In a recent development, an Alaskan woman has been found guilty of murdering her court-appointed supervisor. The victim, Keith Huss, 57, was discovered deceased at a rest area in Hope, Alaska, on September 29, 2020, according to the state’s Department of Law. The jury delivered their verdict on December 23, convicting Sarah Dayan, 39, of first- and second-degree murder, among other charges.
The investigation was initiated after Huss was discovered at the Turnagain Pass rest area. The cause of death was determined to be four gunshot wounds from a .45-caliber pistol, and evidence suggested he had also been hit by a vehicle.
Further inquiries revealed that Huss had been assigned by a judge to serve as Dayan’s third-party custodian, a requirement of her bail conditions. The last known sighting of Huss was when he collected Dayan from jail, with plans to travel to Anchorage where they were to work at Huss’ food truck.
Following the discovery of Huss’ body, a manhunt was launched for Dayan, leading to her arrest on October 1, 2020. The investigation also revealed that Dayan had obtained a .45-caliber pistol after her release from jail. Damage to Dayan’s vehicle was found to be consistent with it having been used to hit Huss.
Further evidence of Dayan’s guilt was found in Huss’ bank records. It was discovered that Dayan had used Huss’ bank account to buy items for herself and had transferred substantial amounts of money from his account to hers after his death. Dayan was also linked to a series of vehicle thefts in Seward and a cabin burglary.
Tyler Jones, from the Office of Special Prosecutions, expressed hope that the conviction would bring some closure to the Huss family. He stated his gratitude that the jury held Dayan accountable for her actions. Dayan is currently being held without bail, awaiting sentencing. She faces a prison term ranging from 15 to 99 years.