S1: E29 – The Mountain Man Murders, Part 2

Summary

American Homicide: S1E29 – The Mountain Man Murders, Part 2

Release Date: May 8, 2025
Host: Sloan Glass
Produced by iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

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Introduction

In the gripping second part of "The Mountain Man Murders", host Sloan Glass delves deeper into the mysterious and controversial case of Paul Stavignord, a reclusive Alaskan man accused of murdering his neighbors, Rick Beery and Debbie Rehor. Set against the rugged wilderness of Chulitna, Alaska, this episode unpacks the complexities of isolation, suspicion, and the quest for justice in a remote community.

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Background of the Case

Chulitna, Alaska, a designated wilderness area miles away from the nearest road, was home to the secluded couple, Rick Beery and Debbie Rehor. On Memorial Day weekend in 1997, both were brutally murdered near their cabin. The tranquility of the wilderness was shattered by this double homicide, a rare and shocking event in such a remote setting.

The Suspect: Paul Stavignord

Paul Stavignord, a 46-year-old year-round resident of Chulitna, became the prime suspect. Known for his off-the-grid lifestyle, bushy beard, and round wire-rimmed glasses, Paul led a peaceful, spiritual life, engaged in artwork and flute playing. However, his past told a different story:

• Criminal History: Paul struggled with drug addiction, was expelled from high school, and had multiple arrests, including a notorious 1971 bank robbery in Anchorage where he and accomplices stole $150,000 using a Marlin rifle—a detail that would later prove pivotal in his trial.

• Lifestyle Changes: After serving four years for the bank robbery, Paul attempted to reform, marrying a waitress, having two children, and embracing a mountain man lifestyle. Despite these changes, lingering suspicions existed between him and his neighbors.

Investigation and Rising Suspicion

The discovery of Rick and Debbie's bodies and subsequent evidence raised suspicions against Paul:

• Evidence: Debbie was found with a gunshot wound to the head, and evidence suggested postmortem intercourse, including semen that matched Paul's DNA (found at [17:36]).

• Alibi and Flight: Initially, Paul claimed he was in Fairbanks during the murders, providing names of restaurants he visited. However, lacking receipts and with no witnesses corroborating his story, his alibi fell apart, prompting him to flee into the wilderness ([07:54]).

The Manhunt and Capture

Paul's disappearance ignited a massive manhunt, with troopers deploying significant resources to track him down. A local woman described the intense search as making the area feel like a war zone, with helicopters constantly overhead ([08:09]).

After four weeks on the run, Paul surrendered voluntarily ([08:32]). Upon turning himself in, he hired a lawyer and insisted his flight was due to unrelated past experiences with law enforcement, highlighting his distrust of authorities ([08:49]).

The Trial

Opening Statements

The trial, presided over by Judge Eric Smith, was marked by emotional testimonies and conflicting narratives:

• Prosecution's Stance: They portrayed Paul as a dangerous individual capable of committing cold-blooded murders, emphasizing DNA evidence linking him to the crime ([17:12], [17:36]).

• Defense's Strategy: Paul's defense admitted he shot Rick Beery but argued it was in self-defense, denying any involvement in Debbie's death. They introduced a complex relationship narrative, suggesting consensual activity between Paul and Debbie ([17:51], [19:05]).

Key Evidence and Testimonies

• DNA Evidence: Essential in tying Paul to the crime, the DNA found on Debbie was a cornerstone of the prosecution's case ([17:36]).

• Character Witnesses: The defense brought forth witnesses portraying Paul as a peaceful and spiritual individual, contrasting sharply with testimonies of Rick Beery's aggressive nature ([18:35], [19:05]).

• The Flute Incident: A pivotal moment occurred when Paul's lawyer requested permission for him to play the flute in court to underscore his serene character. While not heard by the jury, it deeply affected court dynamics, leading to emotional responses from the victims' families ([28:37]).

