In this Aug. 6 photo, Steven Downs is led into a courtroom for arraignment in Anchorage. Downs has pleaded not guilty after being charged in the sexual assault and murder of a woman in Alaska in a case that remained unsolved for years. Downs entered his plea Wednesday in a courtroom in Fairbanks. He is charged in the death of Sophie Sergie, who was found stabbed and shot in a bathtub at a University of Alaska Fairbanks dormitory. (AP Photo | Mark Thiessen)

In this Aug. 6 photo, Steven Downs is led into a courtroom for arraignment in Anchorage. Downs has pleaded not guilty after being charged in the sexual assault and murder of a woman in Alaska in a case that remained unsolved for years. Downs entered his plea Wednesday in a courtroom in Fairbanks. He is charged in the death of Sophie Sergie, who was found stabbed and shot in a bathtub at a University of Alaska Fairbanks dormitory. (AP Photo | Mark Thiessen)

Man charged in Alaska cold case killing pleads not guilty

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
  • Thursday, August 15, 2019 12:12pm
  • NewsCrime

FAIRBANKS — A Maine man pleaded not guilty in the rape and killing of a young Alaska Native woman more than 25 years ago at a University of Alaska Fairbanks dormitory.

Steven Downs, 44, of Auburn is charged with first-degree murder and felony sexual assault in the 1993 death of 20-year-old Sophie Sergie, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported.

Sergie had been an UA Fairbanks student but was not enrolled on April 26, 1993, when she stayed with a friend at the Bartlett Hall dormitory. She was last seen alive when she left to smoke a cigarette. Her friend had suggested she smoke near exhaust vents in the women’s tub room to avoid cold temperatures outside.

Sergie’s body was found in a bloody bathtub. She had been sexually assaulted, stabbed and shot in the back of the head.

Downs entered his plea Wednesday in Fairbanks Superior Court and bail was set at $1 million.

Downs’ attorney, Frank Spaulding, said he will attempt to get Downs’ bail reduced at a hearing Friday.

“Our objective is to make sure we do our job and do everything we can do encourage people to keep an open mind until all the facts are presented,” Spaulding said.

Alaska State Troopers conducted numerous interviews and collected DNA samples and other physical evidence after the killing but could not identify a suspect.

New DNA technology led troopers to Downs. Investigators submitted an as-yet unknown DNA profile from Sergie’s case in 2018 to Parabon Nanolabs, a Virginia-based company that uses extracted DNA to perform genetic genealogy testing.

The DNA was linked to Downs’ aunt, who had voluntarily submitted DNA to a genealogical website, troopers said.

Downs was a UA Fairbanks student from 1992-96. He lived at Bartlett Hall when Sergie died.

Maine State Police arrested Downs on Feb. 15 near his home. He was later transferred to Fairbanks Correctional Center.

Sergie’s mother, Elena Sergie, participated in the arraignment by telephone with assistance from a Yupik language interpreter. Told of Downs’ upcoming bail hearing, she asked if he was “going to be let out.” She asked to attend the bail hearing.

The judge told Elena Sergie that she and her interpreter were welcome to attend that hearing and all others.


• This is a report by The Associated Press.


More in News

(Juneau Empire File)
Aurora forecast for the week of Nov. 27

These forecasts are courtesy of the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute… Continue reading

Jonson Kuhn / Juneau Empire File
Even the Grinch got into the holiday spirit at last year’s Gallery Walk on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022.
An abundance of traditional and new ways to capitalize on this year’s Gallery Walk

More than 50 events scheduled Friday afternoon and evening from downtown to Douglas.

This view is from Wrangell on Sept. 11, 2022. (Photo by Joaqlin Estus/ICT)
Conservation group supports formation of new Alaska Native corporations

The conservation group the Wilderness Society has changed its position and now… Continue reading

From her hospital bed on Friday, Nov. 24, Christina Florschutz demonstrates how she pulled pajama bottoms that she found in the landslide debris over her legs, arms and head to keep warm. Her house was destroyed in the landslide, and after spending the night in the wreckage, she was rescued the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 21. (Caroleine James / Wrangell Sentinel)
Elementary school aide who survived Wrangell landslide calls circumstances a miracle

Christina Florschutz trapped overnight by landslide that killed at least 4 people, with 2 missing.

Lylah Habeger (left) and Jaila Ramirez lead the Konfeta Corps during a rehearsal of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” at Juneau Dance Theatre. The ballet will be performed in the Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.At.Kalé auditorium Friday through Sunday. (Photo courtesy of Juneau Dance Theatre)
‘Nutcracker’ tradition, with a twirl of new choreography

This year’s performances feature a cast of 93, ages 5 to 78

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023

This report contains public information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Rain at the National Weather Service Juneau station on Nov. 11 doesn’t exist as snow until hits the upper portion of nearby Thunder Mountain. So far this November has been both warmer and wetter than normal. (Photo by National Weather Service Juneau)
El Niño playing outsize role in Juneau’s warmer temperatures, according to National Weather Service

Early peek at numbers shows Juneau is 4.9 degrees warmer than average this November.

An emergency rescue vehicle parks in front of the Riverview Senior Living center at midday Monday after resident Nathan Bishop, 58, was discovered in the attic about 40 hours after he was reported missing. (Mark Sabbatini / Juneau Empire)
Nathan Bishop found alive in attic of Riverview Senior Living complex after 40-hour search

Family members say they remain supportive of facility’s locally available assisted living services.

Most Read