Two Alaska Teens Vanish From Their Homes—Hours Later, They’re Found Dead in the Woods as a Haunting Investigation Unfolds
A devastating tragedy in Juneau, Alaska, has left two families, classmates and an entire community searching for answers after two 16-year-olds who disappeared from separate homes were found dead in a wooded area only hours later.
Leotis Phillips and Zoey Clark were reported missing on the morning of August 31, according to the Juneau Police Department. Phillips was reported missing from his residence at approximately 5:52 a.m., while Clark was reported missing from her home at around 8:49 a.m. Authorities believed the two teenagers were together and warned the public that they might have access to a firearm.
The search ended later that afternoon when officers located the teenagers in a wooded area above the 6800 block of Glacier Highway in Juneau. Police said the bodies were discovered at approximately 2:25 p.m.
Preliminary information indicates that both teenagers died from gunshot wounds. A firearm was also recovered at the scene, but authorities have not publicly established how the weapon was connected to the deaths or provided a final determination about what happened. Their bodies were sent to the Alaska State Medical Examiner’s Office in Anchorage for autopsies.
The circumstances have prompted intense concern because of how quickly the events unfolded. The teenagers were reported missing separately that morning, yet investigators believed they were together before they were ultimately located in the wooded area.
Authorities have stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that preliminary information could change as investigators receive additional evidence and medical-examiner findings. At this stage, the official police statements do not provide a definitive explanation for the deaths.
The tragedy has also deeply affected the local school community. The Juneau School District announced plans to make counseling and support services available to students and staff coping with the loss. A candlelight vigil held at the Dzantik’i Heeni campus drew more than 150 relatives, classmates and members of the community, reflecting the profound impact of the deaths.
Friends and family have remembered both teenagers as young people whose lives were cut tragically short. Their deaths have also intensified conversations about the emotional struggles faced by young people and the importance of recognizing warning signs when someone may be in crisis.
For now, many questions remain unanswered. Investigators must determine the precise circumstances surrounding the deaths, while the medical examiner’s work is expected to provide additional information.
What began as a desperate search for two missing teenagers ended within hours in an unimaginable tragedy—leaving their families and the Juneau community grieving while investigators continue working to understand exactly what happened.