Notable Quotes

• Judge Eric Smith ([03:44]): "Murders in cities and towns, you know, they happen all the time. But a double murder in the middle of the wilderness is unique. It's different."

• Keith Beja ([16:22]): "He went on the run pretty quickly when it became obvious that he was the focus of their investigation."

• Paul Stavignord ([20:31]): "He believed that I was going to be killed."

Verdict and Sentencing

After deliberating for three days, the jury delivered a unanimous verdict:

• Conviction: Paul Stavignord was found guilty of first-degree murder for both Rick Beery and Debbie Rehor ([31:15]).

• Sentencing: Judge Smith sentenced Paul to 99 years for each count, ensuring he would never be free again ([31:47]).

Paul's Allocution ([31:23]): "You have convicted an innocent man."

Appeals and Aftermath

The case took a dramatic turn post-conviction when Paul alleged his defense team had coerced him into fabricating his story, particularly concerning the murder weapon used:

• Rifle Revelation: Paul claimed he used a Marlin rifle, not the Jennings pistol the prosecution had focused on. A diagram he provided led authorities to the recovery of the rifle, casting doubt on the initial testimony ([33:09], [35:13]).

• Motion for New Trial: Despite these revelations, Judge Smith denied Paul's motion, citing competent legal representation and reaffirming the original verdict ([36:31]).

• Continued Advocacy: Paul's friend, Keith Beja, and author Robin Barefield continue to argue his innocence, labeling the conviction a "travesty of justice" ([33:09], [37:22]).

Conclusions and Reflections

The Mountain Man Murders case remains a contentious and emotionally charged subject within the Alaskan community. Questions linger about Paul Stavignord's true nature—was he a "cold blooded murderer" or a misunderstood man driven to desperation? The discovery of the rifle and the subsequent denial of a new trial leave the episode open-ended, inviting listeners to ponder the complexities of justice in isolated settings.

Final Thoughts by Judge Eric Smith ([37:53]): "Paul Stavignard is probably what people think of when they think of a loner living in the Alaska wilderness. I think it was a case of Paul Stavanjord probably spending too much time in the wilderness with his own thoughts. And I think it was just a matter of him snapping."

Sloan Glass sets the stage for the next episode by teasing another story of a loner who terrorized an Alaskan town, ensuring that listeners remain engaged in the unfolding saga of enigmatic crimes in America's vast wilderness.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Judge Eric Smith: "Murders in cities and towns, you know, they happen all the time. But a double murder in the middle of the wilderness is unique. It's different." ([03:44])

• Keith Beja: "He went on the run pretty quickly when it became obvious that he was the focus of their investigation." ([16:22])

• Paul Stavignord: "You have convicted an innocent man." ([31:23])

• Judge Eric Smith: "Paul Stavignard is probably what people think of when they think of a loner living in the Alaska wilderness. I think it was a case of Paul Stavanjord probably spending too much time in the wilderness with his own thoughts. And I think it was just a matter of him snapping." ([37:53])

Conclusion

American Homicide continues to captivate listeners with its in-depth exploration of perplexing murder cases across America. In "The Mountain Man Murders, Part 2," Sloan Glass masterfully navigates the intricate details and emotional turmoil of Paul Stavignord's trial, leaving audiences eager for more revelations in the next episode centered on Michael Silka.

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For more information or to share your thoughts on this episode, contact the American Homicide team at [e-mail].

Follow American Homicide on Apple Podcasts and other major platforms, and remember to rate and review the show to help others discover these compelling stories.

Transcript

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[Sloan Glass]

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[Bill Estelle]

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[Keith Beja]

I never could quite make a decision as to whether he was a dangerous man or whether something snapped.

[Sloan Glass]

A quiet Alaskan man, known for his ability to live off the grid was accused of murdering his neighbors.

[Keith Beja]

They found him in the creek and they found her about a week later. She'd been shot in the head and there was evidence of sex. And they thought it was postmortem.

[Sloan Glass]

As the investigation heated up, the suspect took off.

