GUILTY AK - David Grunwald, 16, found deceased, Anchorage, 13 Nov 2016 *arrests*

[JerseyGirl]

Dominic Johnson didn’t flinch as a Palmer Superior Court jury on Thursday convicted him of first-degree murder for brutally beating and then shooting 16-year-old David Grunwald two years ago.

The jury also handed down guilty verdicts against 18-year-old Johnson, the second of four teens accused of killing Grunwald, on the other charges against him: kidnapping, arson, assault, vehicle theft and destroying evidence.

Another teen, 19-year-old Erick Almandinger, was convicted of first-degree murder and other charges by a Palmer jury in May.

Two more defendants, Austin Barrett and Bradley Renfro, face future trials.

Second teen convicted on all counts in David Grunwald murder trial

 

[JerseyGirl]

Johnson will enter a courtroom next on March 14 for a status hearing.

Almandinger will face sentencing on March 20 and 21.

Two awaiting to stand trial in Grunwald murder case

 

[JerseyGirl]

18-year-old Bradley Renfro and 21-year-old Austin Barrett will be tried together for the third and final proceeding in the case, for which Provost and Howard have both filed change-of-venue motions.

Renfro and Barrett will be back in court at the beginning of March for an evidentiary hearing.

Remaining Grunwald murder suspects want trial moved to Fairbanks

 

[JerseyGirl]

A Superior Court Judge granted a motion to change the venue for the trial of Bradley Renfro and Austin Barrett, the last trial of those accused of the murder of Palmer teen David Grunwald in late 2016.

No motion was made to sever the trial, and so the two will be tried together.

The two will appear again in Palmer superior court for a status hearing on May 17, and the date for the Fairbanks trial has tentatively been set for August 19.

Venue change: Murder trial moved to Fairbanks

 

[JerseyGirl]

Trial of final suspects in Grunwald murder case to be moved to Fairbanks

 

[JerseyGirl]

A Palmer Judge granted a change of venue motion in the trial of Bradley Renfro, 18, and Austin Barrett, 21, who are both charged with murder and kidnapping, among other charges, in the death of 16-year-old David Grunwald.

Two additional suspects, Erick Almandinger, 19, and Dominic Johnson, 18, were convicted last year on murder charges in Palmer. A third suspect, 20-year-old Devin Peterson, is already serving a six-year sentence for evidence tampering related to the killing.

Almandinger, who is scheduled to be sentenced this month, filed an unsuccessful motion for a venue change in 2017.

Trial of final suspects in Grunwald murder case to be moved to Fairbanks

 

[iulia]

Judge delays sentencing in Alaska teen's death

Erick Almandinger, 19, was scheduled to be sentenced this week after a Palmer jury had found him guilty last year of first-degree murder, kidnapping and other counts in the death of David Grunwald, the Anchorage Daily News reported Wednesday.

Palmer Superior Court Judge Gregory Heath pushed back sentencing until Almandinger's attorney could respond in three weeks, saying he agreed with prosecutors' concern about the lack of an individualized clinical psychiatric evaluation.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

The trial for two suspects in David Grunwald’s murder has been split up, just two days before it was expected to begin in Fairbanks.

Austin Barrett and Bradley Renfro were supposed to go to trial together. Co-defendants Erick Almandinger and Dominic Johnson have already been convicted of beating and killing 16-year-old Grunwald in November 2016.

At an evidentiary hearing on Thursday, Barrett’s defense attorney, Craig Howard, raised several issues contesting statements Barrett made to investigators. Howard filed a motion on Aug. 6 alleging troopers illegally detained Barrett and then the teen made a possibly self-incriminating statement during the interview.
Judge splits trial for final 2 Grunwald murder suspects

 

[SDlocal77]

I know this was a while ago, but some cases are still going on. Does anyone know how to get a pdf of the discovery file? I'd really appreciate it.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Barrett received a 65-year sentence with 20 years suspended. He’s serving a mandatory sentence of 15 years at which point he’ll be up for discretionary parole. He’s also eligible for good time computation based on the Department of Corrections’ determinations.

Austin Barrett sentenced for his role in the murder of David Grunwald

 

[JerseyGirl]

Bradley Renfro was tried in Fairbanks because of the attention surrounding the first two trials. A jury convicted him in October 2019.

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-st...ays-sentencing-for-man-in-alaska-teen-killing

Dominic Johnson was scheduled to be sentenced during the hearing beginning Oct. 28.

A jury found Johnson guilty of nine charges in December 2018. He was the second member of the group to go on trial.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Dominic Johnson sentenced to 99 years for his role in David Grunwald’s murder

 

[JerseyGirl]

Sentencing hearing for Erick Almandinger reset for early August

Erick Almandinger and Bradley Renfro are the last of the group to be sentenced after Austin Barrett accepted a plea deal and Dominic Johnson was sentenced to 99 years.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

Almandinger’s hearing was scheduled through Friday of this week, but the Alaska Court System has since updated its website to reflect that the Thursday and Friday hearings have been reset to Aug. 8-10 later this year, along with Renfro’s hearing as well.

