Ep 3. Dead of Winter

In season 4 episode 3 of Alaska: Ice Cold Killers titled "Dead of Winter", viewers are taken to the icy tundra of Alaska where temperatures are unforgiving and danger lurks around every corner. This episode showcases some of the most disturbing cases of murder to have occurred in the heart of Alaska's winter.

The episode opens with a cold case from 2013, where a woman named Shelly Bohn was found dead in her Palmer home during winter. The investigation following her death revealed that her husband was the prime suspect but he was nowhere to be found. With no leads, the case went cold. However, a breakthrough came several years later when an inmate, who was in jail for a different case, confessed to the murder of Shelly Bohn. The episode details the harrowing tale of a woman who found herself victim to abuse at the hands of her own spouse.

The next segment of the episode takes us to a small remote village called Noorvik, located on the Kobuk River. Here, a woman named Jessica Baggen went missing after a night out with friends in May of 1996. Her body was later found in a wooded area, raped and strangled. The investigation into her death brought forth a handful of suspects, including her own cousin. This case is noted for being one of the first where DNA evidence was used to solve a murder in Alaska.

Following the chilling tale of Jessica Baggen's murder, the episode introduces viewers to another case, one that took place at Togiak, the "Salmon Capital" of Alaska. Here, two fisherman disappeared during the winter months of 2013. Search and rescue teams scoured the area for weeks before finding their bodies a few miles away from their boat, buried in the snow. The episode sheds light on the role that harsh weather conditions can play in impeding murder investigations.

The final and perhaps the most perplexing case in the episode is that of the disappearance of a man named Steven Seifert. Steven was an avid hiker and was known to often explore the remote wilderness around Anchorage. In July of 2016, he was reported missing by coworkers. A massive search effort was launched, but there was no trace of him. In the months that followed, a group of hikers discovered a makeshift campsite that they believed belonged to Steven. Further investigation revealed that Steven had died of hypothermia, leaving many questions unanswered about the circumstances surrounding his final moments.

"Dead of Winter" is a thought-provoking episode that delves deep into the dangers that Alaska's harsh winter elements poses to its residents. It highlights the tireless efforts of investigators and search and rescue teams in solving some of the most complicated cases while exposing viewers to the dangers of exploring the Alaskan wilderness. To sum it up, the episode is a poignant reminder of how unpredictable life in Alaska can be.