[Keith Beja]

He went on the run pretty quickly when it became obvious that he was the focus of their investigation.

[Sloan Glass]

A month later, the suspect was in custody and faced the fight of his life.

[Keith Beja]

They just couldn't believe he did it. They fundamentally couldn't. The guy they knew wouldn't do something like that.

[Sloan Glass]

By the end of his trial, the tables would be turned and the defense lawyers would be the ones defending themselves.

[Keith Beja]

He said, you have convicted an innocent man.

[Sloan Glass]

Today we're in Chulitna, Alaska for the conclusion of the mountain man murders. I'm Sloan Glass and this is American Homicide. Just a note that this episode contains some graphic content. Please take care while listening.

[Judge Eric Smith]

Murders in cities and towns, you know, they happen all the time. But a double murder in the middle of the wilderness is unique. It's different.

[Sloan Glass]

Maybe you've seen those videos where women of all ages are asked the same question.

[JLO Beauty]

If you were stranded in the woods, would you rather be stranded with a random man or a random bear?

[Sloan Glass]

The answers were overwhelmingly one sided and.

[JLO Beauty]

90% of females are choosing to be spread stranded with a random bear over a random man.

[Judge Eric Smith]

I don't think there's anything scarier in the wilderness than a human out to kill someone.

[Sloan Glass]

Robyn Barefield authored Murder and Mystery in the Last Frontier, a book about true crime in Alaska. Her book covers the murders of husband and wife Rick Beery and Debbie Rehores over Memorial day weekend in 1997. The couple was murdered near their cabin in the remote woods of Chulitna, Alaska.

[Judge Eric Smith]

Chulitna is not a town, but it's a designated wilderness area. Most people who live in the wilderness are prepared to run into bears or angry moose or other animals that you need to watch out for. And you don't expect to run into a murderer in the Alaska wilderness. So I think that's one of the reasons that made this story such a big deal.

[Sloan Glass]

Located miles from the nearest road and an hour from the closest town, Chuletna is as off the grid as you can get.

[Judge Eric Smith]

People who live in the wilderness, they do so because they want to be independent. They want to live on their own. They enjoy that freedom. So you're on your own much more up here. And it's frightening when you realize that.

[Sloan Glass]

At the time there were only a dozen or so cabins in the area where Rick and Debbie lived.

[Judge Eric Smith]

In Alaska, neighbors are important. You know, you want people to live close enough to you so that you can help each other if you have a problem.

[Sloan Glass]

Rick and Debbie's nearest neighbor lived about A mile away. His name was Paul Stavignord.

[Judge Eric Smith]

Paul was a year round resident. That was his home while Rick and Debbie came and went.

[Sloan Glass]

At the time, Paul Stavignord was 46 years old. He had long hair, a thick bushy beard and wore round wire rimmed glasses. Years earlier, Paul hurt his back working for the railroad. That injury forced him to quit his job. That's when he started making artwork, playing the flute, and living an off the grid mountain man lifestyle.

[Judge Eric Smith]

And sometimes people living in a wilderness setting, look at the people who come and go like that as outsiders. You know, they don't appreciate them, they resent them. And I think that probably was part of the problem with his relationship with Rick and Debbie. They suspected he stole things from their cabin and he seemed to have a real problem with them. Rick and Debbie's family knew this. Rick and Debbie talked about it quite a bit.

[Sloan Glass]

Paul was the lead suspect in Rick and Debbie's murder. Upon searching his property, they found a journal that detailed an affair Paul was having with Debbie. So what was it? Were they enemies or lovers?

[Judge Eric Smith]

His family and friends described him as a kind man who was spiritual and was non violent. They did not believe he could have killed two people.

[Sloan Glass]

Not only that, but Paul had an alibi for the weekend Rick and Debbie were murdered.

[Judge Eric Smith]

He said he'd gone to Fairbanks for the weekend and he even gave them the names of restaurants where he stopped, places where he stopped to get gas or stopped to get snacks. But he did not have any receipts.

