Alaska: Troopers say Dario Martinez, 50, hanged himself after authorities seized his starving dogs

ALASKA -- A one-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race musher found dead in an apparent Anchorage suicide has been identified as the owner of more than a dozen dogs seized last week in Girdwood as part of a now-closed animal cruelty case.

In simultaneous statements Tuesday afternoon, the Anchorage Police Department and Alaska State Troopers named the owner, a man found Thursday hanging from a tree Downtown, as 50-year-old Dario Martinez. Police have not been able to reach Martinez's next of kin.

“Over the past few days, APD officers have made numerous attempts to try to contact (next of kin), who are believed to be outside of Alaska, but officers have been unsuccessful in making contact,” APD officers wrote. “If there are any other family who have not been contacted by police, we ask that they please call Sgt. Det. Markiewicz of APD’s Homicide Unit at 786-8582.”

In the AST dispatch, troopers say the discovery has brought an effective end to the case which began Wednesday night, with Anchorage Animal Care and Control Center staff enlisting troopers’ help picking up the 13 “emaciated” animals -- one of which had died -- from a Girdwood address. Little information was initially released about the case, which provoked outrage from locals.

“The investigation into the cause and circumstances surrounding the animals' neglect is closed unless new information is learned,” troopers wrote.

 

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race director Stan Hooley said race officials are aware of only one year, 1999, that the musher competed in the sport's premiere event.

Hooley said Martinez raced under the name Dario Daniels that year. Race records show he placed 40th out of 47 finishers. Martinez was the sole proprietor of Chugach Express Sled Dog Tours, according to a 2014 business license.

AST spokeswoman Megan Peters said Tuesday afternoon that troopers were never able to substantiate whether Martinez had inflicted harm on his dogs.

 

 

“We can’t answer those questions because we don’t have an answer,” Peters said. “We were not able to interview him, so without further information it’s essentially done.”

AACCC spokeswoman Laura Atwood said Tuesday afternoon that the surviving animals are improving under care.

“The dogs in AACCC’s custody are eating well and gaining weight, and are active and alert,” Atwood wrote. “At this point, it is most important to gradually replenish their nutritional status. AACCC staff is caring for the dogs’ nutritional and social well-being.”

(KTUU - Nov 18, 2014)