 

[JerseyGirl]

‘I killed my friend’: Palmer resident sentenced to serve 99 years for 2016 murder of Mat-Su teen

Erick Almandinger was 16 when he was charged in the beating and shooting death of his Colony High School classmate, David Grunwald.

www.adn.com

Erick Almandinger, the first of four teens charged in the 2016 murder of 16-year-old David Grunwald, was sentenced Monday to serve 99 years in prison for the brutal crime with no clear motive

Renfro’s sentencing is scheduled next.

 

[JerseyGirl]

Last and youngest defendant in 2016 murder of Mat-Su teen sentenced to 75 years in prison

Bradley Renfro lied repeatedly to investigators about David Grunwald’s killing and rejected wearing a wire to help Alaska State Troopers, according to testimony.

www.adn.com

The youngest of four teens arrested for the 2016 murder of 16-year-old David Grunwald was sentenced in a Palmer courtroom Wednesday to serve 75 years in prison.

Bradley Renfro, now 21, received less prison time than two others already sentenced to serve 99 years on prior convictions. A fourth is serving 45 years in a plea deal.

 

[Seattle1]

Court documents reveal details, timeline of Palmer teen's death

Charging documents are shedding light on the brutal kidnapping and killing of a Palmer teen.

www.alaskasnewssource.com

12/5/16

Timeline at news link above...

It all started in a 1971 camper trailer behind Almandinger's home on Nov. 13, where Almandinger, Grunwald, and another teen were reportedly drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana.

The other teen, who has not been charged and is unnamed in court documents, asked Almandinger to bring a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun to the trailer, which was allegedly used to bludgeon Grunwald.

Ben Grunwald, father of the deceased, called the Alaska State Troopers on Nov. 13 to report that his son had not returned after taking his 17-year-old girlfriend home. The elder Grunwald was reportedly "very concerned," and said "this was totally unlike him," and that David should have been home by around 9 p.m.

In speaking with David's father, a trooper learned Grunwald may have also taken Almandinger to Anchorage. He and other law enforcement officials tried to locate Grunwald's Bronco, even staking out along the Parks and Glenn Hwys. interchange, to no avail.

The next day, Nov. 14, someone called troopers to report they found a burned Ford Bronco matching the description of Grunwald's vehicle. The car was turned over to David's father.

Troopers then tried for two to three days to get in touch with Almandinger about his alleged trip to Anchorage with Grunwald, succeeding at arranging an interview on Nov. 16.

Search is on for missing Palmer teen - KTUU-TV Anchorage - 12/6/19​

David Grunwald, 16, still missing - KTUU-TV Anchorage - 12/6/19​

 

[iluvmua]

Is this the case where one of his friends accused him of stealing his drugs?

 

[Seattle1]

Father of murdered Palmer teen files civil suit against criminal defendants

One teen has already been convicted in David Grunwald's 2016 murder. Now Grunwald's father is suing four others even though several still face criminal trials.

www.adn.com

11/9/18

PALMER — David Grunwald's father is suing four teenagers accused in his son's 2016 murder, even as the criminal trial of one gets underway.

Grunwald filed a civil wrongful death suit in Palmer Superior Court this week that asks for more than $1 million from each defendant.

The suit names Bradley Renfro and Austin Barrett, both facing murder trials next year, as well as Devin Peterson, already convicted of evidence tampering and serving a 6-year prison sentence.

It also names Dominic Johnson, whose trial began this week in Palmer with jury selection. Opening arguments are expected to start next week.

Along with the four named defendants, the suit lists five "John Does."

[..]

Grunwald is seeking damages over $1 million for his son's pain and suffering, extreme emotional distress, and death, the exact amount to be determined at trial.

He directed a reporter to contact his attorney, M.R. Spikes.

 

[Seattle1]

The life of a 16-year-old boy was brutally ended just because he finished some weed? WTF?? How could anyone think that is okay? I hope there are more arrests, especially the other teenager that was with Grunwald and Almandinger that night. I see that the little psychopath Almandinger has no remorse for his heinous actions. He makes me sick.

The weed story was never true but made for good copy. There was no shortage of weed at the Almandinger home on Sunday or any other night.

Testimony during trial indicated there was an ample supply of marijuana at the Almandinger home.

Johnson didn't like Grunwald

 

[Seattle1]

As of March 2023 -- three of the convicted have filed appeals:

1. Almandinger, Erick: Appeal case # A14064
2. Johnson, Dominick: Appeal case # A14024
3. Renfro, Bradley: Appeal case # A14070

Search for an Appellate Case

appellate-records.courts.alaska.gov

ETA: Austin Barrett took plea agreement -- prohibited from appealing.