[Sloan Glass]

Paul explained that he didn't have any receipts because his off the grid lifestyle meant he didn't have credit cards or a checking account. He only paid in cash.

[Judge Eric Smith]

And when the troopers followed up, nobody remembered seeing him at any of the places where he said he'd gone. So his alibi did not hold up.

[Sloan Glass]

After the police asked for a sample of his DNA, Paul Stavignard went on the run and vanished into the wilderness.

[Judge Eric Smith]

The manhunt was a big deal and the troopers threw a lot of resources at it. I know a woman who had a cabin in Chulitna at the time and she said it was crazy up there after all of this happened because there were choppers flying overhead all the time. She felt like she was in a war zone. It was just crazy for a few weeks until they finally found him.

[Sloan Glass]

After four weeks on the run, Paul Stavignord turned himself in. But he wasn't alone. He had hired a lawyer and explained to the police that something in his past caused him to run. Unrelated to the Murders of his neighbors.

[Robin Barefield]

He had had unfortunate experience with law enforcement prior to this event.

[Sloan Glass]

That's Paul's friend Keith Beja.

[Robin Barefield]

Trusting policemen was probably not his first reaction.

[Sloan Glass]

So let's talk about why. Growing up, Paul struggled with drug addiction and was expelled from high school. Over the course of two years, he. He was arrested five times for breaking into cabins, Stealing a car, and other crimes. Author Robin Barefield explains.

[Judge Eric Smith]

Paul's biggest run in with the police was when he was released from prison for a liquor store robbery. He and his two friends decided to rob the First National bank of Anchorage in Seward.

[Sloan Glass]

In 1971, Paul and two others pulled off one one of the biggest bank robberies in Alaska's history.

[Judge Eric Smith]

They stole $150,000. But they weren't very good criminals. They hadn't really planned their getaway very well. And they picked one of the worst places in Alaska to try to escape from because it's not remote, but there's only one road that goes into it. So the police chief easily arrested him and sent him back to prison.

[Sloan Glass]

Four years in prison was enough for Paul Stavignort to make some changes.

[Judge Eric Smith]

He decided he wanted to turn his life around, and he took a job with the Alaska railroad, inspecting the tracks. Married a waitress for the railroad, and they had two children. Built a cabin in Chulitna. He loved the Chulitna area. And Paul became very introspective. He became very spiritual, and he started to do artwork.

[Sloan Glass]

That's when Paul adopted his sort of hippie lifestyle and threw himself into the arts.

[Judge Eric Smith]

He carved flutes, and he also became fairly skilled at playing the flute. And he ended up recording three albums of flute music.

[Sloan Glass]

But playing the flute didn't pay the bills. His wife divorced him in the early 1990s and told the court Paul didn't support her emotionally or financially. She got custody of their children and moved away. Paul remained in Chulitna.

[Judge Eric Smith]

There was two sides to Paul Stavignard. The peaceful, calm person that most people considered him now and then. This guy who couldn't stay out of trouble when he was younger.

[Sloan Glass]

Two sides of Paul Stavignard. That's what lawyers would have to argue over when he went on trial for the murders of Rick Beery and Debbie Rehore.

[Bill Estelle]

Suddenly, the trial wasn't about us proving it was him. It was. He had a story to tell, and that changes the complexion entirely.

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That's nocd.com In 1998, Paul Stavignord went on trial. He was accused of killing his neighbors, Rick Beery and Debbie Rehore. Over the course of eight weeks, the jury heard conflicting testimony from dozens of witnesses from both sides. Even Gavin Saha, the man who camped near Rick Beery's dead body, testified. All of it left the jurors looking puzzled and confused and wondering who the real Paul Stavignard was.

[Keith Beja]

He went on the run pretty quickly when it became obvious that he was the focus of their investigation. And he was able to stay on the run for quite a while.

