The remains of a Delta Junction man missing during a bear hunting trip near Kodiak were discovered by one of his companions according to Alaska State Troopers, who are investigating the nature of his death.
According to an online dispatch, 39-year-old Viacheslav Akimenko was found dead Monday afternoon.
Troopers said Neverov and two other men — fellow Delta Junction resident Aleksandr Neverov, 33, and 30-year-old Mikhail “Mike” Malyk of Palmer — had chartered an April 28 flight to Sturgeon Lagoon, on the southwest side of Kodiak Island. The trio was originally scheduled to be picked up on May 15.
“During the hunt, Malyk and Akimenko decided they wanted to go home early while Neverov wanted to stay and finish the hunt,” troopers wrote. “On [May 8] Andrew Airways arrived at Sturgeon Lagoon to pick up Malyk and Akimenko. The pilot contacted Neverov and Malyk at the camp, but Akimenko was not there. They stated that Akimenko had left that morning on a hike and had not returned.”
Malyk boarded the plane on May 8, eventually returning to his Palmer home, while Neverov remained on the island to search for Akimenko. Troopers weren’t contacted regarding Akimenko until about 8 a.m. Monday, five days after he went missing.
“At approximately [4:20 p.m. Monday], troopers learned that Neverov had found Akimenko and reported that he was deceased,” troopers wrote. “Troopers responded the following day for an investigation.”
Akimenko’s remains were recovered and sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Anchorage for an autopsy.
Troopers spokesman Tim DeSpain declined Thursday afternoon to discuss how Akimenko had died, pending the completion of the autopsy.