Alaska State Troopers investigate Susanna Norton’s death this week, hoping to uncover new leads in the 2020 homicide linked to a former mayor’s property. Members of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons unit arrived in Kotzebue to gather information and interview potential witnesses.
Spokesman Austin McDaniel stated that troopers plan to stay in the city for several days while conducting their investigation. Authorities discovered Susanna “Sue Sue” Norton’s body on March 9, 2020, at the home of former North Arctic Borough Mayor Clement Richards Sr.
An investigation conducted by Anchorage Daily News and ProPublica later revealed that Kotzebue police failed to interview key witnesses, including family members who last saw Norton alive.
Local officers did not immediately notify Norton’s adoptive mother that her daughter had been murdered. She only learned about the homicide after receiving Norton’s death certificate in the mail.
The autopsy report listed Norton’s cause of death as asphyxiation due to airway obstruction and neck compression. Medical examiners also documented multiple blunt force injuries on her head, neck, and extremities.
Despite these findings, the Kotzebue police have made little progress in solving the case over the past four years. The investigation gained renewed attention after revelations about another suspicious death at the exact location.
In 2018, officers found Jennifer Kirk dead on the same property, later ruling her death a suicide. However, Kirk’s family requested a case review in 2023, but Kotzebue police refused to reopen the investigation.
Former Mayor Clement Richards Sr. has declined multiple interview requests regarding Notron’s case since 2020. Law enforcement officials urge anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing the importance of community assistance in solving this homicide. Alaska State Troopers investigate Susanna Norton’s death as they push for new leads seeking justice for the victim and her family.
This news article was originally published by Anchorage Daily News.