[Sloan Glass]

Judge Eric Smith presided over the trial that had divided the small Alaskan town.

[Keith Beja]

It hit the community pretty hard. I think the circumstances of it, the manner in which they were killed was also pretty shocking. And I know that Mr. Stavangerd's supporters were very affected by the whole story. They just couldn't believe he did it. You always wonder what's come of our community when something like this happens.

[Sloan Glass]

Prosecutors would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the soft spoken defendant was capable of murdering his neighbors. But they were limited in what they could say.

[Keith Beja]

We kept his criminal history out of the case so the jury didn't know about his criminal history.

[Sloan Glass]

The time Paul stole a car? Inadmissible. The time Paul robbed a liquor store? Inadmissible. And the time Paul robbed a bank? Also inadmissible.

[Keith Beja]

I found that Mr. Stavangerd's criminal history, especially the armed robbery and the escape, would tend to make the jury think he was a criminal and therefore make him more likely to have done what the state alleged he had done.

[Sloan Glass]

So prosecutors had to rely on DNA evidence found on Debbie Rehor that pointed back to Paul Stavignord.

[Keith Beja]

The autopsy on Ms. Rehor's body revealed there was evidence of sex. They found semen on her body, and they did a DNA test. The DNA did match with what was found on Ms. Rihor.

[Sloan Glass]

In their opening statement, the defense team surprised everyone when they admitted Paul did shoot Rick Beery. But they said he did not shoot Debbie Rehor, and they claimed the sex between Debbie and Paul was consensual. All of this caused the courtroom to stir Mr. Stavangerd.

[Keith Beja]

He and his attorneys didn't say much of anything publicly until opening statements in the trial. So it was pretty dramatic.

[Sloan Glass]

The defense also called a half dozen witnesses who spoke to Paul Stavignort's peaceful and spiritual demeanor. But first, they spent a lot of time attacking the character of one of the victims, Rick Beery.

[Keith Beja]

They painted a picture of Mr. Beery as a very difficult, arrogant, angry man.

[Sloan Glass]

A handful of neighbors testified that Rick and Paul did not like one another and that they often clashed.

[Keith Beja]

One of the run ins had to do with Mr. Beery believing that Mr. Stavangerd had taken some equipment from their cabin and confronted Stavangert about it.

[Sloan Glass]

The defense also called a half dozen witnesses who spoke to Paul Stavignoort's peaceful and spiritual demeanor.

[Keith Beja]

They did say that he had become this very mellow mountain man, that he lived a simple life and that he was an artisan. He made this jewelry, and he was a flute player and kind of a very New Agey kind of guy.

[Sloan Glass]

And then the defense pointed out that troopers found a flute in Rick and Debbie's cabin, one they believe was a gift from Paul.

[Keith Beja]

They painted a picture of Mr. Stavanger having very antagonistic relationships with Mr. Beery, but a very good relationship with Ms. Rehor. And so they tried to persuade the jury that it would be a natural thing under those circumstances for Ms. Rehor and Mr. Stavanger to have this sexual.

[Sloan Glass]

Relationship on the stand. Paul Stavanjor took several deep breaths and spoke very slowly as he discussed how he cared for Debbie.

[Keith Beja]

He's an articulate, intelligent man. And he was pretty calm and collected on the standard.

[Sloan Glass]

He said that on the Friday before Memorial day weekend in 1997, he was out on a walk and bumped into Debbie.

[Keith Beja]

Mr. Stavanger had claimed that he met Ms. Rehor on kind of a grassy knoll above the creek and they had sex together. So the DNA match came from the consensual sex that he claimed he had with Ms. Rehor.

[Sloan Glass]

But afterwards, everything changed.

[Keith Beja]

And I think he was playing his flute for her when Mr. Beery showed up on his four wheeler and got very upset and started shooting.

[Sloan Glass]

According to Paul Savignon's testimony, Rick Beery yelled, I'm going to blow your head off. Pulled out his gun and fired at Paul. But Rick missed and struck and killed his wife, Debbie.

