Investigators arriving at the scene found a total of 120 carcasses scattered along a 40-mile trail about 40 kilometres east of Point Hope, prompting them to call the killings "by far the worst case of blatant waste" they have ever seen, according to a trooper spokesperson who spoke to the ADN.
The meat from at least 60 animals had been either partially wasted or not even touched, troopers said. Most still had their developing antlers intact. Calves were left stranded, some still trying to suckle milk from the decomposing cows two weeks after the slaughter.
Troopers have so far identified five suspects and think there could be many more, but the investigation has been stymied by an apparent lack of cooperation from village officials, troopers spokeswoman Beth Ipsen told the ADN.
At a meeting between troopers and elders last week, investigators showed elders photos of the bulls, cows and cows with calves that had been left to waste as they explained why they were there and appealed for cooperation, Ipsen said.
But when investigators returned Sunday evening, no names had surfaced. All of the suspects have been identified because of troopers' police work, she said. The suspects, who range in age from 17 to 25, have not yet been charged because the cases were being forwarded to the district attorney's office for review.
Troopers in Kotzebue didn't get the report of the mass killings until July 16, and three investigators arrived in the village three days later to begin combing the area by helicopter and all-terrain vehicle, she said. It was clear that multiple hunting parties were involved and they were from the area -- there is no indication air taxis or other transporters were in the field at the time, she said.
In the end, investigators were able to confirm at least 60 of the 120 caribou had been wasted.
A motive for the killings remains unclear.
