Missing JBER Airman found dead; fellow Airman arrested

  • Published
  • By Chris McCann
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Anchorage police and Air Force officials announced Thursday that the body found in Eagle River is that of missing Senior Airman Clinton Reeves. A fellow Airman has been arrested and charged with six felony counts of tampering with evidence in the case.

Officials made the announcement in a morning press.

"We have confirmed that the body found in Eagle River is that of (Senior Airman) Clinton Reeves," said APD Lt. Dave Parker during the conference. "The manner of death has been ruled a homicide."

Air Force Col. Robert Evans, JBER and 673d Air Base Wing commander, expressed sympathy for the family and community.

"We extend our deepest condolences to friends and family of one of our own," Evans said. "(Reeves) was a valuable member of the team. (The military) is not about airplanes or weaponry - it's about the people."

The base has suffered a tragic week, Evans said, noting the death of one Soldier and wounding of three others from the JBER-based 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division in Afghanistan earlier in the week.

Evans thanked the APD for their exceptional assistance in the case, and the Anchorage community, including Eagle River.

"The outpouring of support has been overwhelming," he said.
Lt. Col. Patricia Csank, commander of the 673d Logistics Readiness Squadron, was Reeves' commander.

"(Reeves) was a beautiful human being," she said. "He aspired to a long and successful career in the Air Force, and he was well on his way."

Csank noted that as an aircraft fueler, Reeves was responsible for driving trucks carrying 6,000 gallons of aircraft fuel, and had a lot of responsibility.

Csank also mentioned that when President Barack Obama stopped at JBER to refuel recently, Reeves was one of a handful of Airmen selected to service Air Force One.

On April 19, Reeves, a Raytown, Mo., native, left work at the 673d LRS at JBER.

He didn't return to work on April 23, or the day after. Or the day after that.

His parents both came to Anchorage to help search. In the following days, the city would be papered with missing-persons flyers posted by volunteers throughout the Anchorage Bowl.

During the 20-day search for Reeves, his rented Dodge Avenger was found in an alley in the Mountain View area of Anchorage, with groceries, the keys and his uniforms inside.

Reeves had rented the vehicle after his car was totaled in an accident, and had been waiting on the insurance payment to buy a new car.

On Tuesday, women walking in the community of Eagle River, which borders JBER, noticed a body in a shallow ravine just off Golden Eagle Drive. A neighbor called 911 and police began their investigation.

Police arrested Airman 1st Class James Thomas of the 703d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron Tuesday on six counts of tampering with evidence in Reeves' disappearance.

According to charging documents released by the Anchorage District Attorney's office Wednesday after Thomas' hearing, Reeves was in the area of Thomas' residence the night of April 19.

Initially, Thomas told investigators that he had not seen Reeves.

Detectives executed a warrant on Thomas' residence, and found evidence of a violent encounter.

According to the charging documents presented Wednesday, Thomas admitted to destroying evidence by cleaning the apartment and discarding or burning other materials.