[Keith Beja]

He accidentally shot his wife in the head. And Mr. Stavinger had returned fire and shot Mr. Beery in the head.

[Bill Estelle]

He was shooting at me and I.

[Sloan Glass]

Believed that I was going to be killed. That was the voice of Paul Savignord on the witness stand describing what happened.

[Bill Estelle]

It seems like an awful coincidence that she would actually have been hit by a stray bullet.

[Sloan Glass]

District Attorney Bill Estelle.

[Bill Estelle]

His scenario was that they were having consensual sex. That when they heard the approach of a four wheeler, he stood up to see who it was. Which one wonders, why would one stand up where somebody can see you? And that Rick Beery saw him and shot at him and accidentally killed Deborah. And that he shot Rick Barry in self defense at some number of yards with a cheap little.22 pistol. Standing there naked. It was implausible.

[Sloan Glass]

During cross examination, Paul Stavignord said his story was so outrageous that he didn't think anyone would believe him.

[Bill Estelle]

The details about his relationship were totally at odds with everybody in Deborah's acquaintance. Her family, her co workers, her friends. None of what he described was believable to them that she would have behaved in that way.

[Sloan Glass]

Paul Stavignore testified that afterwards he felt sadness, terror, hopelessness, shame, guilt and remorse. So he panicked and said he got rid of the evidence. He. He picked up bullet casings and burned his clothes. Even with his bad back, he said he managed to drag Debbie's body under some tree limbs. He said Rick's body had floated away to a deep hole in a creek and that's where he left it.

[Bill Estelle]

His story was inconsistent with what he said.

[Sloan Glass]

First, Paul agreed and admitted he'd lied to troopers and even to his friends. Here's more from Judge Eric Smith, who presided over the trial.

[Keith Beja]

Mr. Stavanger lied a lot. The prosecution, you know, relied quite heavily on the fact that he lied.

[Sloan Glass]

Paul Stavignord said one lie led to another, and that's when he realized he was in too deep. And in order to keep his story straight, he wrote down what happened.

[Keith Beja]

He had a journal, and in the part of the journal, he had written out notes, and it appeared. It was like he was writing down the story he was gonna tell the troopers about where he was and what he did.

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[JLO Beauty]

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[Sloan Glass]

Yep.

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[Sloan Glass]

Jurors had to decide who was the real Paul Stavignord, a loner who snapped and killed his neighbors Rick Beery and Debbie Rehor, or a peaceful flute plane mountain man who killed Rick Beery in self defense.

[Keith Beja]

It was a hotly contested case and there was a lot of emotion running through it.

[Sloan Glass]

Judge Eric Smith presided over the case.

[Keith Beja]

So the whole notion of Mr. Stavanger being this peaceful guy and Mr. Beary being this angry guy was very essential to their case.

[Sloan Glass]

Paul Stavignord testified that Rick Beery caught him having an affair with his wife and then took out his gun and fired at him. But the bullet hit Debbie by mistake. Paul said he returned fire and killed Rick in self defense.

[Keith Beja]

They played into this sort of mellow guy in the wilderness. And the flute was a key piece of the picture they painted.

[Sloan Glass]

According to Paul, he played his flute for Debbie just before the two of them had sex. And that's when things in the courtroom got even more weird. Paul's lawyer asked the judge to allow Paul to play the song he performed.

[Keith Beja]

For Debbie so the flute playing would play into the effort they were trying to make of him as A peaceful man. And they were certainly allowed to make that argument, just as the defense was allowed up to a point to make the argument that Mr. Beary was a violent man because it was a self defense case.

[Sloan Glass]

Ultimately, none of the jurors got to hear Paul play his flute, although he did half his courtroom performance.

[Keith Beja]

I decided that that was of utterly no relevance to the jury. But the attorney insisted that he play the flute for the record. So at the end of the trial day, one day, I excused the jury, sent them home and then had him play the flute. And I will tell you, he's a very. He was really good. He was really good.

