Background: The courthouse in Palmer County, Alaska (Google Maps). Insets (left to right): Jackie Caswell and Sergie Krukoff (Alaska State Police).
A couple from Alaska is facing multiple criminal charges, including second-degree murder, after a 4-year-old girl they were caring for died from a brain injury.
Sergie Krukoff, 46, and Jackie Caswell, 47, were captured by Alaska State Police on Saturday after they went into hiding following their indictment on several felony charges. The police investigation into the couple commenced in August when the child in their care passed away due to a brain injury, which was deemed a homicide.
At a court session on Monday, Palmer County District Attorney Trina Sears revealed that a teenager residing in the house came forward, disclosing that they had been instructed to lie about the circumstances surrounding the girl’s death.
As reported by the Anchorage Daily News, Sears informed Palmer District Court Judge Shawn Traini that Caswell was witnessed “slapping and hitting the child.” The teenager, who exposed these allegations, was reportedly feeding the 4-year-old because both Caswell and Krukoff were denying her food.
According to Alaska State Police, officers first responded to the family on August 11, when they received a call reporting a 4-year-old girl undergoing CPR at the couple’s home. She was transported to the hospital, where it was found that she had sustained a brain injury, eventually passing away on August 24.
On September 25, a grand jury indicted Caswell with second-degree murder, criminally negligent homicide, and child endangerment. Krukoff faced charges of endangering the welfare of a minor related to the incident. An arrest warrant was issued the following day, prompting the couple to “go into hiding.”
Both Caswell and Krukoff were located in Wasilla on Saturday and arrested by Alaska State Police.
Caswell was ordered to be held on $300,000 cash bail. Krukoff is in jail on a $35,000 cash bail, plus $1,000 cash bail in connection with a 2018 case of criminal non-support. Both are expected in court again on Oct. 14.
