Teen daughter, two others arrested in death of woman
Mother's body found in van blaze last week on Prince of Wales Island
Lauri Waterman, 48, of Craig, a community of 1,200 about 220 south of Juneau, was killed early Sunday.
Craig Police Sgt. Mark Habib said Lauri Waterman's daughter, 16-year-old Rachelle Waterman, was arrested late Friday, although she was out of town when her mother was killed. No specific information on her involvement was available, but she was to be arraigned Saturday in Craig District Court, according to the Ketchikan Daily News.
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Police arrested James Allen Arrant, 24, Friday at his Klawock home. He also was scheduled to appear in court on Saturday. Brian James Radel, 24, was arrested in Thorne Bay late Thursday.
Officials said Rachelle Waterman knew both of the other defendants. Court documents say Arrant and Radel have confessed to their parts in the crime.
According to court documents, Arrant helped Radel buy duct tape and gloves on Saturday to be used in the crime. He allegedly dropped Radel off near Lauri Waterman's home, where shortly after midnight, Radel kidnapped the woman, forced her into her own minivan and killed her with a blunt object, according to Alaska State Trooper Robert Claus.
Arrant then drove his truck to meet Radel at Forest Service Road 3012 at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday, and followed Radel to its dead end near Thorne Bay, where Radel had driven the Watermans' van, according to police.
Arrant reportedly told troopers that he looked in the back of the van and saw that Waterman was bound and gagged, and obviously dead.
Arrant then allegedly watched as Radel doused the body and van with gasoline and then used a roll of paper towels to set it on fire.
The two then drove away in Arrant's truck, according to troopers.
A hunter driving on the logging road discovered Lauri Waterman's smoldering van and body early Sunday afternoon, said Lt. Rodney Dial. Investigators were unable to positively identify the woman's remains until Wednesday.
Lauri Waterman's husband, Carl "Doc" Waterman, reported her missing Sunday evening after he returned to Craig from a meeting in Juneau. Rachelle Waterman was at the state volleyball tournament in Anchorage.
In addition to volleyball, she was involved in basketball, choir and academic decathlon at Craig High School.
Trooper Capt. Kurt Ludwig said other charges are pending.
Radel sat quietly in Craig District Court on Friday as Magistrate Kay Clark read the entire complaint to him. Radel asked for a state-appointed attorney and was asked about his finances. He said his only possessions of any value were a beat-up boat and some fishing gear. He said he was self-employed and had earned about $15,000 during the past year.
The magistrate appointed the Ketchikan Public Defenders Office to represent Radel.
Ketchikan Assistant District Attorney Dan Schally, who participated in Friday's hearing by telephone from Ketchikan, asked the magistrate to set bail at $250,000. The magistrate complied, setting a cash-only bail of $250,000.
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