[Sloan Glass]

Relatives of Rick and Debbie were furious that Paul was allowed to play the flute. It probably felt really inconsequential and performative. So they got up and walked out of the courtroom. Meanwhile, Paul's supporters sat and listened.

[Bill Estelle]

The environment was tense and the tension was palpable.

[Sloan Glass]

Assistant District Attorney Bill Estelle.

[Bill Estelle]

The families of Rick Beery and Debbie Rehor were there throughout and they were living through the nightmare. And on the other side were the people that were there to support Stavanger because they believed in him.

[Sloan Glass]

During closing arguments, prosecutors admitted they didn't know the exact reason why Paul Stavignord killed Debbie Rehor and Rick Beery. But they were certain he did it.

[Bill Estelle]

He just decided that he was going to take things, not just from Rick Beery's cabin, but take his wife, take his life, and take everything he had.

[Sloan Glass]

After two long months, it was up to the jurors to decide who the real Paul Stavignord was.

[Bill Estelle]

Well, you're always nervous because the. You have to prove a case beyond a reasonable doubt.

[Sloan Glass]

And keep in mind, the jury never heard about Paul Stavignard's previous crimes, including his 1971 bank heist.

[Bill Estelle]

They weren't familiar with the fact that he was a bank robber, that he had had a violent past.

[Sloan Glass]

Three days passed before the jury handed Judge Eric smith their verdict.

[Keith Beja]

Mr. Stavangerd was convicted of murder in the first degree for killing Mr. Beary and murder in the first degree for killing Ms. Rehor.

[Sloan Glass]

The jury found Paul Stavignord guilty on the two biggest charges, but acquitted him of sexual assault. One of the jurors told a local reporter that he found Paul Stavignord to be evasive and unbelievable on the Standard. On his sentencing day, Paul Stavignord had the opportunity to address the court.

[Keith Beja]

It's called the right of allocution. And I was very curious what his allocution was going to be. So when I asked him if he wanted to say anything, he said, and I believe this is all he said. You have convicted an innocent man. I kind of expected, given the nature of the tragedy, that he would have shown some remorse or some sorrow or some recognition about what an awful thing that had happened. And he didn't. And I sentenced him to 99 years on each count, and then I made those sentences consecutive.

[Sloan Glass]

The judge wanted to make sure Paul Savignord would never experience freedom again. Even 99 years concurrently would make that true. But Judge Smith wanted to make a point. Point.

[Bill Estelle]

I don't think there was any other appropriate sentence.

[Sloan Glass]

Assistant D.A. bill Estelle.

[Bill Estelle]

I think it was a foregone conclusion that he would get the maximum sentence on each count because it was. It was just malice aforethought. I believe Judge Smith, in his remarks, made it very clear that they all suffered and that the sentence should reflect that.

[Sloan Glass]

But this case didn't end there.

[Robin Barefield]

In my opinion, this is a travesty of justice.

[Sloan Glass]

That's Paul's friend, Keith Beja.

[Robin Barefield]

I read somewhere that the initial vote among the jury was nine to three. So there were some of the jurors who weren't convinced that first degree murder was the appropriate.

[Sloan Glass]

A local newspaper report backed up that story. But ultimately, the jury voted unanimously to convict Paul. However, the case had a new development about the murder weapon, which could change everything.

[Robin Barefield]

Well, after the trial and the conviction, Paul went to the judge with the allegation that he had used a rifle, not a pistol, to return fire. The prosecution was focused on this Jennings pistol, which incidentally, is a low quality pistol, as the murder weapon. Paul had told him he had a rifle that day, a Marlin rifle. That was the weapon that he returned fire with, not that junk pistol. But the attorneys chose to have Paul testify that he used the Jennings pistol, and he did, against his better judgment.

[Sloan Glass]

In other words, Paul claimed he used a rifle to shoot and kill Rick Beery, but his lawyer said he used a pistol. So which weapon was the murder weapon?

