A readiness hearing was held Wednesday morning and extended another two months for the man suspected of fatally pushing another man out a second-story window at the Glory Hall in late February 2022.
Tommy Floyd Bowers, 60, was indicted on two counts of second-degree murder and felony manslaughter by a grand jury in March 2022.
His arrest and charges follow an incident on Feb. 25, 2022, in which Bowers confronted Earl Saunders McKinley, 54, who was acting in an aggravating manner toward Bowers, according to a Juneau Police Department report. Both men were residents of the Glory Hall at the time, a soup kitchen and shelter in the Mendenhall Valley.
During an argument McKinley was pushed and then fell out an open second-story window, striking his head, according to police. He was medevaced to Seattle, but unable to be resuscitated.
On Wednesday Bower’s public defender Anna Ambrose requested a two-month extension for his next readiness hearing, citing an ongoing investigation.
“We are engaging in continued investigation, specifically forensic investigation, and Mr. Bower’s case I anticipate will take some time,” she said.
Bowers declined to appear via phone for the hearing. According to Ambrose, Bowers is no longer at the Lemon Creek Correctional Center and instead has been transferred to Goose Creek Correctional Center in Wasilla.
Ambrose said she could not say what prompted his transfer and offered no comment on the case to the Empire. Last fall, about half of the inmates at LCCC were transferred to other facilities due to repairs at the Juneau prison.
McKinley’s sisters Lavina McKinley and Mary Grant were present in person during the hearing, along with sister Dianne McKinley who spoke to the Judge Marianna Carpeneti while attending via phone call.
“We continue to remain diligent in the pursuit of justice for my brother Earl McKinley and we’re not really interested in negotiations — we just seek justice for Earl,” she said during the hearing.
In an interview with the Empire, Grant said “we want justice” and the family is not interested in any plea deals.
Bowers next readiness hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2.
• Contact reporter Clarise Larson at clarise.larson@juneauempire.com or (651)-528-1807.
