan Glass
• Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts
• Episode: S1:E28 – The Mountain Man Murders, Part 1
• Release Date: May 1, 2025

Introduction

In the twenty-eighth episode of American Homicide, journalist Sloan Glass delves into the enigmatic and chilling case known as the Mountain Man Murders. Set against the rugged backdrop of Chulitna, Alaska, this episode meticulously unpacks the mysterious disappearance and subsequent deaths of Rick Beery and Debbie Rehor. Through interviews with family members, investigators, and eyewitnesses, Glass paints a comprehensive picture of a case that remains shrouded in uncertainty and intrigue.

Background: Chulitna, Alaska

Chulitna is not a typical town but a vast, designated wilderness area approximately 115 miles north of Anchorage and 40 miles north of Talkeetna. The region is characterized by its remote landscapes, including the Chulitna River and the Talkeetna Mountains, making it a haven for those seeking solitude and self-sufficiency. Access to Chulitna is limited to the Parks Highway and the Alaska Railroad, emphasizing its isolation.

• Sloane Glass [03:12]: "Today we're north of the border in Chulitna, Alaska for Part one of the Mountain Man Murders."

The Beery-Rehor Couple

Rick Beery, a lifelong Alaskan with two stints in the Vietnam War, and his wife Debbie Rehor were known for their love of the wilderness. They spent weekends at their remote cabin in Chulitna, a routine that was suddenly disrupted in Memorial Day weekend of 1997.

• Sloane Glass [06:33]: "Paul Stavignord was just kind of a backwoods man. He had a big bushy beard, long hair, wire-rimmed glasses."

Rick was described as type A—stubborn, gruff, and prone to losing his temper, while Debbie was reserved, quiet, and adept in hunting and fishing.

• True Crime Author [07:15]: "The two loved spending long weekends at their cabin in Chulitna."

Their disappearance raised immediate concerns when Debbie failed to show up at work, an unusual occurrence given her reliable nature. Her brother's visit to the cabin revealed signs of distress—closed doors, scared dogs, a plate of cheese and crackers, and an open beer, all inconsistent with the couple's usual housekeeping standards.

• Debbie's Brother [08:37]: "Rick and Debbie's border collies appeared to be scared and hungry, as if they'd been left alone for an extended period."

The Investigation Begins

When the Beerys didn't return, their bodies were eventually discovered near their cabin. Rick was found shot execution-style in a creek, while Debbie was later found with similar fatal gunshot wounds and signs of sexual assault.

• True Crime Author [11:00]: "On the Thursday after Memorial Day, troopers found Rick Beery's body in a Creek some 200 yards away from his ATV and two miles from his cabin."
• Captain Don Savage [19:53]: "He's dead, she's missing, she becomes another suspect because it could be some sort of a domestic dispute situation."

The unusual nature of Rick's execution-style murder in the Alaskan wilderness shifted suspicion towards Debbie, challenging the authorities to consider possibilities beyond a simple domestic dispute.

Suspect 1: Gavin Saha

Initially, a young hiker named Gavin Saha emerged as the primary suspect. Gavin had camped mere yards from Rick's body and was equipped with a .22 rifle, the same caliber believed to be used in the murders.

• Bill Estelle [41:35]: "He was in the place at the time and could easily have been the perpetrator."

Despite holding similar firearms and proximity to the crime scene, Gavin maintained his innocence, claiming ignorance of the murders and attributing his campsite's location to an accident stemming from being lost.

• Gavin Saha [24:39]: "He had gone out there to hike and fish, and he had brought this pair of his girlfriend's or ex-girlfriend's panties along with him."

However, inconsistencies in his account and the presence of women's underwear at his campsite raised further doubts, leading investigators to view Gavin's involvement as circumstantial.

• Assistant DA Bill Estelle [24:26]: "He was a young man who set up camp near a dead body he claimed he didn't know was there, and a pair of women's underwear that he used as a flag at the campsite."

Ultimately, DNA evidence did not link Gavin to the crimes, leading to his exoneration.

• Bill Estelle [32:45]: "They went and asked him for a DNA sample and got his DNA that didn't match."

Suspect 2: Paul Stavignord

With Gavin cleared, attention turned to Paul Stavignord, Rick and Debbie's neighbor. Paul, a reclusive artist with a contentious relationship with Rick, became a central figure in the investigation.

• Sloane Glass [34:05]: "Paul Stavignord was just kind of a backwoods man. He had a big bushy beard, long hair, wire-rimmed glasses."

Paul's alibi—that he was in Fairbanks during the time of the murders—faced scrutiny due to the lack of physical evidence, such as receipts, to corroborate his story. Further investigation revealed discrepancies in his statements and behavior, including an inconsistent account of his meals and the appearance of his campsite.

• Bill Estelle [35:17]: "He didn't have any receipts from the restaurants where he said he visited on his way to Fairbanks or the gas stations. But that's because Paul, he claims he paid for everything in cash."

An eyewitness account placed Paul in the vicinity of the crime scene, contradicting his claim of being in Fairbanks.

• Bill Estelle [37:25]: "So it began to look as if he was fabricating his whole absence."

Eventually, Paul disappeared, leading authorities to believe he might have fled to Canada. Despite extensive search efforts, including assistance from the national television program America's Most Wanted, Paul remained elusive until he voluntarily surrendered.

• Assistant DA Bill Estelle [40:09]: "I believe America's Most Wanted was getting ready to run a special on him when he turned himself in."

Upon searching Paul's cabin, investigators uncovered a journal detailing an affair with Debbie, complicating the case further and raising questions about motive and narrative reliability.

• Bill Estelle [39:27]: "They were having consensual sex."

Despite mounting evidence, including the discovery of Paul's fingerprints on Debbie's belongings, DNA analysis ultimately did not link him to the murders, leaving the case unresolved and shrouded in mystery.

• Bill Estelle [32:33]: "She was raped, shot, and her body just dragged off into the woods."

Conclusion: A Baffling Mystery

The Mountain Man Murders case has left both the local community and investigators grappling with unanswered questions. The transition of suspicion from Gavin Saha to Paul Stavignord, coupled with inconclusive evidence and conflicting testimonies, has rendered the case one of the most perplexing in Alaskan history.

• True Crime Author [42:19]: "How can somebody go from being a neighbor to being a double murderer at the flip of the switch?"

As the investigation continues, American Homicide sets the stage for a deeper exploration in Part 2, promising to unravel more layers of this complex and haunting case.

• Sloane Glass [42:19]: "I'm Sloan Glass. Join me for the bizarre conclusion of the Mountain Man murders. That's next time on American Homicide."

Notable Quotes

• Gilbert King [01:09]: "Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil."
• Captain Don Savage [19:53]: "He's dead, she's missing, she becomes another suspect because it could be some sort of a domestic dispute situation."
• Bill Estelle [35:17]: "He didn't have any receipts from the restaurants where he said he visited on his way to Fairbanks or the gas stations. But that's because Paul, he claims he paid for everything in cash."
• Gilbert King [16:08]: "At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer."
• Bill Estelle [32:33]: "She was raped, shot, and her body just dragged off into the woods."

Final Thoughts

S1:E28 of American Homicide masterfully intertwines meticulous investigation details with personal narratives, offering listeners a gripping account of a case that defies easy explanations. As Sloan Glass navigates through the maze of evidence and human emotion, the Mountain Man Murders stand as a testament to the enduring allure and complexity of true crime storytelling.

For those intrigued by unsolved mysteries and the intricacies of criminal investigations, this episode serves as a compelling entry point into one of Alaska's most haunting cases.

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