Man pleads guilty in murder of antiques dealer
FAIRBANKS, Alaska (AP) – A suspect has pleaded guilty to a murder charge in the strangling death of a Fairbanks businessman.
Raymond Jones, 29, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder in the December death of Daniel Frederick, 62, who operated Blondie’s Antiques out of a log cabin in downtown Fairbanks.
Frederick disappeared from his shop, leaving beloved pets behind and unfed. Three current or former soldiers, including Jones, came under suspicion after using Frederick’s credit cards on a spending spree of more than $50,000.
Frederick’s body was found a few days later wrapped in a sleeping bag and buried in snow on the south outskirts of Fairbanks.
Michael Moore, 24, reached a plea agreement last month.
Both Jones and Moore have agreed to testify against the third suspect in the case, Brian Towndrow, 22. He is scheduled to go to trial in July on charges of first-degree murder, robbery, evidence tampering and other charges.
According to prosecutors, the three killed Frederick to keep him from speaking about an incident being investigated by the military. Authorities said Moore pushed Frederick to the ground, Towndrow strangled him and Jones acted as a lookout.
Afterward, Towndrow reportedly tried to clean the crime scene with Windex.
Public defender Jennifer Hite is representing Towndrow. She said in court she is still waiting for the prosecution to turn over evidence, including notes from an interview an FBI agent conducted with her client.
Jones will be sentenced Oct. 12. He faces 10 to 25 years in prison.
Towndrow faces up to 99 years in prison on the murder charge alone.
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Information from: Fairbanks Daily News-Miner,
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AP-WS-06-02-09 1343EDT