[Robin Barefield]

His attorneys, you know, gave him bad advice about testifying about his use of a pistol.

[Sloan Glass]

Making things even more confusing. During the trial, the prosecutors argued the murder weapon still had not been found.

[Robin Barefield]

None of that made any sense to me.

[Sloan Glass]

After his conviction, Paul Stavignord's attorney asked to withdraw from the case. They cited a total breakdown in their attorney client relationship. Then Paul petitioned the court for a hearing where he would tell the court where to find the rifle.

[Robin Barefield]

And he drew a diagram of where the rifle could be recovered and the diagram was given to the troopers. The troopers went there and did recover the rifle.

[Sloan Glass]

All of that turned the case upside down and led to more hearings.

[Keith Beja]

After Mr. Stavinger was convicted, he made a claim that he had been ineffectively assisted by his attorneys.

[Sloan Glass]

Judge Eric Smith listened as Paul attacked his defense team.

[Keith Beja]

Put simply, Mr. Stavanger had requested a new trial because he argued that his attorneys made him lie. I had an extended evidentiary hearing to determine whether in fact the attorneys had provided ineffective assistance of counsel.

[Sloan Glass]

Two years after Paul Stavignord was convicted, the two defense attorneys who originally represented Paul stood in front of Judge Smith. They defended themselves against allegations that they ignored evidence and forced Paul to lie on the stand. His former lawyers fought back and told Judge Smith they weren't the problem. It was Paul's persistent dishonesty. And Paul's new lawyer wanted a do over.

[Keith Beja]

They filed a motion for new trial arguing that his attorneys had convinced him to make this story up. And I denied that motion. I found that his attorneys had done a fully adequate job. He had highly competent attorneys at all stages of this, both the two they represented initially and then the public defender agency when they took it over.

[Sloan Glass]

But still, Judge Smith said his decision was a close call. Today, Paul Stavignord remains in prison. And all these years later, people still wonder what really happened over Memorial Day 1997. Was Paul Stavignord a cold blooded murderer? Or did the finding of that rifle mean an entirely different story had unfolded in the woods? Here's Paul's friend, Keith Beja.

[Robin Barefield]

That appeal was denied, and that's the end of it. What's happened has happened, and it's been, you know, that can't be changed. Paul's a friend, has been a friend, still is a friend. I'd like to see him released. And if somehow that could happen, I'd do everything I could to help him get situated in a positive situation.

[Sloan Glass]

Here's author Robin Barefield.

[Judge Eric Smith]

Paul Stavignard is probably what people think of when they think of a loner living in the Alaska wilderness. I think it was a case of Paul Stavanjord probably spending too much time in the wilderness with his own thoughts. And I think it was just a matter of him snapping. And this would not be the first time or the last time in Alaska that a loner snapped and started killing people.

[Sloan Glass]

Next time on American Homicide. We'll share one of those stories of a loner who terrorized another tiny Alaskan town. I'm Sloane Glass. Join me as we head to Manly Hot Springs for the case of Michael Silka. That's next time on American Homicide. You can contact the American Homicide team by emailing [e-mail] that's AmericanHomicidePodmail.com American Homicide is hosted and written by me, Sloan Glass and is a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show is executive produced by Nancy Glass and Todd Ganz. The series is also written and produced by Todd Ganz with additional writing by Ben Fetterman and Andrea Gunning. Our Associate producer is Kristin Melchuri. Our iHeart team is ally Perry and Jessica Krynchak. Audio editing, mixing and mastering by Nico Aruka. American Homicide's theme song was composed by Oliver Baines of Noiser Music Library, provided by My Music. Follow American Homicide on Apple Podcasts and please rate and review American Homicide. Your five star review goes a long way towards helping others find this show. For more podcasts from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Keith Beja]

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[Bill Estelle]

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[Keith Beja]

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[Keith Beja]

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[Sloan Glass]

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