Former Homer resident kidnapped, murdered woman missing since 2019, police say – Alaska Public Media

A former Alaska resident dwelling in Utah has been charged with kidnapping and murdering a Homer lady who disappeared in 2019.

Authorities arrested Kirby Calderwood, 32, in Ogden, Utah on Monday, in response to an announcement from the Homer Police Division.

The costs in opposition to Calderwood are the primary public rationalization of what occurred to Anesha “Duffy” Murnane since she went lacking in October 2019.

Homer police “actively investigated the case ever since, chasing down a whole lot of ideas and speaking to quite a few folks,” the police assertion says. The division additionally employed an investigator whose sole job was to trace down Murnane.

Murnane, 38 on the time, was final seen in downtown Homer strolling to an appointment that she by no means arrived at. Searchers on foot and on ATVs, in addition to by air in a helicopter, had been unable to search out her. Based mostly on tracks by search canines, police stated on the time it appeared somebody in a automobile had picked up Murnane.

That’s alleged to have been Calderwood.

In accordance with the costs, right here’s what police say led them to Calderwood:

Calderwood had been thought-about an individual of curiosity within the case in Could 2021, however the prices don’t clarify why.

Then, an nameless tipster in April 2022 gave particular details about Murnane’s disappearance that had not been revealed publicly and named Calderwood because the individual accountable. Amongst different issues, the tipster stated Calderwood nonetheless had a watch that belonged to Murnane.

Two of Calderwood’s ex-wives and his ex-girlfriend in Homer informed an investigator, in separate interviews, that he harbored violent sexual fantasies — together with that he needed to torture and kill somebody — and had been sexually abusive towards them.

On Thursday, police pulled over Calderwood’s automobile in Utah and searched his dwelling, the place they discovered a watch that matched Murnane’s close to a lacking individual’s flyer about her disappearance.

Investigators additionally interviewed Calderwood’s present spouse, who turned out to be the nameless tipster. She stated Calderwood informed her in 2021 that he’d killed Murnane, who he’d identified as a result of he labored on the assisted-living facility the place she lived.

In accordance with the spouse, Calderwood had informed her he hadn’t particularly meant on killing Murnane however had seen her strolling whereas he was driving round on the lookout for a sufferer. He supplied her a experience, then informed her he wanted to cease someplace for a cellphone charger.

The spouse stated Calderwood informed her he took Murnane to his then-girlfriend’s dad and mom’ home, the place he’d ready their crawlspace as a spot to torture somebody.

The spouse stated Calderwood informed her he’d pushed Murnane into the crawlspace, the place he raped and killed her and disfigured her physique, in response to the costs.

The costs say Calderwood claimed to have put Murnane’s physique in thick plastic luggage and a fish tote earlier than leaving it in a dumpster, which was close to the house of an aged lady he cared for, in order that he might have a look at the dumpster.

It’s unclear from the costs what occurred to Murnane’s physique. Police by no means introduced discovering it.

Homer police declined to remark, however stated the investigation stays open.

Anybody with info related to the case — particularly about Calderwood and his doable interactions with Murnane — is requested to name the Homer Police Division at 907-235-3150.