A former Anchorage corrections officer will spend the rest of his life in prison after a judge on Tuesday handed down a 150 year sentence for the 2022 killings of his wife and their 14 year old daughter. Prosecutors say the double murder came after the teenager reported that she had been sexually abused.
Plea Deal And Prison Time
Under a plea agreement filed in January, Jalonni Marcel Blackshear pleaded guilty to two counts of murder and agreed to serve two consecutive 75 year terms, one for the killing of his wife, Raechyl Blackshear, and one for the killing of their daughter, identified in court papers as J.B. The deal, which led to dismissal of the remaining charges, was accepted by Anchorage Superior Court Judge Garton, according to the Alaska Department of Law.
How Prosecutors Say The Killings Unfolded
Prosecutors say the case began after the teen reported sexual abuse to authorities on March 30, 2022. They allege Blackshear later persuaded Raechyl to bring the girl to the Anchorage Police Department on April 3 so she could recant that report.
When Raechyl missed a medical appointment on April 15, officers went to the family’s home and found mother and daughter fatally shot. Investigators say Blackshear had already resigned from the Department of Corrections and left Anchorage on April 6, before being arrested in Staten Island, New York. Detectives also concluded he used the victims’ devices and online accounts to impersonate them after the killings, according to the Anchorage Police Department.
Judge’s Findings And Affidavit
In accepting the agreement, the court cited evidence that Blackshear had subjected family members to years of physical and sexual violence, the Department of Law said. Prosecutors also say Blackshear signed an affidavit acknowledging that he knew he was the prime suspect in the sexual abuse investigation and that the shootings were unprovoked, according to the state’s account.
Community Reaction And Case History
The killings and the manhunt that followed drew sustained attention across Anchorage in 2022. Friends, neighbors and church groups held memorials, and family members publicly urged anyone with video or other information to come forward. Local coverage at the time tracked Blackshear’s indictment and extradition from New York after the discovery of the bodies, providing the backdrop to the plea and sentencing now imposed.
Legal Notes
Blackshear pleaded guilty to Murder in the First Degree in the death of Raechyl and Murder in the Second Degree in the death of J.B. The remaining counts at indictment, including alleged sexual abuse of a minor, incest, tampering with evidence and forgery, were dismissed as part of the plea deal. With the consecutive 75 year sentences, Blackshear is expected to remain in prison for the rest of his life absent extraordinary legal change, according to Alaska's News Source.
