Anchorage police are searching for 30-year-old Sterling Klippenstein, who reportedly left the Cordova Center without authorization on Wednesday morning. Officials say Klippenstein left the residential reentry facility in Anchorage around 8 am, triggering a felony warrant for his arrest.
He was last seen wearing a black shirt, pants, and a gray beanie while carrying a white bag. Anchorage police urge anyone with information to contact their dispatch center by dialing 3-1-1. Court documents show Klippenstein was initially arrested in 2022 for a violent incident in Palmer, Alaska.
Prosecutors initially charged him with two counts of attempted murder and three counts of first-degree assault. However, the state later dismissed those charges before reaching a plea deal. Instead, Klippenstein pleaded guilty to a single count of second-degree assault involving a weapon and intent to cause injury.
The court convicted him of the class B felony on November 6, 2024. The case continued through May 2025, with hearings covering mental competency, sentencing, and adjudication. Authorities transferred Klippenstein to Anchorage under supervised probation, including monitoring by state corrections and reentry officials.
His escape on June 25 marks his first new charge since the original 2022 case. Police have not yet provided details on how Klippenstein left the facility or whether he had outside help. He escaped the Anchorage reentry center despite active supervision tied to a felony assault conviction.
